The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-14
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

my student days at Vanderbilt in the good old days when we boys had a chance once week to visit Wards and Prices, the two famous downtown institutions for young women.
 1 l remember reading in the life of Thackeray, or somewhere, the story of how he had stood in front of a cake wanted plum pudding more than he had wanted anything in all the world, | for his mouth watered for it and his stomach sighed for it. but tt cost a shill- ing and he didn't even have a penny. Then he grew up and passed the same he had a shilling in his pocket but his appetite no longer called for it. Call it fate, tragedy or what not, but life is much like Thackerays case.
 1 Later I returned to Nashville and preached at the First Baptist church dur ! ing the centennial which was in progress | in Nashville, and while engaged in this pleasant duty. an opportunity came my
 
 | prominent school for young women, but being an unmarried man, I sensed dan | ger and had the rourage to sidestep the alluring temptation. I thought, however, | that it would have been a most interest ing experience but always having a | sense of humor I couldn't see myself | as an ex-soeiety man chaperoning the ca- reers of bunch of pretty madens with out inwardy smiling
 | I got to thinking about the offer and l the possible change it might have made i in my life if I had fallen for it. the other ! day as l sat in the presidents office down at the Judson. Now, I never go to Marion without dropping in on my l friend Paul Bomar, who is one of the | brainest yet most modest men I have ever known, and who is the soul of hon. 1 esty and the flower of chivalry, for he | comes down through generations of the 1 best blood in South Carolina
 1 | was to have taken dinner with the domestic science class along with Dr. l James F. billiard, who was to be the guest of honor but a miserable trip in | rain and mud had eaten up the precious moments and got me back to town too late for the pleasure of eating the dainties prepared by bevy of charming young 1 cooks and served by a corps of lovely waitresses. It was my luck to get in after the dinner at the hotel was over and to have to eat at a cafe and be served by man, but to be truthful T ] shipment of oysters had just been de- livered from Mobile by express and I really enjoyed them, for the two-hour trip in the keen air had whetted my ap- petite and I really got a good cup of coffee, and crackers that were fresh and l crisp.
 | After lunch l went over to see Dr. Bomar and sat in his office as he was finishing up some routine work getting ready to take me over to his lovely home to meet Dr. billiard. Did you ever sit ia the sanctum sanctorium of the president of a college and while pretend ing to be absorbed in a book or paper find out that in fact your thoughts were taken up with the things which were being enacted under your very nose? It's an interesting experience. Now, remember he had informed me that the days work was practically over and that ] e had only to finish a few fag-ends
  l will not attempt to give a detailed &C., of IT, hot ing to try and give an impression oi some of the things which took place. In came the cultivated woman whose master mind holds the respect of the faculty and the girls and she had consultation Then came the matron who had the care she made her report Several teachers dropped by for minute for reports and instructions. The secretary was continu ally poking letters under his nose to be read and signed. All the while there were girls dropping in for advice. or with requests. It was a six-reel film being unrolled before my eyes. showing some of the duties and responsibilities of a col ege president.
 member of the faculty a cultured Engiishman, came in for a bit An army captain from the Marion Military insti- ute made his appearance to test out a magic lantern outfit for Henry Villers the famous artist and correspondent. was down for an Illustrated lecture As we started out Dr. billiard was at the door and we stopped by Professor Powell s. the music teacher, to get blackboard as he wanted to put the syllabus of his even-
 ing address on it. This took us in the big auditorium, and in passing we got a glimpse of the girls at work in the gym nasium.
 Long distance was calling and word came that the mother of two of the girls was very i'll and requesting that they be allowed to come on the first train Later l saw them looking very serious and troubled at the depot. Now, I am just giving few incidents which pull al man who stands guard over the wei fare of hundreds of girls who have beer placed in his hands to be trained for ser. vice in life. As I said good-by to friend Bomar. felt that upon his shoulders was placed great load but that he was bear ing it cheerfully and bravely.
 learned that Dr. billiard had charmed the faculty, the student body and ths