The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-17
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

remember with what pride the MethodlStS looked on their church building which once stood on the lot where the hotel now stands.
 Just here a funny happening popped into my mind. It's curious how thoughts turn up after being hidden away for years in some secret lobe of the brain; for memories.
 It was this: In the early days while a young limb of the law. had for a chum bright young lawyer who was a dead game sport. He did all those things that are taboo in we'll regulated homes.
 
 l His fees were slow in arriving. If his knowledge of the law had been as great as his drawing power on the ''old man" he ' could have given Blackstone pointers in writing his "Commentaries'' l His father was rich and indulgent, but the sons spending capacity at last got on the governors" nerves and so he de- cided to drop into town and see how his prodigai son was spending his wealth. l Talk about luckl My friend had more of it on the occasion I'm about to relate than if he had worn a horseshoe-checked shirt and carried the right forefoot of rabbit in every pocket in his clothes. l Paterfamilias looked in on me one Sun day morning about 10 o'clock seeking to get trail on his wandering boy who had failed to show up at his hotel the night before.
 i I don't know why, for I wasn't church member in those days, but I took long shot and said: If you want to find Jim, jIl! go down and wait with you in front of the First Methodist church" 1 l It was in the days when Dr. Riddick was in his prime. As the crowds filed down the stepssI scanned every face with eagerness. And would you believe it, to- ward the last with beautiful smile down walked the scapegrace to greet his de- lighted papa.
 | I should say so. That one accidental visit ! to church netted the reprobate a $1OO check, and got all of his debts liquidated and yet some folks say it don't pay to go to church.
 1 I saw the old church turned into the ! Birmingham Athletic club and put in many happy hour in it training for the society circuses.
 ! I sure am rambling. I started to tell went to it and dropped into a seat by Arthur Crowder and picked up a conver- sation that had started over a score of years ago about certain local belles who are now charming matrons. Arthur de- nies 1t, though he was in those days some | lady killer. I was glad to find him spark ling and bright as of yore. I was sorry my friend, Hugh Morrow, who was to be the speaker of the occa- 1 sion, was hindered from coming, being engaged on an important case, but I was Lglad to hear Hill Ferguson give a sum- mary of a valuation of certain railroad property of the Atlanta, Birmingham and i Atlantic in the city limits his firm had made and which received the indorsement of the exchange. It was an exhaustive piece of work and received favorable com ment in hearing at Washington. | The real estate men are a fine and an aggressive body of virile citizens who have put the whole community in their debt for advertising Birmingham dirt an6 looking after the interests of property owners. I hope the campaign for new members will bring to the body strong men who are not at present affiliated with it.
 | I was surprised at the great preponder- ance of young men present. My friend John Leedy, looked like a patriarch il their midst.
 Among the older men present. and none Iof them have passed the half-century mark. and all are full of vim. push ant energy, were Bailey, Yancey, Messer ICartWflSnt, lucker, lHoiHpSoA dH' others
 It was the splendid young fellows tha gave me joy interningled with a twing' because it put me into the middle ag' class. As looked up and down the table II saw bright and handsome sons of som' of my old friends.
  At the head, as president, sat Ber Throckmorton. I first knew him as chubby little boy in kits. He was a pc out at the Lakeview hotel where mos of the society people boarded in those days. Now he is one of our safe ant respected builders. As handsome as hi father and as gracious as his mother. | l, At the foot sat R. P. McDavid, Jr. the son of Bob, one of the most chivalri
 men I have ever known. I met him frs in 1885 at the university and counted hin
 friend to the day of his death. Hi dear wife. who so shortly followed hin
 to the grave, was favorite in Birming
 ham as girl and greatly beloved a
 matron-how I miss them both. Tn glad to know that their boy is making , good.
 Just opposite me sat Robert Malone , la big, strapping wide-awake young fel , How. Somehow could hardly believe m eyes. Just to think that he had grow