The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-27
M E N, w MEN
 AND THING s


 Movie stars, terpsichorean wonders, prominent suffragettes, noted club wom- en and lovely society matrons are con- verting the lobby of the Tutwiler into a veritable peacock walk" while the dcbltantes furnish just the youthful at- mosphere needed.
 Then there are big things on foot not at all associated either with the screen, vaudeville, politics or federated club un- dertakings, as the education drive of southern Methodism is in full swing, the banquet to a noted Sunday school leader a feature, while in the back ground is the evangelistic campaign among the Baptist churches.
 On top of this is the movement in the interest of the miners families and the visit of Josephus Daniels. It's good thing that the Birmingham baseball club is touring, for were it here I fear that cover everything would find the task too much even for them, and would throw up their hands, crying: Hold, enoughn'
 If any one has doubts that Birmingham is in the metropolitan city class this weeks entertainments, with the ones to follow the coming week, ought to forever settle the question. I recall in the old days of the Cosmus club, before it and the Alabama were merged into the Southern club, that a young man from sister city came here on a visit and spoke of it as jay town," but this was islander at the time, and if the truth must be told at present, from what I have stated above, it might be truly characterized as jazz town.'' 1 l have seen Birmingham grow almost from the village stage until today 1t is the Magic City" I think man has a right to take pride in the fact that he is well born and to make much of his family tradition. It is feather in ones cap to have three generations in oil," and no one need be ashamed even in this have a. coat of arms, even though it may not be emblazoned on his car. l A ride through Elyton the other day got me to thinking about the men who settled in Jones valley. I we'll recall that a score or more years ago it was the fashion among the newcomers to speak of the old families as "mossbacks" and to boast that it would be their priv | .J,,4.. things in society. business and politics The newcomers were, so to speak, feeling l their oats.
 There was shake-up at one time when many of the old residenters who had held or controlled the offices found out after election day that strange faces were at the seat of custom; but did they quietly take a back seat and forego their rights as officeholders? Not so that it was noticeable, for they got together and soon were back in power and at present are the dominating force in city and county elections.
 
 My dear friend, the late Robert P. Mo- David, one of the handsomest, most agreeable and lovable men who ever married into one of the old families of Jefferson, remarked to me one day at the funeral of one of the old pioneers, that the old families fought among them selves in business, society and politics, but whenever any one of them got into | trouble or outsider bucked up against one of the tribe, the others rallied for defense and offense.
 It was equally true that for awhile it | 1nnl aI tb@ rf-,I1 ;nlr; ,cr up the best bargains in real estate in trade, and in mining and manufacturing. The old-timers were looked upon as be- ing slow and overlooking the chance for speculation. It is true that it took sanity and nerve for them not to become plung CTS, but most of them held on to what they had. and all who did this are to- day on Easy street. while many of the daring from the foreign fields dropped their piles in dirt or speculation. 1
 I have lived to see a change even among the children of the old families, For while some of them rather felt that their parents were not making the show which the newcomers were making in society; but now that they have chill dren of their own I notice that it is with pride that they tell them of their grandparents who were the backbone of
 
 changed from village into struggling town, and then into small city and now into a great metropolitan district. | I am glad of the influx of people from all parts of America and from the round world, for our population is a mixed one Some of the most adventurous blood iE tkese United States went into the de- veloping of this section. True it is a new town, for we are just in the midst of getting ready for it's semi-centennial; but into Birmingham came some of the best blood in the land. It is largely what it is because it is a cosmopolitan city. I am glad, however, that in business, society and politics that the old families still have power and command the re- spect of all It is their right and due and speaks well for them and for those who give it.
 1 If we get excited over the appearance of a dancer who is played up by expert publicity men: if we lose our heads over the visit of a beautiful movie star who is press -agented with what amounts to genius, Jet no one feel ashamed. as it is a part of the great American game of ad- vertising: This is day when no man or woman wants to hide their light under a bushel, and why blame Dorardino. Clara Kimbal Young or ourselves if they and we like to be seen on the great "wbite way?
 It's an advertising era, and the church is awake to the fact that it has some thing worth talking about in the press and setting forth in placard and on Dill boards Mel Trotter was billed all over Birmingham just as is the Baptist evan