The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-11-24
MEN, WOMEN
AND THINGS

AhAo - " NC d SUI fhCCNN AeSCN+N
Jemison, Jr, who today is not only one
of the best beloved realtors in Birming-
ham, but who stands in the front rank
Of high-class real estate developers in the
United States, and who is a. housing ex-
pert.
Now do not get alarmed at the oper
ing paragraph, for merely pushed it to
the front of the story so that could take
liberties with him from now on until the
END 1 am going to call him Bob" for
that is what he is to his friends. and if
he has any enemies 1 have not made
their acquaintance or even heard them
give expression to it.
Now 1 have known Bob ever since he
was boy in knee pants, and from that
hour to this he has always been lovable
In saying this ! am not in the least re-
fleeing on his manhood, for he was a
manly boy just as he is a mans man;
but from his youth up there has been
winsome charm about him which has
made him a favoritc both in the social
and the business world.
Now know he is going to be bit
bored by what 1 am setting down here
in black and white, for he is really
a modest man in spite of his conspicu-
Gus position in this community. I have
watched him closely in all of the war
activities and before that when civic
matters were up and he never showed
the least desire to push to the front,
but when called out was ready to take
a hand. A newspaper man soon learns
the men who love publicity.
l have not been surprised at his ca
reer, for there is good blood in Bob on
both sides, but if he had not been more
than the average lad he would have
been spoiled, for from his childhood up
he has had the best, but the silver
spoon could not spoil him, and so he
grew up and went to college and came
out and married happily and set up a
home and worked hard and deserves
all the success which has come his way.
He never has frittered away his life,
but has always known the value of
time, and has been a hard and steady
worker. Some of those closest to him
think that he should develop the play
habit for he has had no side Zines, but
has found his happiness in his home
and recreation in his varied business
enterprises, and therefore has not felt
the need of outside pleasures as
many do.
Now, while glad that Bob has made
a material success, it is not because of
it that l am now writing, but from the
fact that in making money for himself
he has made money for others, and in
so doing he has been a developer in
broad sense adding to the attractive
ness of the downtown district by his
strictly business buildings and to the
beauty of the residential sections by
his picturesque additions.
Business with him has not been
matter OF mere money grubbing,
though he has gotten wealth out of the
ground Birmingham dirt has been in
his hands the material with which he
has worked out his artistic dreams
| think 1 know something of the deeper
meaning of art. Poetry, music, sculp-
ture and painting all have their source
in it; but the greatest artist is he who
can take the commonplace things of
life and make them beautiful.
For years / used to roam over the
mountainside behind, beyond, and above
the Country club district. l we'll re-
member one Sunday afternoon when I
came across the first work being done
in the Mountain Terrace development.
All the while it was going on Bob Jem-
son saw the chance for creating frame
which was to surround picture homes,
and when he took hold it was not long
before there was spread before us some
thing new and worth While to cali forth
our admiration.
He dreamed again of an industrial city
which would give to the workers a
chance to feast their eyes on green grass.
brilliant shrubs, growing flowers and
waving trees. Inc IlfSt pan OIL e air
field called for an appropriation of $780,
900 for the planting of 100000 trees and
shrubs so that with the going and the
coming of the seasons there would al
ways be something to appeal to the
tired eyes of men who had come home
wearied from their daily toll.
There was always to be at hand for
! the faithful wives something to give
them an opportunity to turn to when
worn out with household drudgery.
Houses with pleasing exteriors and com
Portable interiors were built, and space
left in front for flowers and in the rear
for vegetables Then prizes were offered
for the ones who grew the loveiest cut
! flowers and for these who raised the
best variety Of, garden truck
| Bob makes no pretense to oratory and
| is bit hesitant about talking in pub
! lie; but when he gets on the subject
| of better and prettier homes, when
| the problem of housing stirs his imag-
| nation and grips his heart he speaks a s
one inspired and never fails to hold
| the attention of his hearers He sees
| that attractive and comfortable homes
are among the best cures for discomfort
and restlessness and that it is wisdom
/ on the part of the great industrial cor
portations to give their emnIoveS q