The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-23
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

Back in my early manhood there came to Eufaula, my home town, tal- ented young Baptist preacher with. his lovely young bride, and while he was soon noted for his eloauence and she for her beauty and charm of mind, no one realized that in years both would become famous.
 am speaking of my good friend. William Lowndes Pickard. who having graduated at Mercer University, Ma con, Ga, had just completed his course at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary at Louisville, Ky, and mar ried Florence Martha Willingham. and come to the Blug City to begin his lifes work.
 Dr. Pickard is just little older than I am, but from the very start we took liking to one another which soon ripened into a friendship which has lasted for more than 30 years. and in that time our paths have crossed more than once. It was while he was pas-- tor in Eufaula that l came to Birming- ham to live.
 Now, in those days I was not all re- ligious, and my nearest kin were either Methodists, Presbyterians, Epis- copalians or agnostics. There wasn't t Baptist in the whole family connec- tion. I state this in order to show that in spite of my not being connected with the denomination to which my friend Pickard belonged still flatter myself that had something to do with his being called to the First Baptist Church in this city.
 Many of the old timers will remem- Der that he came here and served the church in the years 1SSs-sS. I was then young lawyer and a man about town, but I used to be pretty regular attendant on the preaching of the brilliant young minister who was packing his church on Sunday morn ings and evenings, and taking a big part in the community life, for while a student he was fond of public affairs and had gift of leadership which lwould have carried him far in the DO a profession.
 I knew Mrs. Pickard as a young ma 1 tron lowered with all the charm of the old south, for she was born at "Smyf- na," near old Allendale, one of the l most famous plantation homes in the Palmetto State, her father being known as the great cotton king" and one oi the wealthiest landowners in all Soutt Carolina. Thes willinghams refugee6 during the war to Georgia, where the l head of the family had for years owned large tracts of lands.
 
 To the "Yancey Place." the Willing. l ham home out from Albany Florie, as she was called in her childhood. was | fcarefully instructed during her tender years by governesses, but at the age oi l II years was sent to Tarrytown- on- the | Hudson, where she remained for . awhile, when she returned to Georgia and entered Wesleyan College at Ma con, Ga. where she put in nearly foul years in what is claimed by it to bt the oldest female college in the world | In Upson county, in the same state there was growing up young lad whc in time would sue for her hand. AnC 1 it is passing strange that the young girl reared in Methodist school would 1 one day give her heart and hand to hel sweetheart who graduated from tn, | great Baptist school of the same city But stranger still is the fact that afte 1 their union had been blessed with love ly daughters and stalwart sons tha
 William Lowndes Piekard would b. elected president of the college il which he was educated.
 This brings me to the point I set ou to attain, and that was to call atten
 ton to a book from the pen of Flor Nence Willingham Pickard, "Betweel Scarlet Thrones" written by her \ Macon, Ga, while occupying the pres ident's home of the great Baptist insti not surprising that she should hay
 penned it during the incumbency o
 her husband, as it gave her the use o
 the library, for she spent four year
 in study before she had properly gath cred and assimilated her material fo
 the historical novel which, issued b the Stratford Company. publishers
 Boston, Mass, has received such favor
 able press notices.
 Between Scarlet Thrones" is a TO
 nance of the days of Elijah. the He
 brew phophet. Mrs. Pickard did nc
 confine herself to the library of Merce University, for much of the matte
 used so powerfully was gleaned in season of research in Europe. being re
 viewed in manuscript by professor Q
 Oxford, England. But do not gathe
 the idea that it is book for the arch aeologists or the critic. for it is fo
 the busy man or woman interested i |; the lives of those who lived centurie
 ago. but whose loves and hates an Scarlet Thrones" were tho same as W have today.
 I remarked that my life had crosse
 that of Dr. Richards more than ono,
 First in Eufaula. then here. and late when I entered the ministry it was , great pleasure to find him as paste Of the Broadway Baptist Church a
 Louisville, Ky, when I was attendin , the Southern Baptist Theological Sem mary It was at this time that he ha 1 just written his historical move