The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-16
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

For nearly a score of years it has been l a part of my business to go into every nook and corner of Alabama, for being the editor of the Alabama Baptist, had l to attend the Baptist associations and get in touch with my people who lived off the railroads, way back in the val leys cr nestled in the hills, and therefore am in { position to note the many chanV.~> 1sich have come since first began the work.
 I might say that there has been as much change in the modes of convey ance as there has been in the method of farming. There are fourscore or more Baptist associations, which begin to meet
 about the middle Of August and run through until the middle of November, and I had to be at as many of them as possible.
 Owing to the fact that many of them | were meeting on the same day, in far separated portions of the state, those of us who were scheduled to speak at them I were hard put to it to cover more than one-fourth of them, as it seemed to be an pull off a successful one in a town or city.
 I believe for years John Stewart, the superintendent of the Orphans Home at Evergreen, held the record for getting I to more of them than any of the men l in the general work of the denomina- l tion. but we put it on the ground that he l travelled all night, and slept during the i day. for it was notorious that he took
 a nap during the sessions, while the bal l ance of us spoke. l I had a man who was my field agent | for several years. It was Archie Glass,
 the friendly man about whom I wrote
 awhile back. Although he was in the
 fat mans class, he was one of the most energetic men I have ever known. He
 started out at the beginning of the asso- ciational season to cover more of them than John Stewart and succeeded by
 doubling back and forth on the railroads, anu SoiiieeiHeS iot tdhliS OH ms ciOtueS
 for days.
 There has been not only great change | in vehicular travel, but in better roads. In the old days, when an association
 was set for church 15 or 20 miles off
 the railroad, it meant that the secreta-
 ries and other agents of the denomina-
 ton had to spend day in getting to
 and from it. The country people are
 always most obliging in meeting the del egates and visitors at the nearest rail
 road station.
 | Now, whep I began making the asso- l ciaticns I never knew just what kind of l a vehicle would be in waiting for me
 when I got off the train, but I knew | I would be met if had notified the com mittee. Twenty years ago I thought l was some athlete, but if ever strong,
 healthy young man was shamed I was
 that man. I can't think of it to this
 day without blushing. for I thought was
 as hard as a pinewood knot.
 l It was down in south Alabama, where had an old gentleman over 70 years
 of age to prove to me that wasn't such a strong man, and that when it came to endurance, I was but a weak l ling alongside of him. knew the church was 20 miles away, and that it was one long sand bed through which we must travel. My heart sank when Il saw
 an ordinary farm wagon, without springs and boards put across the body for seats I
 I thought could stand it if the other. could. and my heart went out to thu old Baptist preacher at my side, for |
 was in the hot summer time and