The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-05-05
M E N, w o M EN
 A ND T HIN c $


 
 It was an invitation to preach the com mencement sermon for the North Ala oama Agricultural school which caused me to visit Athens, one of the forward looking towns of my state i l had not looked in on my friends since the war, and was surprised to find that so many changes had been wrought in so short a time. I found streets paved with brick, and could hardly believe my eyes when I glimpsed the new courthouse
 
 The old building was one of historic interest, but Mad outgrown it's useful ness, being too crowded for the business put upon it, and so Limestone county concluded to pull it down and build one that would make every one sit up and take notice who came in plain view of it. lts will be remembered that when Bir- mingham was laid out a park was left at the head of Twentieth street, and it's name for some years was a provocation and challenge to the citizens of Mont gomery, for it was known far and wide as Capitol park, the site reserved for the statehouse when the seat of gov-- ernment was transferred to the Magic City
 But the vision of the founder of Bir- mingham of this being the capital of sAlabama at last grew so dim that even the name of the park set apart to keep t fresh in the memory of the people fad ed out, and is now almost forgotten in the new name whereby it was chrlstened making it possible for our Montgomery friends to visit us without being at the least affronted by greediness to rob them of their priceless asset.
 l do not know what was in the minds of the commissioners and citizens of Limestone when they loosed their purse strings to the extent of erecting so com modious and imposing a courthouse as to make 1t in looks and size a fitting cap ital for any state. It may be that while Birmingham for years dangled a site be- fore the eyes of the people they have built building to dazzle the voters should there ever come up the question of the removal of the capital.
 MT. friend Harry Walker of the Lime stone Democrat acted as my guide through the building, and one was need ed It stands as a monument to Ben Price, Birmingham architect The lines of the structure are good, the brick and stone trimmings in excellent taste, the proportions perfect, and the entrances in keeping with the ma magnitude of the build ing.
 If the outside of the courthouse is att marble has been freely used as a trim ming and for the base. The courtroom itself is ample and fortunately a success from the point of acoustics. It is like tho balance of the offices, solidly fur nished, and gives the appearance of be- ing able to last for many years without ! the necessity of repairs.
 The building has the usual offices set
 
 who make their headquarters in court house; but in addition 1t has some rooms devoted to purposes which should be in- corporated into every similar building in Alabama The rest room for the women of the county who come to the county site Is Just what 1t should be, and is in charge of matron, but best of all 1t Is widely used.
 n ha a women of the county is a we'll lighted and pleasant room set apart and used by the club women of Athens, There Is also a smaller room which has been put at the service of the Daughters of the Amer can Revolution and the United Daugh- ters of the Confederacy. I'll not say that these comforts for the ladies came be- cause the ballot has been put Into the hands of the women, but I'll say 1t full fills the prophecy that when our sisters got into the political game there would be many improvements.
 Before Harry Walker took charge of mo, my friend, Dr. B. B. Glasgow, pres ident of Athens College for Women, an institution I have long been in close touch with as the Rev. E. NJ. Glenn, my cousin, was at it's head for some years and then was followed by Mary MoAre had me on the way up to the campussto show me the many Improvements which had bben made in 1t and the buildings It isn't hard thing to get me to inspect school for young women. I am easily led to such places.
 The main building of the college was erected in 1s43. and In the great living room l saw diploma which was award ed to Anna Maria Fletcher, May SO 1SOO more than 70 years ago, which will set out the fact that the people of north Ala bama and Tennessee at an early time were thinking of the education of their young women. It was then known as the Tennessee Female Conference institute.
 I have put this latter fact down with forethought as it accounts in way for the firm grip which Tennessee has on the Tennessee valley of Alabama, and has made it hard for those of us who i've in the middle and southern part of the state to wean them away from our sister state on the north. Two reasons have made it difficult First so many Ten nesseans settled over the line, and then the great river itself has been physicaI barrier. but 1t will be bridged soon, hope, and maybe we will get In closer ana syn.pathetic touch with our own north Alabamans.
 I am glad to find that the college under Dr. Glasgow was prospering. didn't have to get the information from nm as it came from the leading Methodists of Athens It is certainly homei'ke and lovely spot. If girl can't study m the secusion of its buildings far rom the noise of the great outside world, then she has no claim to think that she ie