The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-04
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

IS so much or It, ana here in BRmlng-
 ham it seems that there are weeks in
 which the weather man gives us a sam
 pie of every kind he has in his weather
 shop.
 1 know all about the sunshine gang who preach that no matter what kind of
 weather comes ones way, the best way is to smile and make the best of it. It lis a real happy kind of philosophy, but I
 lave never reached that stage of op- timism where the weather fails to have an effect on me if it happens to be pecu- IIiarly nasty as the English say. |
 1 Yes. I know that it's a good doctrine to give publicity to that man should be
 superior to his environment, Npt l have
 noticed that usually those who are the loudest in advancing the idea belong to
 class who are fortunately placed. and preach it to those who are hemmed in by circumstances in such a manner as to
 make them utter a protest against their conditions
 | The near truth is that we are all af- fected by the weather and influenced by our environment for born the atmosphere and the surroundings color our think | ing as well as our actions I remember orce quite a learned kinsmen of mines strong of mind but fraii of body, was visiting me here in the old days when the Lakevew Hotel was in it's glory. The
 fare was good, the rooms airy the walks
 fine and the views fine.
 !
 l One morning as he came down to break
 fact I said: Uncle Sam. how do you feel
 this morning?" With a rare whimsical smile he answered: Frank, to tell you
 the truth, the environment is lovely. but unfortunately the organism is bit rick ety." That is the tragedy of living. for | frequently those who mentally are so vigorous are frequently hindered in their work because they have to drag around with body which is unequal to the task. The trite old saying about sound mind prayed for by all who wish to get the most out of their pilgrimage here below. | buI take OH my HdL tO all lHt DlcoSCd ones who in spite of physical handicsps, the shut-ins who have through suffering learned the art of patience. and whose cheery souls refused to be downed, go on with happy, smiling faces, living ex- amples of the power of spirit over mat put those of us to shame who are queru- 1 lous in spite of health. But I have noticed they do not bore their friends l by continually posing as having overcome tEeir environment. but simply let it show I forth by their acts.
 The happy y-habiters I am after are the ones who make a profession of it until they acquire the pained smile that will not wear off. and then. make instances 1 of themselves by continually reminding these who come into their presence as , to how happy they are. Sure. believe in encouraging men and women to culti- yate a cheerful outlook on life. but that 1 is no.reason why if successful they should I try and erect into a cult what nature in- tended should be natural.
 | I afways pay tribute to any one who has the ability to rise superior to their environment when they are modest enough not to turn it into a preachment. but go on and attend to their own busi- ness without wanting to reform every body and everything by having them go through just the process through which they went This means to stereotype a thing which is better if left unregulated. am aware that some will call me to task for disparaging the propagandist who spends his life in trying to make mankind fit into a certain type of mold.
  It's an old saying, that if three Eng lishmen come together. and it is found out that they are having good time soon two of their countrymen will get together and form society to pre- vent them from enjoying themselves. This no doubt is an overstatement. but we must all admit that there has s~<n regular rage, not only in America, but throughout the world, to regulate every body and everything. This old globe of ours seems to be on a regulation spree. It's high time for it to sober up.
  I am writing in my present mood as reformed reformer, a very scarce animal. I admit that I am liable to fall and get hack into the first new reform movement which comes along, but just at present think what the country needs is to get out of the grip of the professional re- formers, both in private and public life, for unless something is done they will destroy the joy of natural home life and make public welfarp nuisance. It ap- pears to me that the good old Bible slogan, Am I my brothers keeper?" is being overworked, as there are too many ,ast at present who wish to play the big br aerp to men whose need is to stand on their own feet without any outside Dropping
 Sure. there is a fight with the slum and other sore spots in our civilization which must be waged not by sentimental "sium ming" parties who are merely out for new sensation. but by trained workees i.SiS6uu.Ss-st seek to remedy the r.,xss .,d
 1nuA ..-iIr uaunnu 'eii- trained to fight t,,y .s''-.- :, but I am sick of ..ateur variety which take up some form of reform work | as a fad or to get publicity out of their