The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-30
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

have been hearing of "old-stick -in- the-mud' all my life, but until attempt ed to make a trip out from Thomas Vile recently to make a talk I had no Idea where he originated, but now
 know
 lie was born and reared on the crest Of John Whites HiIl' on the road to Elam church. I made the effort to get out Tn Ford car on a rainy day. in spite of the fact that two taxi drivers refused to undertake the drive. A friend took pity on me and got out his car, and he invited three other men to go as he said 1t would take that
 many to push the automobile up the hill if fl was slippery. I have made so many
 nara journeys over bad roads in Ala.
 oama that 1 paid little attention to his
 remark which I construed as being
 iooular.
 l found out later that he was never
 more serious in his life and that as a matter of fact four were unable to make
 1t go lover the top." I noticed that the
 Thomasville public who marked our de-
 Darture seemed bit interested, but | set it down to just natural curiosity or interest
 But when several said q hope you will
 make 1t' I began to take faint inter- est In the pilgrimage before me. For a ,, half dozen or more miles we dashed through mud and water and seemed to be making fair time. and I began to think they were 'joshing' me about the trouble ahead.
 At last we got in sight of the hill that was to put the Ford climbing ability of the Ford to the test. We had chains Of the rear wheels and for a while we were going up so easy that it looked as II Y vas going to be a regular picnic to make our destination on schedule time Then something began to happen an.. for the next two hours kept it up. In the car was a preacher state secretary, banker and a newspaper man, some combination, but when our Ford baked it cared little for the dis tinguished men it was having the honor to haul. The engine hummed until you could hear the water boiling, but never a move did it make. It was the opinion of all that the thing to do was to wait until the internals cooled off. This we did.
 The bright idea came to the owner that what was needed was a bucket of water. Now, any driver knows that when such necessity arises. the nearest well, spring or creek is at least a mile either in front or behind you The man at the wheel intimated that if while he was letting out some of the hot water someone would get bucket of cold water, that itwould save time. Being the guest of honor, it was not
 up to me to volunteer, for I was quick
 to size up the situation, and sat steady
 waiting for one of the local men to come forward. It worked like a charm. and it did me good to see the cashier of bank grab the pail and hit a quick step down the road to the muddy creek.
 This left me and the secretary seated out of the rain while the owner and
 the money lender were trying to relieve the situation. I had reached the point
 that for once in my life I was willing
 10 forego making patriotic speech
 rather than to get out and get my feet wet and spoil my new hat and sacrifice the crease in my freshly pressed trousers. At last. the banker-water carrier ar rived and poured the cooling liquid into the steaming interior of the machine. Then the effort was made to go ahead under full steam, but never -an inch did that Ford move. By this time things were getting serious. so with apologies we were asked to get out and walk to tighten the load We did so. but it availed nothing
 Now the hour arrived when my services were communicated. for we were ordered to get at points of vantage and push with might and main. We did so> 1t seemed to be that I was putting forth enough effort to have overturned the Jefferson County Bank building, but she was stuck in the mud hard and fast ana perfectly content.
 Now am as careful about my feet as a cat. The least bit of dust or mud on my shoes makes me most uncom- fortable, and to provide against having to brave the unpaved streets had l bought new pair of rubbers, overshoes,
 goloshes, or, as the English say. gums. 2
 cite these different names for the same