The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-05-07
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

have done my share of speaking since ute man." or under the auspices of other war or allied committees.
 Now. I am not posing as being tired Of it, but am willing to admit that I re- spond whenever get an opportunity, flor I like to talk, and it is an inspira- tion to be able to try and show those who are good enough to listen to me why we are at war with Germany.
 My friend, Jeff Bailey, says he. no longer takes the trouble to ask if I made speech at public gathering where any of the war activities were being dis cussed He says he merely asks if Frank Willis Barnett was present and sets It down in his story that he spoke.
 I freely confess that I am proud that hung lip a record in April in Birmng ham for the number of persons reached and the varied places in which was permitted to speak. It was privilege to face people of every rank and station, and I hereby record my gratitude for the kind way in which my talks were received.
 Sunday I was invited out to hold pa- triotic service at the Gardendale Baptist church by Pastor NJ. T. Branhau. got up early and took a car to North Bir- mingham, then got "jitney'' and made my way through Mary Lee, Lewisburg and Fulton Springs. I left the mining district behind and came out into the sure enough country where farming op- erations were in full blast.
 It is certainly refreshing to leave the city and it's hustle behind for awhile and get out into the quiet of the farms Kipling says somewhere in one of his stories that man who lives in town and sees around him everywhere evidences of mans handiworok is apt to believe that the world is man made, but that once out under the blue sky of the field he realizes that after all, God is the creator of the universe. This was brought home to me on Sunday.
 I have learned one thing by having to speak in so many different places and that is that audiences are mighty differ ent sand a thing which may go strong with one crowd will hardly get a mild hand with another bunch. It makes public speaker think fast and hard to get in sympathetic touch with his hear CTS.
 Another thing I have learned. After speaking in schools, public halls or Iii theatres where the people applaud any patriotic utterance which appeals to theIr emotions, it has a rather chilling effect on a speaker to address a congregation in a church and not get demonstration. He unconsciously feels that somehow he isn't reaching his auditors.
 
 had noticed tgis for myself on a num- Der of occasions and had schooled my self to going ahead even though no one cheered even the remark, that President Wilson is the worlds greatest democrat I was therefore much relieved when the pastor of the Methodist church in Ash land said in introducing me to make the memorial address in his church that ap- plause was permissible, if the speaker said anything worth applauding.
 I got to the church and found it well filled with men, women, children and ba- bies I am sorry for speaker who can not talk If baby cries. l once preached at little mountain church up in East Tennessee, where it was the custom for the women as they came in to deposit their infants on the pulpit. I got so that their yells never feazed me. My only fear was that I might get excited and step on one of the more venturesome ones that crawled abouot my feet.
 I never see a mother bring her babe into the church, but the story of the preacher comes to my mind, who, to comfort the mother and save her feelings as she was beating a nasty retreat with her squealing prodigy. said, My dear sister, the baby is not disturbing me-" to have her snap back and say, But you are disturbing the baby" I go slow and let the mothers use their own judgment as to staying or leaving when the baby gets restless.
 We had great day at Gardendale. was glad when the pastor got up and an- nounced in introducing me that the ad- dress and flag raising was not Bap- tist, but community affair, and that every one was welcome, irrespective of denominational affiliations. it was for Jew and Gentle, Protestant and Catho- lie, for all who were American citizens without regard to creed
 The pulpit being quite roomy, on one side the choir made up largely of young girls and children, sat, while on the other side were seated all those who had relatives in the army, and down in front of me were those who had come out to honor the A boys who had gone to the front It was a solemn gathering. The faces of the women were sad. while those of the men were set.
 I have had part in some of the grea. demonstrations pulled off here in the Tutwiler or in the theatres, and parks, But none of them touched me more deep ly than did the or. pouring of the people from the countryside who had come to- gcther in their holiday attire to be pres ent at the raising of the Stars and