The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-19
M D N, w o M E N
 A ND T HIN G s

Sunday morning before breakfast was called to the phone and found that one of my Livingston friends had passed away the ght before, as Fred Fl. Jones, after short illness, had been called home.
 In our youth we make and lose friends carelessly, fer life is all be- fore us, but when we reach middle age and start down the hill with life behind us we learn the true value of friendship and when one Of our chums drops by the wayside we feel the loss acutely.
 l count myself rich in the fact that all over the state I have made friends, men in many towns who would willingly go out of their way to help if 1t became necessary for them to do so. After sIlI it isn't safe to reckon riches in terms of dollars and cents for there are some things which money cannot buy, and one of them is friendship.
 Gold may be the acid test of friend ship, but it in itself can never be the true base of iti
 If we from wealth to poverty de.
 seend,
 Want gives to know the, flatterer
 from the friend"
 This couplet out of Drydens "Wife of Bath" is as true today as when he wrote it.
 It seems hard for me to realize that my friend Fred Jones is dead. It was only little while back tina was down at Livingston, his guest. enjoying his hearty welcome and basking in the sunshine of his happy home, partaking of the good thing of his table, and toying in the sprightly conversation of his charm ing wife.
 Livingston had had big daye It was the annual hog show and the town was celebrating the event in true southern style. Fred had been as busy as a switch engine all the and we'll into the afternoon, | and I had been in the ring with the judges and also in the auction box and was all tired out when Fred said | Come on, Frank, and let's go around | and see what Mrs. Jones has to eat?" | I went and she was ready for us and | we were ready for the dinner.
 We were talking about having a Sumter county fair and Fred was made president of it when it ma terialized and l had promised to run down and be his "ballahoo artist" and Good Man Friday" and was looking forward to the trip this fall with great pleasure, as it meant an- other glimpse of his home and chance to fellowship with the Sum- ter county men, bunch of as fine fellows as7can be found anywhere.
 On July received the following letter give it to show the hearti- ness of the man.
 Livingston, Ala, July 3, 1921.
 My Dear Frank;.. Being a Baptist, you have been down under the water; being crazy, you have been up in the air; being a dead game sport, you have seen most everything on earth, n rxrfi !, ,f,,~ | more thing coming to you yet, and that comes off down here in Sumter county, Gods country on Thursday, July ', at Sumterville. A real wild men. from the real wild west coun-. try.
 Now, when you see this your edu- ,ation will be complete. I have today sent The Age-Herald write-up of what is to happen down here; see hat it gets in. and then you make up your mind to come and don't fail me. ,or you know I love you. Come downsl ny own home, meet Mrs. Jones again, for she wants to see you. and we will 90 up to sumterville Thursday morn- ng, the 7th, and witness the big do- ngs.
 Tt will be worth your while and i'm going to insist that you come. Now, write me quick that you will be lere Your friend ever.
 FIRED II. JONES.
 Is it any wonder that I will miss ;uch a friend? Those who knew him test loved him most He was for ward looking man and always in the cad of every movement which had 'or it's end the betterment of his rome town, the progress of his coun- v or the elevation of his state. My ieart goes out in sympathy to his lear wife and other loved ones. .AmKzlaMdAnn1lI }
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