The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-17
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

 passengers. and almost unconsciously boarded it. had about exhausted my gray matter not very difficult task, I had used up my physical strength, and to be per fectly truthful, l did not register very high spiritually, and to make a long story short, my whole morale was low.
 
 I just had a longing to get away from the news center, to turn my back on business, to side step the movies, to run from vaudeville, to change my physical environment, to get into a new atmos- phere, and see if it would not renew my anguishing spirits.
 
 Now, l dare say there are many men who at times feel as I felt, but did not know just where to go when the home team was on the road and that is why am giving them this tip to go to East Lake and put behind old MT Trouble, and just make up your mind to get a grip on yourself by watching the joy of the children.
 It was my first visit to East Lake this season and I was really surprised to see the number of improvements which have been made. I had always thought that the entrance was too crowded, but since the fire removed the big old dance hall, large open space gives one an air of room and welcome. It adds a hundred per cent to the looks of the grounds.
 The big thing in the way of a build- | ing is the famous "Pershing Pier" orig inally erected for a municipal dance hall 1 but after heated controversy. it was | buried beneath the name of the Public | Utility building. and despite the fact that it is well built, and ideally located 1t has never been able to recover from l it's christening at the hands of the city 1 fathers.
 know of no more attractive play ground than the one set apart for the l children It has swings, hammocks, slides and other things dear to the hearts of the litte ones; but the thing which ! brings the most joy to the boys and girls of tender years is the wading pool. which is always damned with crowd of merry faced, shrieking tots | I was particularly interested in the swimming pool, and was glad to find that the mud bottom which for many years was a drawback had been over come by putting in car after car of rock and then over this foundation tons of screening until now in conjunction with load upon load of sand, making it better and more comfortable than cement.
 The bath house has been greatly en- targed and besides the closets quite a large number of steel lockers have been how the bathing suits were washed and found everything sanitary. There is a room set apart for emergency in the case of accident. I learned that compe- tent matrons were in charge of the wo- mems department.
 I was particular to pay. especial at- tention to the condition of the lake, and when the bathers shouted to their friends on the bank, "come in, the water is fine" they were merely stating a fact It looked clear, and the sand beach was inviting I was told that when the lake was cleaned out some while back and all the water let out that it took only eight days in which to refill it, showing the vast volume of water which passes through it.
 Now, as far as to the apparatus in the way of diving boards, shute-the- shute, swings, rings, and other gymnas- tic regaa, the pool is well fixed. The board walk enclosing the pool itself in sures safe place for children and those who cannot swim, while the lake gives the experts a great chance to show theil : aquatic ability.
 I saw life guards on duty and ther' is always a policeman present to see tha aa a no one is guilty of rowdyisn. I hav
 been to many beaches as well as tt pools operated by cities and I never say a better behaved crowd in my life. saw many happy families, fathers anc mothers and boys and girls all havin t I rollcking time.
 s Now, if you are tied down to Birming = ham and can't possibly get away for
 summers outing, I would suggest tha | you go out and look over East Lake fo , yourself; and then take your. wife ou t and let her size it up, for I am sur
 that it will result in inspiring both t s take the little ones out for many an af !, ternoon and in this way solve the prob
 lem of how to get through the ho e months.
 Hugh Hill, the manager, is anxious t e have the best people in the district com d and investigate for themselves and take
 great pride that he is having the pleas " lure of entertaining this season the high '. est class of folks who have ever used tn S park Special arrangements have bee
 made for the comfort of those who wis a to come out and bring their lunch. 1T
 'r I came back to my work greatly re
 freshed in body and mind, and delighte o to know that at our very doors we had g pleasure resort ou of which we can a y get pleasure and in which we ought t
 take pride, and see to it that it is in 1t proved from year to year until it is wha t li. can be--one of the very best publi
 parks in the south.