The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-26
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS
Sunday was Birmingham's great day.

the afternoon Will ever forget the pa- rade, and all who took part in it will | treasure it in their memories as a great privilege.
 I have always been little shy about psrading; in fact.~I am not much of a parader, but when the Rotarians de- cided to take part I didn't feel like l right glad I am that I did, for it gave me a chance to see the enthusiastic crowds that lined the streets. l have been in 8 number of patriotic gatherings since war was declared but never saw a bigger or more responsive audience than the one that came to- gether in Capitol park to honor the drafted men and hear the speakers I know Birmingham crowds pretty we'll and never saw a more representative one. In it were men from all walks of life. Old and young were out. It was a typical gathering of interested fathers, mothers, brothers. sisters, wives and sweethearts, for they were all there
 
 Another remarkable thing about it was it's spontaneousness While there was a programme, there was nothing cut or dried and under the delft leadership ot Chairman Borden Burr things just seemed to hapen naturally and on time.
 George Ward, who was the first xuli Ia hr;a ingly and to the point. Emmet O'Neal showed that America was well within her rights In declaring war, and not to have done so would have been pusil- luminous. Isadore Shapiros address was a gem in language and thought. Sydney arrayed the Kaiser for his barbarism. George Stuart closed with a powerful appeal to the young men to be true to their town, state and country, and carry that reverence for women on the bat tlefield which characterizes the best lege of closing the exercises with prayer.
 I sat on a front seat where I could
 watch the crowd and it was worth studying. Many mothers were weeping openly and freely as little children weep unashamed Every now and then I would catch some stalwart man surreptitiously wiping away an unbidden tear. I saw wives with eyes red from weeping and sweethearts' eyes full of misty tears. At my side sat the Red Cross nurses in costume, and what pretty and be- coming garb it is. In it were misses, young married women and grandmoth- CTS, but all true women mothers hearts. I saw one near the front row placidly when they rose as body and sang "America.''
 What would this dreary old world be without youth and love! Standing just below me were two pretty girls who soon caught the attention of two soI- dier boys. and all during the speaking they were making eyes and signs easily understood by those who still are young and light-hearted. It was bit of pleas Ing byplay.
 There was a sprinkling of old Confed- crate Veterans. I noted one particu- larly. He was a pathetic figure in his gray yet the light of battle shone in his eyes as Emmet O'Neal told of the fight the Confederates had with the Ger mans who were battling for the north. He drank in every word and gave en- couragement with mods as much as to say: q know all about it."
 There were several G. A. R. men in attendance. and they led in the applause whenever the Stars and Stripes were re- ferred to and seemed delighted at ref erence one of the speakers made to Grants chivalric conduct to Lee. Borden Burrs wish that Dixie might become northern melody and Yankee Doodle" a southern tune was vociferously ap- plauded by the old veterans of both the north and the south
 
 There were also quite a number of Spanish-American veterans present, and they were eagerly taking in everything that was said and got chance to swell up bit when one of the orators re- ferred to Americas treatment of Spain after destroying her navy. am afraid we have never given them as much at- tention as they deserve, but they would be the last to wish that the old Con- federates should be sighted in order that they might be honored.
 I then turned and studied the faces
 were being uttered. Some were as se-
 rious as death, others seemed bit bored, a few were happily smiling, but the great majority looked and acted like any ordinary bunch of men at church. There was really nothing in their man.
 of great adventure for their country. l
 found myself trying to interpret it all to myself. The day. the crowd, the speaking. the war. It all seemed like
 a bad dream thrust into the twentieth century by an evil spirit and 1t was hard for me to realize that I had seen scores of times the face of the man upon whom history will place the blame ! for plunging the world into war-Empe- TOT William of Germany
 l was in Berlin. a student at the uni- lversity when Frederick. his beloved ! father was at deaths door and later died I heard at first hand the bitter 1 Jealousy caused by his wifes wanting an English surgeon, and many tales were told of the present Kaiser's treat l nf hiu rnofhar af far ho ca,rA fn