The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-04-23
MEN, WOMEN
AND THINGS


King George and now everybody is won
dering il he is a knight, lord or
marquis.
J Now, this is to set him right. He Is,
am glad to say, still Gypsy Smith, a man
too big to be hid by any title, even though
bestowed ny the titular head of the great
British empire. Some men are helped
out of obscurity into the limelight by
lknighthood but the plain gospel preach
err has been holding up to mankind the
Light OF the World SO long that ne
basks in His sunshine and does not need
any earthly king to make him noble.
| I had heard OF his elevation and cred
to see if his Gypsy nature had been
/ tanned, and if his simple manners had
become affected; but the moment saw
him l was ready to put my arms around
him for ne was the same old, unaffected.
| lovable Gypsy Smith who had won his
years ago.
Just to show you how stuck up he is
over tho decoration for distinguished SER
vides at the hands of his sovereign, King
| George. one of the first things he asked
when he sat down to dinner at the Tut
wiler on Monday was: Where is my
| friend, Louis Pizitz?" And when Fred
Jackson took him out for a drive he in
sisted on going by the busy corner"
and / ran in and got Louis to come out
and greet him.
| We drove by for Dr. Stuart, and as he
came out of his study, Gypsy said to w.
Gordon Sprigg. organizing secretary OF
the International Young Mems Christian
| association propaganda campaign, LOOK,
yonder is DEAR old George Stuart" AS
George was walking by home before get
| ting into the car, Gypsy said to his trav-
! cling companion, BE sure and remind me
| to get George to tell US some good negro
+. one know"
| George got in and we started toward
| the South Highlands and Gypsy said.
Gordon, get ready for the surprise of
your life, for you are going to see the
most beautiful residential section that
you have ever seen in your life," and both
of the visitors were overwhelmed with
the picturesqueness and beauty of the
homes and the grounds. The view from
| the rear and the front of John CaldweiPs
| handsome home on the crest of Req
mountain brought from them the loudest
praise.
| W. Gordon Sprigg, is the real name of
mighty interesting man. He was born
IN Australia, and has been a globe trot-
ter, spending a score of years in South
Africa, and was there in army Y M.
G. A. work during the Boer war. Asked
| II ne had ever been in America before,
| he replied that at one time he had taken
4 on his way from England to New zea-
land. He seemed to think it strange that
he had not heard of Birmingham and its
untold mineral wealth and beautiful
homes.
We drove by Fred Jacksen's home and
| he initiated the two Britishers in the
sacred rite of Sid Lees Buffalo Rock We
were standing out in the backyard amidst
the roses, and next to a growing garden
with all kinds of fresh vegetables hurry
ing to get ready for the table. AS Gypsy
lifted his sparkling glass, he said: st am
hearing a great deal about a drink called
Coco-Cola. have any of you ever tasted
it?' Don't let Crawford Johnson hear
this.
The ride was SO refreshing and stimu-
lating that as we were coming down one
of the hills in the Mountain Terrace
section, Gypsy began to hum the chorus
of very telling ditiy that the boys
are singing in the trenches, the refrain
OF which is Smile, smile" We got him
to repeat the song with the words His
voice was clear and sweet. The song
just seemed to bubble up out of him,
and he sang as unaffectedly as bird
sings, or baby coos.
| His uniform becomes him, but it will
take more than soldiers clothes to
hide the Gypsy Smith, known and loved
taround the world, for himself and for
the message he is carrying. Like all
truly great men, he is great with the
simplicity of a child. There is not the
least pose, or straining after effect He
seems absolutely natural and meets his
fellow man on terms of fraternity and
equality If he told anything about him.
self or what he had done or was going
10 do it was in such straightforward
way that there was an utter absence OF
his trying to impress any one with his
Importance.
He seemed to remember with genuine
pleasure the weeks he put in here in the
tabernacle built for him on First ave-
nue.. He asked about many who helped
in the meeting. Was anxious to know
! how some who had been converted hat
turned out Something came up about
his UNCONVENTIONAL affiliations. Free
Jackson saying that he thought him to bs
! Presbyterian. NO" said Gypsy, look
) list. His statement was perfectly salts
factory. The truth is when you see ant
hear Gypsy Smith, you are not think
ing about the different creeds, but abou
the Christ; and this is the highest tribut,
that any preacher can have, and tina