The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-12
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

] One of the most interesting books have ever read was Mark Twains Life or the Mississippi" l suppose 1t was doubly interesting to me as I once lived or the banks of the Father of Waters. One of the things which struck me was that Mark found out as cub pilot that after he had learned the river on the down trip from St. Louis that on the return voyage it became an absolutely new stream and he had to learn it all over again.
 But more than this, after he had learned it's many idyosyncrasies going and coming, and it had many, then he had to learn it by daylight and in the dark, for its waters appeared entirely different when the sun was shining to what it did even when the moon was riding high in the sky, or pitch black dark had spread it's mantle over the treacherous stream.
 I was reminded of Mark and his trou- bles Sunday morning when l got up at IA o'clock to catch an A. G. $. train go- ing north Most generally when I have to take a train leaving before a. m. I sleep downtown as it is cheaper than ordering a ''taxip and then I do not have to disturb my household in making a get away.
 But on the morning of which I am speaking had wound up by Big Ben" and with eyes heavy with sleep went out into the night and across hills and Avondale. I know every foot of the route by day, but at night the gullies seemed deeper, the woods wider, the streets narrower.
 It was too early for any lights in the houses. As I skirted Avondale park and later cut through it, couldn't help think ing of prowlng bears, stealthy hyenas, treacherous wildcats and all the bal ance of the zoo! Now, bear in mind 1 was off for preaching trip and had slept peacefully in my own bed, and had not made a night of it.
 
 I at last got into Spring street and had plain sailing, or rather walking, on paved sidewalks. There was no sign of life anywhere until I reached the Ave- hands came out of house and preceded me to the unlit depot. I went to the side nearest First avenue, while heard them across the street asking the flag man if the train stopped to take on pas sengers.
 It was just what I wanted to know, and was comforted when he told them that he would flag it. for them. Having about 20 minutes to wait, I sat down near an open ditch to try and possess my soul in patience, for travel so much and have to spend so much time in waiting that I am charter member of "The Don't Worry Club" Yet, waiting on trains is nerve racking proposition.
 During the presidency of pr. Montague many trips over the state together. He was high strung Virginia gentleman, and it was irksome for him to be delayed. He wanted to be on the constant g6 can see him now anxiously pacing the platform as he would finger his watch and fret about the coming of the train.
 Often we would drive up to station after hard days work in the country
 
 nerves taut and crying to be at home. He would rush to the board, and if the train was marked up late he was pitiful to behold. He would cry out to me, "She is 20 minutes late, what are you going to do, Brother Barnett?" My invariable reply was: Well, Doctor, I am going to wait for her. but it never kept him from asking me the next time train was posted behind time.
 I sat there and began to watch the skies. Birmingham is an attractive place at night, for the flares from the fur naces, and the glow from the overturned derfully. I frequently get off of the car and walk through from Lakevew, and yet on dark nights the lights from the Sloss furnace make the golf grounds al- most as bright as day.
 Some 10 years or more ago, one of my wife's relatives. a Georgia farmer, was a delegate to a farmers convention, and arriving too late to come to our home, put up at a downtown hotel, but called the next morning after breakfast. My wife greeted him warmly, and said, Uncle Charley, I hope you had good nights rest" He immediately blurted out, Why, my child, l never slept 8 wink"
 She expressed her regret and asked the cause, to be told that before retir- ing he looked out the window and saw a big fire to the east, and then gazing out of another window he saw several conflagrations, until he thought tho whole town was burning up, and he owned up that he hung out of his window waiting for the fire department to get busy and put them out, but finally went to bed thinking that Birmingham was on such a boom that it didn't have time to worry about fires.
 As l sat waiting for my train I got to thinking about him and was soon in good humor. In little while man and his wife and little boy, evidently