The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-17
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

!
 l have been going as fast as trains and
 automobiles could carry me, doing what ! l could to ''boost" the Fourth Liberty
 Loan in the villages, towns and coun- | ties of Alabama
 1 l have been doing a talk-fest in every l nook and corner of the state, and yet the people never seem to tire of hearing about the war and the war activities. ] have been going to places where they are fed up on it like we are here in Bir- l mingham
 l just get tired of being four min 1 ute speaker" and getting the hook or hearing the gavel fall, or the lights be dimmed or the toastmaster whisper one 1 minute in which to close. 1t was getting on my nerve and longed for what coun- try preachers call liberty which means plenty of time in which to get rid of what's on ones chest
 I had good one pulled on me. I was going down the street and a friend stopped me and said, Doctor, where are you going?' replied I was on my way to the Bijou to make speech His face lit up with smile. Bear in mind, this was at the time when the Germans were pushing and bending our lines. I asked
 him Why 50 joyous?" He began to laugh out loud and this is what he hsnd- ed me: Somehow I haven't really felt that we were going to lick the Kaiser, but if Uncle Sam is strong enough to limit Baptist preacher to four min utes, well, all I have to say is, He can whip all creation.'"
 Then he got confidential and, taking me aside. said pleadingly, Doe, can't you get our preacher in on that four minute schedule?'" I shook my head can't be did; he is a Methodist" l hope this bit of a jest at the expense of my good Methodist friends will bring smile to the face of my dear friend, Bishop Mccoy. If they could all preach like Jim. nobody would ever want to limit their pastor. Yes, and the Methodists have taken the bridle off of George Stuart. and he breaches as long as he pleases, and nobody wants him to quit
 Well, as all public meetings in the Bir- mingham district were called off for Sunday, and the churches closed, ] thought it would be one Sabbath which I could spend in the bosom of my fam fly, but long distance call came from Anniston saying that an open-air meet ing had been arranged up in the White Plains district for a Fourth Liberty Loan rally and that I was their only hope, and I agreed to so in order to save the day.
 Tuesday I wrote little story on talk ing chances, which you may have read. Sunday morning, in a small way, I had to choose as to the way I would get to the Terminal in order to catch the New York special for Anniston in order to fill the open-air engagement to speak about IS miles up the beautiful Choc- colocco valley. In the first place, I was taking a long shot that the weather would clear before the speaking hour.
 The biggest mistake made was taking chance that knew the leaving hour it left at 930, and sauntered leisurely out on my front porch. have many ways of getting to the Terminal. A taxi was out of the question, as 1t was gasless Sunday. ] can walk through the Country club grounds to the lake and get Lake, view or Highland avenue car, going in direct or swinging around the circle. can go few steps further and find one of Groom Beatty's busses I can go east two blocks and board Mountain Ter and turn corner and get 1t nearer the city. Or I can go north two blocks and catch it in the middle of its run.
 I can walk across the hill to Avondale park and catch the Avondale car, go to town and transfer at three different points to the Terminal, or better ana 
 reach the Tidewater and, if luck Is with me, be whirled into the under ground tunnel in seven minutes. As a last way, I can walk it in about 35 min utes by cutting corners and crossing va- cant lots.
 I chose to turn my back on all other ways and make for the Tidewater. It was not in sight, and I strolled on to the Southern crossing on Spring street, and just as the car was rolling up 1 asked the flagman when the fast train for Anniston passed. He said, "She is just leaving the station" I was made aware that she left at 8 instead of $50 He told me to sprint nine blocks south to Thirty second street. and if fortunate l could board her when she slowed up at the Belt line. I was out for a record. took a chance. I got there out of breath just as the engineer was pull ing the throttle to go ahead. I ran dt- rectly in front of the engine and yelled for him to wait minute and was pulled into the baggage car by the brakeman. l took long shot, but by chance backed with two fleet limbs and mighty will to speak a good word for the Fourth Liberty Loan, I won out and got to talk for Uncle Sam.
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