The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-10-23

I have lived in many lands, but I un- hesitatingly say that the little ones in the United States are less restrained than in any countries in which 1t has been my fortune to take notice of them
 
 Now this is not to me an indictment of Pinfant terrible which has on many occasions caused old Europe to sit up and take notice that the great western hemisphere was breeding race of boys and girls with the wisdom of their elders, but it is rather to be an ap- preciation.
 Now personally have never taken much of a fancy to the Little Lord Fauntlery type, or the goody goody hero of the old style Sunday school library I much prefer the Heavenly Twins variety and even though they were bred in England they were more like then cousins on this side of the pond
 
 I am sorry for any parents who have to put up with a genius in the family. had much rather be the father of nor nal boys and girls, just the plain or dinary kind without any frills or fancy. want my pair to romp and play, and get dirty and muss up the house and keep it in an uproar. They do it.
 I live on a hill where boys abound and the gang is always near by up to some mischief or shouting at their games. It's a fine bunch of kids, and I like to watch them at their sports or without eavesdropping hear them as they talk unreservedly with one another is true boyish camaraderie.
 
 I am sorry for a home in which there are no children, and I am also sorry for the home in which there is only one child. Without being conscious of 1t people without children are apt to be- come a bit selfish unleAs they watch themselves mighty close; just as lone child without brothers or sisters is liable to grow selfish unless carefully guard ed against it.
 This is not to be a story on race sui eide or is it to champion any theory in regard to the limitation of families. however cannot help adverting to the old days when even a dozen or more chil- dren was not considered to be any too many in some of the best regulated homes. I may be wrong but it's my observation that as a rule the house. holds where many mouths must be fed and many bodies clothed seem to get along about as well as those where there are only few.
 My late friend Bob McDavid, one of the most lovable men I have ever known in my life, and a man of the greatest charity in the estimate of his fellow man, was also without any pre- tense to it yet genuine philosopher who got much joy out of life, and he gave much pleasure to others. I first met him at the University of Alabama where he was a great favorite. He moved to Birmingham and it was here we again took up our acquaint- ance which ripened into lasting friend ship. I saw him battle bravely from his days as a cub reporter until he be- came leading citizen, but he was al- ways the same affable, unspoied fellow with a kind word and a helping hand enemy I never met him, but he num- bered his friends by the score. I have said this much about him to illuminate remark which he made to me after his family had begun to grow apace. One day we were standing in | front of his office on First avenue and he said, ''Frank, there is new baby at my house When the first one came was afraid I wouldn't be able to make good living for it and I was consider ably worried, but when the stork got | to be a frequent visitor, I learned that the good Lord somehow added to my in- come and now I have no fears at all about his visits.'
 l I started out to tell about the fun I get out of watching children at play. l am sorroy the city went broke and the good movement inaugurated by George Ward for playgrounds had to be cur tailed on account of finances. George is an old batchelor but he will long be remembered by the boys and girls and 1 the mothers for What he tried to do to make it pleasanter for them
 1 sat here the other afternoon as the rain poured down and right next door on the front porch was little maid of some seven summers with her little brother of five, and it cheered my heart to see her mother him and to watch the way he fell into her scheme of play. l forgot the bad weather and thanked God that here below we have chance to renew our childhood in watching chill dren at their games.
 My heart has always bled and I have walked through the tenement districts of the great cities and seen the pitful efforts of the disinherted little ones Irving on busy streets and crowded pave ments to find spits in which to carry on their little games at the risk of life and limb. In the plans for civic center. and in the projects for the beautifying of marks, hope much thought will be given to creating suitable playgrounds for the children of Birmingham.
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