The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-18
M E N, w OM FEN
 A ND THIN G s

NOW man may be a great author and turn out "best sellers" and be the envy of all the critics who do not understand the art of producing literary stuff that will sell, for as rule the higher" the critic the less liable is he to make hit with the man in the street"
 A great writer may also be a disap- pointment when one sees him in the flesh. I have had some of my dreams shattered by being introduced to a celeb rity in the realm of literature who in my imagination lowered high as an indi- vidual, but whose personality proved to be- stale, flat and unprohtable" for so- cial intercourse
 It is equally true that some great au- thors. both among the publishers and the reading public, have disillusioned their hearers when they invaded the plat form and had to stand out in front of an audience and talk instead of letting their pen give forth their message, for while they wrote with boldness their speech was tame, and to use a theatrical term, was unable to get across"
 
 But having read seen and heard Irwin Shrewsburg Cobb, "1lI tell the world" or rather the little world in which I move, that the Centennial Baby" the joy and pride not only of the Paduchians, but of these United States, is more than an in- diyi1uaJ. ha te. {1r to be syndicated as is his literary pro- duet. The kentuclxian is to my mind better than. his stories, and they are about the best I know anything about
 l reckon he is tired of being called Mark Twain No. D. for no real man wants to play second fiddle to even so great character as Samuel Langhorne Clemens Having ''reckoned" as true southerner, I will now guess" as do our neighbors above the Mason and Dixon line, that he is also bit weary of being singled out as a second 0. Henry. The truth of the business being ute" for anybody. His goods can be marketed undeEsthe name of Irwin Cobb.
 If Cobb never does anything else, in my opinion he has made an enduring name for himself in the creation of the lovable small town American, Judge Priest. I wasn't at all surprised when he told me that the lovable old Kentucky judge was in sense taken from life, and he named the man and gave me some interesting data about his career; but of course, like any author, he took the liberty of making him composite type. The judge is sure of immortality, for he is the incarnation of type that is the best beloved in Dixie land
 As ranged myself alongside of Cobb was startled to find that he was so tall. for l had gotten the idea from his pictures that he was a short rotund person, whereas he easily reaches the height of six feet, and is we'll set up and looks every inch the typical kentuckian Tor he has the slow, easy gait of the thoroughbred which is the sure sign in horse or man of staying power and a reserve force which will be equal to any strain demanded on the track or in the race of life.
 l remarked to him on the mistake I made in mentally figuring just the kind of individual that l would find him to be. He laughingly replied that for some reason or other the cartoonsts had de- cided to make him out fat pudgy fel- low and he reckoned he was too far advanced in years to live it down. The point of the cartooned, if there be such word. is that they do not do the work unless to certain extent they are cari- catures. Men in public life ought to bear this in mind and not get their feelings hurt when they look upon their likeness in print, and just credit it to the slant eye of the artist.
 For the benefit of those who did not have the pleasure of hearing him or the privilege of meeting him, I will say without prejudice to any one that to the best of my ability in tracing lkenesses his faces resembles that of Dr. Eugene Jacobs, though not so good looking; while from the rear view I had on the stage from which he was featuring he reminded me of Sidney J. Bowie though not quite so large. I hope Cobb is un- acquainted with our local druggist, and that Jacobs has never seen the distin- guished author; and as my cousin, Sid, sat in front of the visiting celebrity he cannot take offense at the comparison made between the two.
 I'll confess that I was bit afraid that Cobb would disappoint me from the standpoint of lecturer, as it is the acid test of mans ability to talk. I've been a talking machine for more than quar- ter of century. During the passing of the years I have preached many ser mons, l have spoken to many juries, I have made unnumbered addresses on all kinds of themes, but I unhesitatingIy say that the hardest kind of speaking that know anything about is featuring. This is one reason why I have always turned deaf ear to the lyceums which have tried to get me on circuit.
 I have no way of Knowing how Cobb got on to the difficult game and I forgot to ask him. I suppose however, that in the days when he lived in Pa- ducah. like most southerners. he was born and brought up on oratory and got the chance to exercise his gifts as re- porter and editor. speaking as occasion offered at commencement exercises, pie nics barbecues. county fairs, political meetings or wherever Kentuckians came together I gather this because there was nothing in his manner which was a all suited, as if he had been coached late in life by some elocutionst.
 It was for the reason that his delivery was free, his way of standing easy his gestures spontaneous and his voice nat ural that he caught me from the very start. I was afraid that talking had come to hinr late and that he would bear the marks of having been hastily licked into shape as lecturer. I am always ready to give attention to any man who is without pose, and who gets down to