The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-09
M E N, w o M EN
 A N D HIN G s

W. Falmer, president of the Alabama Technical Institute and College for Wom- en at Montevailo, saying:
 The evening of the first Monday in March each year our students observe as college night This comes just after the close of the second term examinations.
 Tt is an evening given to fun and frolic. There is to be this year some contests between opposing factions of the college. They voluntarily divided themselves into two sections. l do not know the pro- gramme. If I find out later 1 win send it to you It is the custom, as you know, in colleges to keep many such things se- eret from the president.
 They are going to offer prize and this prize. The students wish to invite you to deliver the prize. You will not be one of the judges Those who are appointed judges will render their de- cision and hand to you in a sealed en- velope the results of their deliberations. You will then be introduced to the aud fence, and, in their presence you will open the envelope, make such remarks as you see proper and announce their de- cision 10 or l5-minute talk will come
 in very appropriately"
 Did I accept? I did, and right glad l got the chance, for I am just back from Montevallo, which at one time was the I shopping point for old Elyton and the bal ance of the Birmingham district, but at present is overshadowed by it's younger sister, being the home town of many cui- tured and hospitable people with one Of the states greatest seats of learning. which is growing so fast in the love of it's daughters that it is unable to find place for all who seek to make it their alma mater.
 Maybe you don't know any more what College night is than did before my visit, but all I have to say is that the boys at the state university and at Au- burn will have to wake up if they have bigger time at their celebrations than do the girls at the Alabama Technical Institute and College for Women. (My what long nameD One good thing about it, however, is that the name is descrp- tive of the school, and almost makes the getting out of cataiog unnecessary. Mrs. Palmer saw to it that while Dr.. Palmer was inviting me- that Mrs. Bar nett got an invitation to be her guest. There is nothing like being well chape- roned when visiting a college for young women. We left Monday morning on the fast Louisville and Nashville train for Ca lera, where we were met and driven to Montevallo oyer a road which is fair sample of the way many of our high ways have been left to the tender mercies OF the weather and the traffic without having been kept up. This is no siam at Shelby county, for the same conditions prevail all over the state.
 If the road was rough and full of holes, the jolting was not enough to spoil the beauty of the country make one in sensible to the balmy breath of spring. The roadside was in many places fringed with the white blossoms of the plum trees, while the pink of the peach trees added just that bit of color to the land- scape which make it a joy to the eyes to look on the flowers of God so profusely scattered on the bosom of Mother Earth The plowed fields looked fragrant and rich, and some patches of green showed and doing.
 | I have always liked to be in the center of things. There isn't drop of hermit kplood in my veins. Let all who will turn their back on their fellow man and seek the desert but as for me. want to live close by the side of the road, or in the heart of the city. I am with Mrs. Wiggs of cabbage patch fame-"folks is more company than stumps." The reason I got to thinking about the center was from the fact that on our way from Ca- lera to Montevallo we saw across the fields the lone tree in kind of inctosure which is the geographical center of Ala bama.
 Those who think that old-time southern hospitality is perishing from the face ot the earth may learn better if it ever be- comes their good fortune to be enter tained in the presidents home at Mon- tevallo, for it's bred in the blood of both MT. and Mrs. Palmer The former 1 have known from my old student days at the university, and the latter from her young ladyhood at Union Springs, the sis ter city of my own home town of Eu- fsula. Any one who comes into the pres ence of this lovely couple are sure to catch the aroma of ante-bellum days when knighthood was in flower.
 Just word about the presidents home It is not a modern house in the sense Of | the term we use to describe our city homes, and yet it has all the conven- | fences; but it is different in it's roominess, being built on bigger scale than the compact residences of today. Somehow it seems to fit into the scenery as well as the mode of living, for be it known houses have personality just as pro- nounced as people. The moment one steps into the Palmer home he loses all sense of being cramped and unconsciousiy his nature begins to expand and responds to the friendlness of it's welcome
 After lunch l took stroll around the grounds. with Mrs. Palmer and my wife, just letting the beauty and the peace of the environing scene sink deep into my soul as we stopped to note a building, nl,,cL flowar watch the chickens