The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-10-07
M E N, w o M E N
 A ND T H NC S

also true that every red-blooded boy and normal girl likes to see and meet the men who stand out conspicuously for courage and daring
 |
 And so when Dr. C. A. Brown principal of the Central High School, appealed to me as superintendent of aviation of the Alabama State Fair to bring Jersey Ringel, the famous aviator, and his pilots out on Wednesday morning to talk to the pupils, 1t gave me great pleasure to as- sist, provided Jersey was alive at the time.
 Now, this provision was not at all far fetched. as can be readily seen that his ! is the third team engaged for this fair the other two having met with tragic deaths, and it being only a matter of time when Jersey will lose his life uh- less he quits the dangerous game id' which he is daily flirting with the old man with the scythe.
 l Wednesday morning at SEQ called for Jersey Ringel and Billy Brock. his pilot manager tJimmy Faulkner ducked). and drove them over to the High School. I found that they were both delighted at chance to give the student body al bit Of pleasure. I was also glad of the op- pcrtunity to introduce them to such an enthusiastic audience, for I knew that both of them would get a great hand. but was really not prepared for the rous- ing demonstration given under the cheer leader.
 | pr. Brown took us through a portion Of the temporary buildings, and I wish every patron of the shigh schools could see the overcrowded condition and the handicap under which teachers and pupils are working as it would create a greater desire when the time came for building to erect plant worthy of Birmingham. and also cause them to utter fewer com plaints in the interim, when everything possible is being done to care for the sit- uation.
 It was my first visit to the outdoor aud itorium, and when I stood on the platform and saw hundreds of healthy looking lads and rosy checked maidens seated on the benches in front of me or standing around them on the rear and the sides, I was made to realize the pressing need of a a great auditorium in connection with the building plans which are at present held in abeyance on account of prohibitive costs of material and labor. Commits lsioner Hornady has big problem be- fore him, and needs help and sympathetic Incorporation on the part of the public.
 
 had paid little attention to the state ment that there were npe than 1,5W students at the Central High School, but Iwhen they just came in droves and semed to overflow the yard and streets got some idea of the bigness of the job which Dr. Brown carries so well. To add to the crowd some 300 pupils came lover from the Paul Hayne. They arrived after the Central crowd was seated but the boys gallantly surrendered their seats to the girls.
 It was a glorious morning, and the stage setting was perfect, and the audi lence interesting. The band rendered a
 
 stood and read part of the wonderful 18th Psalm, which opens so beautifully: l The heavens declare the glory of God; and the Armament showeth his handy work" There was no need to comment o1 such a text, for all we had to do was to look about us and lift our eyes to the blue of the sky above to realize the truth of David's statement.
 Dr. Brown then introduced me and I l introduced Jersey Ringel and Billy Brock Jersey had told me on the way out that he had never made a spech in his life. and was a little shy about trying, but when called upon to tell how he first got up his nerve to try to loop the loop he did so in such a simple and Straightfer- ward way as to immediately catch the crowd. who realized that he wasn't pos ing bit, but just telling unvarnished tale.
 Here is his story For quite while II had been sitting astride the body of the plane as it looped and one day l said to Billy, after had taken a bucket or water each morning for quite awhile and practiced with it to see how slow l could make it circle without spilling any of 1t out, I believe I can stand up and loop but he told me I was simply crazy, but after much talkine\ of it ovey. we both decided it could be done, and this settled it''
 Continuing, he said: TOf course, the acid test was when it came to my lot to give Billy the signal to loop. I gave it, and believe me had the scare of my life when. standing upright with my toes sticking into a small loop like a slate strap, the machine gradually began to turn over as I did not know whether when it made the circle would be on the top side of it or the fellows below watch ing would be picking my remains up in : a basket. But it worked. and now Iara used to it''
 1 I found Jersey and Billy to be a pair of good fellows, for when Dr. Brown stated that there were several hundred boys and girls over at the Paul Hayne who were unable to come over, he would like very much to have us go over and visit them in their class rooms. They readily assented, and good naturedly wont from room to room. and under the Iguidance of Professor Going. patiently heard me repeat my old jokes. After we had worked the building and were on our way to the car. they both laughingly lremarked, Well, we've been through high school. taking the full course" 1 sss
 believe it was Beatrice Harraden who let her hero get killed by being run over by a milk wagon, and so remembering this as we three started to ''jay walk across the street to get to- our automobile, II say "jitney' racing down Twentieth street and clutched Jerseys arm and showed him along. for I wasn't going to let it be said that the king of the air fell a victim to the reckless driving of jitriey owner while he was under my charge.