The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-06
M E N w o M E N
 A ND T H N G $


 10 tell me that the Fourth of July was breaking heat records, for about Tn the afternoon l climbed the hill which leads to my home, and before arriving knew that Old Sol was do- ing his best
 believe that Christmas and In dependence Day are holidays which ought to be celebrated appropriate iy; but for the life of me I cannot 1athom why these days are turned around so far as the way they are Kept in the north and the south.
 A southerner on the other side of the Mason and Dixon line on. the Fourth of July gathers from the fire- crackers that it's a Christmas cele- oration, while the Yankee on this sloe on Christmas imagines it's the Fourth which is being honored. l hrst learned this in my youth when happened to be sojourning one sum- | rner in a cooler cline.
 | nave spent the glorious Fourth in the south, in the east and in the west, but If an American really wants to feel the thrill of the day he must at the time be travelling or living abroad. I'll never forget the day as it rolled around during my student days in Paris, Vienna and Berlin, as it's the one time during the year when the ambassador keeps open house and every citizen of the United States in reach makes a call upon him.
 In this country the greatest cele- brations of the day have ever had part in was in New York, for while much has been written against Iammany Hall, one thing at least can be said in its favor, and that is that it makes the Fourth of July a red letter day by the reading of the Declaration of Independence and lis tening to patriotic addresses by men of national reputation.
 | am glad that here in Birmingham the day was fitting1y observed, and that the grand climax came at night, when thousands gathered at Wood row Wilson park to hear the munich pal band, witness the beautiful tab leau representing the fatherins of |
 the allies of the World war, and lis- ten to a splendid ~oration delivered by the Hon. Sidney J. Bowie, the fer vent talk of pr. A. II. Elkourie and the reading of the immortal docu- ment by George L. Bailes.
 | l spent the day rather quietly, coming down in the morning and writing my story and promenading 1 in the downtown district, which, however, was as deserted as on the Sabbath day, for every one who could was either resting at home, at one of the parks or spinning along the highways in their cars. The stores were all closed, the offices shut, and the traffic almost at standstill. l met a few out-of- town friends who had run in for the day. | I was just killing time against the hour when I was bidden to a bar becue. Now there are barbecues and barbecues, and I know every variety l from the club, society, political and all the way down the line; but take l it from me, it makes no difference how many you have attended, unless you have been a guest at one of the private ones given by Capt Jack Phillips, you have something yet to live and long for.
 | There are some people in this world who just delight in seeing oth- CTS eat, and they are generally men of a good-sized girth who them selves like to partake of the good things which they know so well how to prepare. Such man is Jack Phil lips. You may have seen him as the-N master of ceremonies at many 1 boi pcSuCSs put do 5 dSiouS IS hc 10 at the public ones, it is nothing to what he is when he is himself the host.
 went over to his home in Nor wood early, for I like to see the Brunswick stew "a-stewing," and the meats over the pits "a-roasting," and the salad as it is being chopped up. It's a good appetizer in itself, for there is savory odor which seems to put one just in the right condi- ton to eat heartily. Albert, the faithful barbecue artist, was in charge. Aunt Molly. the chef of the Little" Tutwiler. was on hand. Captain Jack was overseeing and Ed Haley was whetting his knives to do the carving. while Mrs. Phillips was ! putting the finishing touch on the tables which were spread in the [back yard. If you do not take my word that 1t was some 'cue, just ask JAdge Abernethy and Sam Blake. both of whom are expert tasters. cAm4plMMaAouxlH