The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-03-01
MEN, WOMEN
 AND IrNINGS


 Purple" and Damascus Steer are classed among the Lost Arts" While references to malleable glass may be found in the writings of the ancients, our modern scientific men are from Missouri and say that in the true sense it is an utter impossibility So the old saying, as brittle as glass" still holds good.
 If this were not true, plate glass in- surance companies would have to go out of business. I have been surprised to know the number of big plate glass win dows that are broken during year in Birmingham. Plate glass runs into money.
 Recently on a cold morning l passed by one of the big department stores. The windows were frosted to such an extent that it was impossible to see what was on the inside. l asked the display man who was standing in the door to explain the situation. Laconically he said: Poor ventilation" It seems that even show  windows demand fresh air.
 Some one has said "A window is sone- thing to be seen through and. not to be seen" I'm willing to take this definition without trying to pretend that I know, but it comes down from the Icelander via Denmark and literally means wind-eye. It may or it mayn't. In any event, it won't help us to see through a window any better
 Here is some advice I found doped out to merchants
 The windows of your store are it's eyes; the advertising Is it's tongue; the clerks are it's hands. If your store has clear, attractive eyes (good window dis plays), if it talks convincingly (adver- tises strongly), and its hands are delft and willing (good clerk service), it's veins will throb with red blooded business; it will grow and prosper"
 I certainly have wasted a lot of your time leading up to what I wanted to say about glass. I merely wanted to call your attention to Birmingham's supre- macy in show windows
 I have travelled near and far, but I know of no city whose windows are su- perior to Birmingham's or more artisti- cally dressed, and yet I remember when window dressing here was an unknown art
 Over 30 years ago I left the university without letting my father know any, thing about it. I stopped here in Bir- months. He was a merchant. Some of the older business men will remember him. It was w. c. Reese, and he had a store on First avenue, just a door above the First National bank building.
 It was in the days when the Hirsches and the Caheens were on First avenue As had been to Europe, my friend jump ed to the conclusion that I must have good taste, so I was set to dress the windows. wish had photograph. of my artistry as a display man. I would like to submit It to the Display Mems association. believe they would make me an honorary member of the organization.
 My little notoriety as window dresser followed me to Eufaula. My brother-in- law had retail and wholesale crockery store. He gave me a job, and told me to fix up two windows. I did so. I fixed them and him. I was on a shelf glassware on a higher one. My to absorb my months salary. If I had not made misstep I might today have been first-clas window display man. I was in a step of fame. but my foot slipped.
 For quite while the display men here In Birmingham published a magazinlet good of the profession and the benefit of the man behind the glass. Samuel Fried man, editor and Stuart Riddle was its advertising manager. looked over sev- eral numbers of the magazine and found them quite interesting.
 For nearly a score of years the Mer- chants Record and Glass Window has been published in Chicago. It is an in authority in it's field. The Dry Goods Reporter of Chicago also features in it's pages the art of window Some of the pictures showing prize winning windows throughout the are quite noteworthy.
 As you walk up and down the streets I want you to carefully notice Birming- hams great show windows, and I want you to give thought to the great prog ress made in plate glass making. The growth and improvement in this industry makes it possible for our enterprising merchants to make the fronts and sides of their stores beautiful and attractive.
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