The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-30
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

Sunday afternoon after preaching walked down to the Herren hotel in Springville to wait for the night train or to be ready to get a seat in a pass ing car.
 Shortly after my arrival a heavy rain storm came up and I noticed an automo- bile drive up and recognized Joseph Belt man and Herman Rich. They made run to get in out of the wet and along with them came two young men.
 
 One of them proved to be Joe Gelders, and they had come to take me out to spend the night at St. Clair Springs It serns that Messrs. Beitman and Rich had brought their wives and children up on the o'clock train to visit at the springs.
 It seems that Joe was obliged to make two trips to get the party out to the springs, but Messrs. Beitman and Rich, getting tired waiting for his return, set out to walk the four miles, but got tired before they had gone over mile and ! N It was well they did or they would have gotten good soaking.
 was glad of a chance to run out and get line on the way my friend Louis Gelders proposed to run the St. Clair Springs, for I knew that in spite of the virtue of the waters, the property had had its up and it's down, and that for season or two had not been operated, or is so, only in small way.
 1 We got tired waiting for the rain to Told UT so made dive for the car and went up the wet roads as fast as possible in view of their slippery condition knew that some of the clay hills were go- ing to put us to it to negotiate them without chains. I felt perfectly safe in an airship lodging stray clouds, but when was in began to "shmmy'' on the down grade I was bit nervous.
 We got out in view of W. D. Smiths home, and on the hill coming into Spring vile we saw four stalled automobiles It was cheerless sight to see handsomely dressed women out in the rain and the mud while the men were trying vain,y to push and prize car out of, little ditch. After endorsements came it was finally accomplished, and we got by only to find three more blocking the way
 It looked as if we were in good way either to spend the night in the car or abandon it and foot it through slush on ot the springs. But did not then know what a good driver Joe was going to prove to be, for he boldly sent his car close to gullies and near other machines until he had only one more to pass. I thought sure we had reached our Water loo.
 Three times Joe backed his car up the to the right into the grass to get by, but each time it got in the same old rut and headed straight for the machine at the bottom of the hill Finally when we were about to call it off, he said thae with everybody pushing the front wheels it might be possible to round the automo- bile which was blocking our path.
 I do not know whether it was because was a preacher or fnom the fact that had on white canvas shoes but when started out MT. Betman said, No, doctor, you just sit tight and we will be able to do the job without you" Now l wanted to take his advice, and I appre- cited his wish to keep me from get ting wet, for it was raining hard, and yet I didn't want to be company, so I thanked him, saying I would pdll my shoes off and wade in and do my part. But luck was with me, for the first shove turned the trick and away we went. | I never saw two men take a pleasure trip so phiosophically in spite of weather conditions. Both Mr. Beitman and Her man had walked a mile or more in the sun and gotton their collars wilted, and then up came downpour and they got a good wetting, but they were out to en- joy themselves and both steadily refused to be downhearted, and after scraping the mud off of their shoes and washup they were as cheery as if the sun had shned on them all the way.
 Louis and his good wife gave me hearty welcome, and after a bit supper was announced, and we all filed into the big roomy dining room with capacities commensurate with the difficulties we had encountered en route. We ate our evening meal with relish and found our [ way out on to the verandah and made pleasant circle and whiled the time away in pleasant converse.
 My day had begun at a. m. and had lbeen full of events as set forth in Mon days story, and so when I retired about Il D. n I did not need to be rocked to l sleep, but was soon in dreamland. The call for breakfast came, it seemed to me only a very little after I had gone to bed. But up I sprang and got dressed in , time to be on time, for I hate to be late. We strolled around a bit after break , fast, and then the summon came to get : ready to ride into the city, for John Calman and his family were going into the city for the day and had kindly of fered to take me in along with Louis and Herman. We left after and after } a pleasant run of an hour and half arrived safely. John handles his Hudson with ease. The fields were green and good to look on but the feature of the ride was the constant singing of the cute little 2-year- old of Mir and Mrs. Cal 3 man, whose merry little chrp was l ;p'c in tba