The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-01-26
Rr HOLLY nALRYMPLE


 O VERY now and then there is just L1 nothing to do but be perfectly
 good "bromide" and this is one
 of the occasions, for I'm going to start out by saving: After all. what small place the world isl"
 And when I say that this old aphorism comes to mind especially at this time, if you'll read the rest of my story youi understand why.
 My valued and highly esteemed friend MT. NHugh Lee Kirby of Harper's Ferry. w. Va. whose social and financial con nections from China to the Bermuda Isles read like a fairy book, has sent me what I regard as one of the most inter esting letters l have ever read about a journey overseas" during wartimes.
 Mir. Kirby is now in Rome and his let ter bears the date of December '. 1918 His mission is purely commercial on this trip, as he has gone to Italy for his firm in order to secure contract to supply American coal to the Italian navy. On his way overseas he met and saw quite bit of Miss Margaret Wilson, the charming daughter of President Wilson, whom Birmingham recalls so pleasantly when she gave a concert here nearly two years ago for the benefit of the Red Cross, lending her lovely voice for this beautiful cause
 hold my acquaintance with Miss Will son in most happy memories, for not only did I enjoy her socially but I also had the pleasure of writing a story about her. and it was this little incident that brought her and my friend. Mir. Kirby, together on the big steamship Rocham- beau, which sailed last october 23, car rying these two nice people with hun dreds of others overseas.
 I wrote a little prelude so to speak, to Mir. Kirbys very interesting speech for the fourth Liberty Loan campaign last October Cor the story is what l call ''Pianola" hand-it played itself) when I used it in our paper, as I only had to introduce my nice friend to Birmingham people and let them read for themselves his forceful views on the subject of the war and our part in backing up the boys at the front by subscribing to the yari- cus Liberty Loan campaigns.
 Mr. Kirby happened to have copy of The Age-He-ald bearing the date of Sun day, October G. 191S which contained his speech, and in talking to Miss Wilson about the article he received the request from her for a copy of the paper to send to-her distinguished father. the President MT Kirby writes to me as follows:
 My Dear Dolly: l really feel ashamed of myself for my apparent neglect in fail ing to acknowledge receipt of the copies of the Birmingham Age-Herald under date of Sunday. October 6, 1918, in whicf YOU so kindly published my speech tha : ] prepared for the sixth federal reserve district by authorization of MT. Charles F. Horner. director general, speakers bureau. treasury department.
 Your introductory remarks concern ing myself and my business achieve ments were very flattering indeed an' I took occasion to have this articl photographed by Underhill, New York prior to my departure for Europe witt the expectation of sending it to you together with my photograph and letter of thanks for your kind consid , Neration. but due to the many dutie that were thrust upon me on account o my firm having selected me to repre- sent them on this business mission, fo which am now here, namely, to suppl American coal to the Italian navy, an the further fact that 1 was drafte