The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-26
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

I meet boys as I travel about who ap- peal to me greatly because they are fac- ing life bravely and doing their bit to making living while they get school ing.
 The other night I got to little town and was met by a bright faced lad who is the hotel clerk and waiter, while his mother does the cooking and his sister. still of the school age. cleans up the rooms Everybody works but father, but alas, his work is ended and he is at rest
 
 Too many give up the fight as soon as they have to face the hard conditions of living, while others refuse to be beaten and go ahead in perfect confidence that they can win out and they do. Grit and grace are not only great Biblical virtues, but they make good in the secular world.
 Now. the 12-year- old boy who inspired this stcry is going to make man, for he realizes that while he works he must not put aside his books, and so he studies after his tasks are completed. I am sure that the boy who has had to get his edu- cation by making sacrifices appreciates it far more than the one who is indulged and spoiled by finding his path made too easy.
 I know little newsy who is going to make a substantial citizen, for he stands on busy street corners after school hours and cries his wares and then goes home at night to pore over his school tasks. His brother before him made good and got fine job at Washington and he is coach ing his younger brother.
 Sometime you get your paper little late, and if it's on Sunday morning you get might impatient and want to call up the office and register vigorous kick. know how you feel, but l am sure if you realized that the carrier all during the week has delivered your paper and then gone to school that you would forgive him for stealing bit of rest on Sunday morn- ing.
 
 am writing this in home where there is 13-year- old lad who Is at school, but who is going to pay his way by cultivat- ing nine-acre patch. mans job, you say. Yes, it is, but it is going to make man of him. Somehow feel that boy has been robbed of his birthright. Every normal lad should know about stock, about soils, about planting, and then he should also have the pleasure of having a dog and gun. and the joy of jump ing into the old swimming hole after the days work.
 Sometimes I think it would be we'll if our American farmers would follow in the footsteps of their Canadian brothers just across the line and make a business of taking boys from the city to teach them the business of farming. For years it has been the custom of the old English families to send the younger sons over seas to acquire the art of farming. I be- lieve there are many city men who would be glad of chance to send their sons out to work during vacation. am sure, too, that there are some city boys who would jump at the opportunity.
 
 l am thinking of my good friend, ". D. ("Quack'o Smith, and his charming wife and their two splendid sons. "Quack,n born and reared in a city, real ized that if he did fathers part by his boys he would have to more than send them through the public schools and the university. and so he went up above Springville and bought farm l know a lot of folk thought that it was losing venture for city man t0~buy farm.
 have heard his friends josh "Quack' about his fancy farm aud ask him if he