The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-10-22
MEN, WOMEN
AND THINGS

anu you IL SOOu Ieel
1 know what 1 am talking about, for
Tuesday morning 1 was bit off my
feed from the simple reason that for a
couple of days 1 was guilty of over eat
ing. A mighty easy thing for a city
man to do if he gets a chance to be
entertained in the way it Is done at Ash
vile.
So when I walked out on the porch,
instead of picking out the nearest way
to the car line, L lit out over the golf
course of the Country club and in lit
tie while I had forgotten my heavy feel
ing and was walking as if I was stepping
on air. There was something in the
scenery and atmosphere which had cured
me-
Fresh air and exercise are natures
twin miracle workers for driving disease
away, and just because they are both
free and so easy to have, are passed up
for things that can be bought in bot
tie and have to be swallowed. Fill your
lungs with ozone and you can come
mighty near being able to put paddock
on your medicine chest.
Walking merely to be walking with
ones mind on business will not turn the
trick To get the benefit of pedestrian
ism one must have mind free to take
in the beauties which surround him
Now, Birmingham is peculiarly blessed
in the way of attractive walks, for the
hills are all about, and even if one does
not care for s-country trips, the pic
turesqueness of the residential sections
make a strong appear.
Many men eat hurried breakfast,
run to catch a street car, or jump into
an automobile and rush to their business
as if it would go to smash if they didn't
reach it on a certain minute, and then,
after arriving, sit listlessly around and
squander hours of time or bum around
the streets or loaf at the club, or go to
a movie, or kill time in some way or
other, who would think it almost crimi-
nal to give 30 minutes to walking.
I am not talking about those who are
working for others and have to be pune
tual. I am speaking of those who are
masters of their time and can use it as
they see fit. 1t is not so much the hour
a man gets to his place of business as
the amount of work he turns out after
reaching it. Clock punchers are usually
clock watchers, and never get any JOY
out of their tasks
I was reared at Eufaula, where it used
to be a race among the merchants as to
who could open first. Some of the stores
were ready for business as soon as the
sun got on his job. This was bad
enough, but then each one wanted to see
who could keep open the latest 1t was
a terrible grind to be a clerk or even
proprietor in those days, for most of the
owners were themselves tied to the sys-
tenn
! BY degrees the ways of the city began
to filter in and it was learned that it
was not necessary to have breakfast by
candle light in order to catch the early
customer. That, in fact there wasn't
enough of them to pay for the trouble
and expense of the catching. Then it
dawned on some that the late night shop
pers were an expense rather than an as
set. Early rising and late closing was
largely matter of custom.
| I can recall how one innovator dared
| to remain closed until a. m. and closed
at p m. 1t was predicted that he was
! on the way to bankruptcy and that the
4, poor house would be his end. But some-
how his trade grew and he prospered.
Then some reformer nearly gave the
merchants heart failure by suggesting
that every one close at 6. A petition was
circulated. 1t was the topic of the hour.
Finally, after several defeats, it won
out.
The clerks had time to play baseball,
go bicycling, for in those days bicycles
were just coming into use. Those who
did not care for sports had chance
to work in their gardens or to take their
owned horse and buggy, for corn and
hay was cheap. I can remember when
some of the stables wanted $40 month
to board horse they were looked upon
as profiteers.
If you who read this live in the Noun
| tain Terrace district I ask you to take
my advice and strike for the golf course
nearest your home and with swing
tramp at least around the course and
then stop on top of High Ball. and
take score of long breaths until you
feel your lungs expanding like toy bal
loon, for if you will do this 1 am sure
you will thank me for this tip.
I go about a good deal, but I know
of no more lovelier view than can be had
from High Ball." On Tuesday morning
I stood upon it and took time to take
in the scene all around me and in the
distance. It's in the heart of the coming
residential section, and already the hills
tand valleys are dotted with beautiful
homes On the crest of Red mountain
sit those of Donald Conner, Bob Jemison
,Jr., Hill Ferguson, Bob Myers. John
Caldwell Watt Connors and Frank
Order, forerunners of the day when
there will be chain of them from
Mountain Terrace to Glen Iris.
/ never saw the links prettier. The
stretch of turf on Long Reach was al
Nha lob Of foot 1nOlr rod 1la