The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-11-11
M E N, WO M EN
 AND THIN G $


 the trouble to give it one. Then said l. Let me Christen it Alabama and change the motto from Here We Rest to Here Rest for it's the most restfui lplace have ever found.
 I have always remarked that I wanted to live in country place with all the comforts of city. Now the Derby home' Falthough F miles from the railroad, does not lack any of the conveniences to be had in town. It is in touch with the outside world by reason of a special long distance connection.
 I've written about the ground, now I'll tell something about the house, which is Ideally situated on the crest of a hill with trees all about it. It Is a typical ante bellum home of the best class, but mod ernized. The two big pillars connect 1t at first sight with the life of the old porch running across the entire front. and it's a joy to sit out on 1t as the sum shine floods it.
 
 I have always been partial to our native pine. think it's one of the most beauti- full of all the woods, and the only reason lit has not had the praise it merted comes from the fact that it has been so plentiful land cheap and common to southerners that they have failed to make use of it, and have given their preference to the lhardwoods. I believe, however, that the time will come when it will take it's I proper place for inside finish.
 I have been led to this little preach lment on behalf of our abundant pine be- cause the Derby home is finished through out in selected pine. The best use of it has been made that l know of in any residence It all was carefully selected. The floors and walls properly put on and finished exquisitely. Take it from top to bottom and it is one of the freshest and most attractive pieces of inside finish that can be found anywhere. Some of the doors are real works of art
 The great living room and the large dining rooms show what can be done with pine. The beams and paneling and built-in furniture show just what artis- tic effects canIbe gotten when used un- derstandingly. The walls and floors are finished in the natural color, showing the beautiful grains, while the doors and win dows are stained a. darker shade. l only wish that such home stood in every southern town and city as an exhibit to show the beautiful effects to be obtained lin interior decoration by the use of our soft pine.
 I was shown up into my room, large lenough with the bathroom to make a Ifve-room apartment in one of our modern icapsule apologies for dwellings. l have in mind such a pigeon hole arrangement as recently went through suite in Att llanta, which looked more like doll ihorse than a place for grown-ups to live in and rear family of children. The apartment house to which I refer is one of the few in which children were as well come as poodle dogs. The rent on it., however was by no means dimnutive, for it brought $l2o month
 Arriving after dark, I was surprised to see the Derby home brightly illuminated with electric lights; but just think of being able to.get into modern bathroom in the country, with every up-to-date convenience running water, sanitary closet and heated with hot water. On coming down for dinner l found in the great living room fire of glowing logs, built in an old=fashioned wide brick chimney place, which ran up to the cell ing. I was so happy and comfortable that ! IT could almost hear myself purr like satisfied tabby in a chimney corner on a winters night.
 I am not through with my discoveries of modern conveniences in this country home away from the noise of railroads and hid back in a corner of Sumter county I went down into the basement and saw the furnace and dynamos which furnished the electric power for sthe churning, the washing, the lights, the ice; flor be it known, everything on the place that can be done .by machinery is done Frank is great believer in util- izing every up-to-date method to get things accomplished. Having been in his home and seen all of his helpful and labor-saving devices at work, I'm not surI prised that he is able to come to Birming- ham and put pep into our most, pro- Igressive men.
 While Frank installs every modern in- vention to tighten the burden of living, his wife has bene most fortunate in do- ing something which I fear to tell, be- cause it sounds either like fairy tale or a pure fabrication. I hesitate to spring it. but trust the fact that am preacher will make 1t get by. She has had the same cook ever since she was married. Margaret. the cook. has little baby girl, and Allison, Franks 3-year-old son, when he hears it crying, says. Its my cook He was taught this by it's mother, show ing that as she had served bis father it was her aim to bring up cook for him. Sounds strangely unfamiliar in these days when most of us who dwell in cities are used to procession of cooks. I'll close this little glimpse into the | Derby household by relating another in- kcident which is just as strange as the one just set down about Margaret, the