The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-01-03
A PEACE THAT e PASSETH ALL
 UNDERSTANDING

To the Editor of The, Age Herald That is the state of mind and heart of one who has made God his Father and Jesus Christ his Elder Brother. His word the man of his counsel, he lives in the scnshine of Gods love. Tho turbulent spirit and the fearful heart gives pl.ce to the indwellng spirit and all is peace. hore that devout souls who read these lines will share that feeling which comes over me this glorious Christmas time. , It seems all the sweeter since peace has come to the world and our brave boys are hastening to their mothers arms. How good it will be to look into their strong faces and hear them tell of their adventures. What joy it will be to make them comfortable and happy under the old family roof. And they shall learn war no more' let us hope.
 But I am thinking of another kind of peace To those who have long lived | in the south, memory brings back scenes | in the country at this season. The Christi | mas jug came into most homes and the Christmas eggnog was enjoyed before the Christmas breakfast. On the planta- | tion. "Old Marster' had all the slaves to come to the big house and there he dished out, with his own hands, dram to every one.
 l At the Hog rollngs" and the mouse raisings,' jug was brought to the home 1 the night before Following these days was a frolic at night, when many or the boys would imbibe too much or the ardent and stay out all night. Ihese were the days of seed sowing that created the taste for drink among whites and blacks and deadened the con- sciences of all; so they came to take It as a matter of course-a thlng that couldn't be helped. No doctor or under taker kept a record in those days; God only knows the harvest from the reck- l less seed sowing of the fathers.
 | On it went until the state and nation were enslaved by the liquor traffic. From 1 their writings, the inference was rightly drawn, that some great newspaper were drawn, that some great newspapers were swept into office by fraudulent elections. | Legislatures and state officials were bought The poverty, the crime the de- ception and degradation will never be known until at the last. when the books are opened for the final judgment How Ichanged all this today.
 ] peace that passeth all understanding | prevails all over our fair state and over most of the union. On that greatest day in the worlds history, November H. when news came of the signing of the armistice, when the people in the cities
 went wild with joy and kept it up with
 out interruption for 20 hours, mot an arrest for drunkenness was the record almost everywhere This Christmas which probably will go down in history j as the most extravagantly celebrated bids fair to make a record never before known for hilarious enjoyment without d suspicion of the presence of strong drink Surely it is the reign of a peace that passes all understanding.
 Not long since I was in Birmingham My grandson, a lad of IS, took supper
 with me and then excused himself "to meet an engagement with a friend. When I lay down that night I said to myself: How strange that I am moi the least uneasy about him. Not many months ago, with saloons at every cor liner, with enticing music behind tht screened doors. with the gambling hel and the brothel in easy reach. I would hardly have slept if he had gone out al night How changed Isn't it most won derful?"
 After this thought I fell asleep like ar infant. Parents who have boys, l con
 graduate you. It is great to live in days like these. Yes. and your pure girls, too are safe. They are not likely to die O
 broken hearts because of the curse O
 drink Surely we will not soon cease tt
 thank God for this. Peace that passe
 all understanding.
 w. B. CRUMPTON.