The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-26
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

I went to Capitol park Thursday to see color for was not only interested in the men as soldiers, but I wanted to study them on the eve of their depature for the camps to be made ready for overseas work
 I have always been interested in the negro race I was born and reared in south Alabama just as the war closed and have seen people come up out of slavery until today America is calling them to service in the army on the same basis as the whites.
 But this is not to be the story of the rise of the southern negro. and. yet ris progress has truly been wonderful, and as the son of a slave owner, I am glad that the race is rising to it's many oppor- tunities sn way to win the admiration of the right thinking men of the domi- nant race.
 Now, l am going to pass over what the
  an education. what he has done in the matter of becoming a land owner and cultivator, what he has been able to ac- complish in the trades and industries. and even in the professions. just to give bit of his love of gaming which seems to be instinotive with a large number of the eolored people.
 Please bear in mind that the few cases l am featuring were the exceptions and not the rule among the drafted men at the park, fer the large part of the select men were sober, thoughtful, and facing the situation in a manly and patriotic manner, thereby winning the good will. not only of their own color, but the re- spect and the confidence, of the whites present.
 Some few had been drinking. Just enough to be talkative and funny. It was amusing to hear big, strapping black giant step up to one of the men assist ing in the checking, and say: 'Cap'n, please check me up just as quick as you kin and get me on the train and away frum here, for I had to give my wife the slip, and, believe me, I had rurther face the Kaiser and the whole German army than to have that woman get her hands on me-" Of course, it was a bit of ex- aggeration, but he pulled it in fine style and got big laugh, and went away grin- ming.
 I hardly know whether to give this ono or not, but I'll chance it. for any man raised in the south will understand it. An undersized and far from handsome specimen sprung the following domesttc confidence CT friendly group: T been good to my wife and bought her passel of clothes, case l wuz making good money; but the more I thought about leaving her beind all dressed up to catch some other nigger when I was gone, the more I concluded that the safest thug visit, and, believe me, burnt up every rag that she didn't have on her back And as If to clinch the humor and the shrewdness of his act, he continusd: Now, if any kind friend comes along 1 and steps in between me and her, he Il have to outfit her from head to foot. 2 1 He had no idea of furnishing her with a trousseau to marry some other fellow l if he overstayed his time or got killed.
 
 l Now, these two were just out of the way eases, for in the group were hna dreds who had gone into service with the consent and aid of their wives, and w;lc had done everything in their power te make provision for them while they wer. wearing Uncle Sams uniform. The leave l takings between many husbands ano wives were tender, natural and pathetic 1 shown by their husbands, and husbands were grateful for the plucky spirit evl | denced by their wives who were willins to stay at home and do their duty quietl, and hopefully,
 1 Now it is hard to get as many as ( thou-ani negroes together without soms OL tESfH pGiyiHS <AIficdH puiO II tHcs get chance. Some one in the crow. has pair of bones in his pockets whici just keep rolling over and malSin, "seben, or "eleben.'' and it Is just as, i'm possible for him to let them remain oi the inside of his jeans out of harms wa, as for the average small boy to keep { nickel in his pocket when he spies bis stick of streakedy, stripy candy in shov windod. The negro is just as ''bieeged |, let 'em roli." as the boy is to come cu with the sweet stuff showing in hs mouth.
 Now, am on dangerous ground, but have never believed it was right the wa. deputies under the fee system raded crap games and frequently were the cause 0 darkies beina railrOaded to the gang fo shooting dice.' l do not believe in gan, ] bling, but think often the way the lav has worked in Jefferson county was a much of an evil as the offense it wa trying to correct, and I for one am gia, the iniuuitous fee system has been put il the discard. The number of negroe Killed in craps raids was disgrace to tn imperial county of Jefferson. I stumbled across several craps game at the park Some were shooting
 dime, and some quarter and I saw sec