The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-28
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

the youngsters had inc swim, and then we sat on the banks of the lake and had supper.
 l was surprised at the number of peo- pie who were having family parties. If you can't get away this summer and want an outing, just take the wife and the Eddoes out to our great city recrea- ton grounds, and I am sure you will thank me for the tip.
 After supper we tried out the various amusements on the grounds and there are a number of very clever ones. If you East Lake you must be sure to join the children in seeing all of the things to be seen and in doing all of the stunts provided for fun-making.
 If you are fond of rowing there is ex- cellent sport to be had on the lake, which is large enough to give one all of the exercise needed if only one trip around it is made, though many spend hours rowing up and down. I found that those in the boats spent much time anchored 
 CTS.
 Rowing is one of the best developers there is in the way of athletics. have seen many forms of sport, but know of none which takes all the sap there is in fellow like a rowing contest. have seen the men in some of the regattas make a pitiable finish. collapsing as their shell went over the line, but this is only in the long, gruelling contests.
 Now, personally I have never had much of a chance at boating. It is true that tahoochie, but about all we boys ever got in the way of rowing was a rather poor substitute, for it consisted in pad ding batteau, not very classy kind of a performance. and yet somehow we got a lot of fun out of it. There is an art in it just as there is in canoeing. The little steamer on the lake is one of the new things which is making good, and it is always filled with happy crowds. It is really a cute affair and yet to show how things strike people differ ently, Hugh Hill told me of an old couple from the country who stood before the diminutive boat in awe and wonder for bit, when the old man said, Mandy, it's the biggest boat I ever seed" Evidently he was measuring it by the batteau he had seen on the creek or in the mill pond back home.
 
 One of the spots around which there was always a crowd was the place where little pickanninies were perched like blackbirds on a roost while strong arm ball players were testing their skili in throwing in an effort to hit a sphere about as big as a sunfsower and release a spring which meant the ducking of the happy negroes who were shouting all kinds of defiance, and only ceased long enough to keep from swallowing the pooi as they hit the bottom.
 A ride through the grotto is said to be the biggest dimes worth on the entire grounds for sweethearts. I learned that | 1t is not good form for any one to get l into boat when a moon-struck swain and a love-sick maid are occupying seat: but to meet the case must wait | for another boat to come by before en- tering it. The ride is really an exciting affair and always gives pleasure to those who take it. It's the best of its kind
 I have tried.
 It seems the Ferris wheel never ceases to please, and it's poor park which IS without one. A ride on it gives one U good chance to get a good view of the
 rark and the surrounding country. It brought back memories of the great Chi
 cago exposition, as I was making the | trip on it. The first time around fre- 1 auently makes one gasp for breath, but
 after a time or two the sensation of
 rounding the crest is pleasurable. 1 Now there is one thing on the grounds IT advise you not to tackle unless you have a good head, and that is the whip. IT mean by a good head, one that is not easily upset and well fastened on ones shoulders, for when the cracker pops. one is liable to think that his neck has been dislocated. It's good fun for those
 who are not given to dizziness and who do not get easily upset, for it is some whirling and jerking. enjoy it. I suppose the greatest thriller of all is the roller coaster, and it is always a prime favorite., have tried them out all over the country and never tire of the sensation. The longest and widest ride
 ever had on one was in Philadelphia
 mark with a friend and his wife, and I'll never forget how she lined him out foi lover-persuading her to accompany him
 The sad mart about roller coaster ride lis you can't get off if you find that you
 do not like it.
 Pads in amusements may come and go
 but a flying jenny as we called them ir
 nv boyhood days never seases to. make it's appeal to children. I have heard most
 of the grand operas. but no music hal
 ever stirred and thrilled me as the tunes
 which floated out in the days of my
 childhood from the organ of the merry
 go-round. My what tremendous thing
 it was to choose between riding lion
 a tiger, a giraffe or Nprse.
 I found the ostrich and alligator farm
 q very interesting place. In it are som'
 snlendid specimens of birds, and on'
 can get an idea of how they are raised