The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-06-22
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS


 of people than any man in Alabama and l always appreciate them, for il is a pleasure to know that so many care enough about me to take the trouble tc write.
 Among the most refreshing letters ] get are from the soldier boys. One has | just come from my friend, Irving " Frost, written from Fort Caswell, N C., for he is a member of the Third com pany, coast artillery. He writes with such an exuberance that I am going to let him speak for himself, for I am sure that if the Kaiser knew that young Trost's way of looking at the war was but sample of the manner in which thousands of our lads are taking up |arms, that he would change his mind about the valor of American soldiers. 1 sSs
 He has already had evidence of a kind which even the Prussian militarists can no longer ignore that the fighting men 1 going by the hundreds of thousands across | to stop the invasion of the Huns are men of courage and wonderfully well | equipped to make a finish job of the task set before them of making the world | safe for democracy and causing the Ho- henzollerns to restore their ill-gotten ter l ritory and pay for their devastations.
 
 I wish some of the Potsdamers could ! have gotten a look into the meeting held on the third floor of the city hall on | Wednesday night, when more than 200 men over the draft age from all walks of life came out to get ready to do their bit when called upon. saw men in the crowd whom I had set down as mere club men, who loved their ease. I knew they were ready to buy Liberty Bonds or subscribe to the Army Y. M. c. A, or give to the Red Cross, but I never credited them with being willing to give up their leisure and go into training. It was worth 100 dinners in showing that those who have been listening to patriotic talks were ready to stand the acid test of service.
 Take Scudder Ryall as sample. Now know Scudder has done his part in all Of the war activities. I also know that if the time came when it was necessary for him to do active service as home guard that he would willingly respond, but I confess never believedsthe hour would arrive when he would be will ing to drill three nights week for | braa oh, o,16 thap init in net of Sunday in marching over the roads of Jefferson county, and yet he is an enthusiastic volunteer.
 saw Mudd Martin in the crowd. I have always liked him. found out years ago that he did whole lot of serious reading and thought out things for him self. I remember when I was with a Wall street firm of lawyers as the head of department nearly quarter of a century ago, he came on to New York, and in his room I saw copy of James Freeman Clarkes 1"Ten Great Religions" and he lent it to me. This was in the days when I was far from being a preacher. reckon he has forgotten all about it, for he has the reputation of being forgetful. But his mind is on this war He is mighty proud of Henry Gray, Jr., and Basil Clarke. He takes life quietly, but his heart is in the win ming of this war.
 But I didn't start out to write about the Wednesday night meeting, but Trost's ann nn11+t tba da cI, and vim of the Birmingham youngsters who were in the camps or in the trenches and naturally got to thinking about the older fellows who were ready to go into serious training in order that if Uncle Sam needs them they will be ready to wait to learn it all in camp.
 v
 Now for the breezy, patriotic letter of my young friend who went out of Love- man, Joseph & Loeb's to begin his great adventure.
 Fort Caswell, N. C.,
 June 16, 191S
 "Dear MT. Barnett: Some men are born lucky and others have luck thrust upon them, I have had luck thrust upon me. I mean by that that my mother has en- red a subscription with The Age-Herald for me and I ara now receiving it reg ularly. Each night 1 read it through and through and ] can assure you it makes me feel more like soldier, more like one of Uncle Sams boys, after ac- quainting myself with what is going >on at home.
 .sIf some mother would ask me what she could send her boy, would cry out Send him his home paper. It is the only medium through which a man can keep up with everything and everybody at home and in this great conflict.
 1T never realized at the time of poor Berney Lovemans death what feeling h- must have suffered to have known that his company was going over and he was to be left. It must have been a living death. One cannot realize how in fatuating army life is until he has ex- perienced some of it. Gle and Berney were chums)
 MT. Barnett. I have been studying very hard lately due to the fact that tomorrow I take my examination to at tend the officers training camp for coast artillery to be held at Fortress Monroe, Va. on July l. have all hopes of passing it.
 During some of your leisure moments please drop me few lines for I will all ways look forward to hearing from you.