The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-12-21
MEN, WOMEN
AND THINGS

but we had here in Birmingham yes
terday the president of the greatest
private banking institution in Aneri-
ca, and he is giving all of his time to
the government and is only getting 81
per year.
He advised us all to save what we
could out of our incomes or our sal
aries, but the baby bonds,7 into which
he wants us to put our surplus, will
mature long before he will be able to
have enough to buy one out Of What
he is getting out of his present job, if
he continues to work for Uncle Sam
on the salary on which he began.
Students of sociology have long fig
ured on the minimum wage" and it
is really hard to arrive at the line
where living wage" falls below the
hunger line or mounts to the point Of
luxury. There are so many things
which enter into the problem that it is
hard to determine the right solution
even when the inquiry is intended to
get at the truth.
When it comes to the question of peo-
pie spending money, you enter into
territory that will be filled with sur
prises. There are some things about
which one is stingy, and yet he may
spend lavishly for other things. I had
a friend who wore an old derby hat for
years, to the shame of his wife and
children. Yet he maintained that he
couldn't afford to buy new one, but
then I saw him in a public meeting
get up and freely give 500 to cause
in which he was interested.
Most of us are willing that our wives
or children shall economic. and yet
I know many who skimp themselves
and let their spouses and offsprings
spend with q lavish hand It's pretty
safe, however, to say that we spend as
we please for the things we like, if we
have the price, but are critical of 9TH
ers who buy the things they prefer, but
which make no appeal to us. Artemus
Ward was willing to see all of his
wife's relations go to war. just as was
the man who, when asked If he had
piled in the negative, but said with en-
thusiasm that he had two sons-in-law
that he would like to contribute.
It's mighty hard to tell when one is
really patriotic or merely posing.
believe in all the knitting that is be-
ing done, but 1 can't help seeing
through the Stiffness of paying $40 for
pair of gold knitting needles under
the pretense that in Hitting socks for
the soldier boys one is really making
sacrifices on their behalf, and yet
have seen in the paper that certain So
ciety women in one of the big cities
were guilty of such a sham perform
ance.
It's hard to tell where legitimate
think it better to be free spender
than miser; better for the individual
and better for the country as whole
Money hid away in old stockings
buried in the ground, or locked up in
safety deposit vaults is merely playing
the part of Stacker" for a dollar
that is not in circulation or at work in
some business enterprise is idle money
and helping Germany to win the war
Now I believe in proper thrift. There
is a prudence that should be taught in
the home, just as it should be incul-
Gated in the schools, and practiced in
business; but when thrift becomes par
simony, 1t stagnates character and de-
ranges the channels Of trade, and
should be frowned upon, it matters not
who champions it. The war will of it.
self bring bout enough trade disloca-
lions without theorists trying to find
ways of crippling business.
I believe the present times call for
the use of the best thinking that can
be done, but let's refuse to be swept
off of our feet because conditions are
abnormal, and thereby prevent them
from settling down into a state of
normality. If ever there was an hour
when we ought to think straight, and
see clear, and act with wisdom, it is
in the face of present conditions. We
need a rebaptism in old-fashioned
common horse sense.
7 believe it is wise to lay up against
a rainy day, but the best way to pre-
cipitate a panic is for everybody to
rush for shelter at the first sign of a
cloud in the sky. l had rather take
chance and get my feet wet than to
stay in doors just to keep them dry.
think more of the men who are Civ
ing to the various needs that the war
is bringing, even though they may not
be acting with the same prudence that
governs them in peace times, by lay
ing by certain per cent of their earn
thinking only of their own future, are
willing that others shall bear the bur-
dens of the war.
If there is need of thrift campaign
there is also dire need of missionary
work in the art of turning loose the
coin when any worthy object cries for
help. Any man who has had a part in
the recent canvasses for funds knows
that there is small danger of some folks
of means in this city giving away more
than they can afford.
It's hard question, this of getting