The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-04-06
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

vored in the weather way beyond some other cities.
 I read about the Easter parade in New York, how in spite of the driz- zling rain and skies which threatened a snowstorm, Fifth avenue was crowd ed with churchgoers, and the women appeared in fur neckpieces to keen from shivering in their spring suits.
 
 I have witnessed several of the fa- nous Easter shows in Gotham, and sim ply as pageant they are we'll worth going long ways to see. am not now taking into account the religious side of the matter, but simply treating it from the standpoint of dress, for it has come to pass that the day is as- sociated in the minds of many, more with glad rags" than with lilies. |
 After all, it is a very human foible to want to be well dressed. and when woman cares little about what she wears to say the least of it. she is abnormal; but from the accounts. the men in New York were almost as gay in their clothes as was Joseph in his coat of many colors, and vfed with the fair sex in appropriating the rainbow hues.
 cant help having sympathy with the saying of brilliant young woman whom l knew here in the old days. when Birmingham was young and we all knew one another. I do not know why, but the subject of religion was being discussed, when she made the very feminine remark, T never feel so religious as when I am seated in my pew conscious that l am the best dressed woman in the church I am sure few men will understand her state of mind, but her sisters will get her meaning, and know that she was telling the truth, and at the same time exposing her sex, am not, how ever, going to stop here to defend the philosophy of good clothes, for just at this time some of the millionaires are drawing attention to themselves by 1 the patch on their trousers. l But l am glad that Easter means more than good clothes, and xhat on Sunday the churches in the district were well filled with earnest men, con- secrated women. and happy -hearted children, all intent on hearing the won- derful story of the resurrection, the thing which steals away the gloom of death and lights up the life beyond with joy. It's the heart of the gospel story and differentiates it from the other world faiths.
 l got up rather early, and. looking out of my window. rather dreaded the trip ahead of me, for I was scheduled to preach out of town. After break fast, as I strolled toward the car line, a neighbor picked me up in his ma chine and carried me downtown. where caught a Gate City car. l then en- wasn't by any means the only passen- ger.
 The young chauffeur had not even so much as heard of the ruling of the city commission against overcrowding dare say his feelings would have been. badly hurt if he had stood as I had stood recently before on Bromberg's s corner from ten minutes to six until twenty minutes after only to have two Lakeview cars pass with the "car full'' sign. It may be good law, but I am a born scrap hanger" and hate to see the old street car watchword, There the discard.
 The driver of the jitney left Gate, City with nine fares in his run-d down Ford, but a little way out two more passengers were waiting, but on seeing the load were about to step aside when they were told to get aboard, for, said at all; I have carried as many as twen- ty- three," and in, or rather on, they got and somehow the car went up hill and down hill as if enjoying the burden it was carrying.
 I arrived just in time for the sermon, and in spite of urgent invitations to stop and take dinner. I declined, for on the way I had run across an all-day singing and in spite of having to fore go real, sure-enough country spread, got an obliging young fellow to run me down to Pine Grove church to get there just in time for the opening of the afternoon services.
 City people. and particularly here in Birmingham, have had great treat in the community sings" which is but a glorified translation of the old-t time country "all-day singings." One req son community sings" have had such success in Birmingham Ia because a large part of our Population is made up of boys who were reared in the country. Leader O'Barr spied me in the audience and asked me to make the opening prayer. There was a dis tinct religious atmosphere in the church and it was good to hear a lot of the old hymns sung with such fer ,or.
 I got to the city in time to be pres ent at the mems meeting at the First Baptist Church, and it was a wonderful service. pr. Hamilton was at his best,