The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-05-17
M E n w o M E N
A ND THIN G S

1 think those who know me person
ally, and that even those who only keep
up with me through this column, are
aware that 1 never side step a chance
to talk to a crowd.
Now, while it may not be as gener-
ally known, rarely ever miss an OPP
portunity to talk to individuals, for nat
urally am sociable and IL any one is
in conversational range start ono even
| If l have to open with general re-
mark about the weather.
l belong to that peculiarly American
laxative type which is such puzzle
to the average Englishman who rarely
opens his mouth while travelling to any
one who is not an official or properly
introduced. There are, of course, ex-
ceptions, but from long experience in
being in the same railway compart-
ment with Brltishers on the continent
I got tired of being snubbed and never
| essayed to talk unless the ice was
broken by them.
l suppose it's in the constitution Of
the two people who, although of the
same race. yet are very unlike when 1t
comes to COMMUNICATIONS Your
Englishmen properly armed with let
ters of introduction has the power to
make himself socially charming. This
applies equally il you have similar ere
dentials from those in whom he con-
| fides The only distinction am now
trying to make is the vast gulf which
separates Uncle Sam and John Bull
when it comes to making casual &C
quaintances.
| I once had a solicitor who covered a.
part of the state for me in the interest
of the Alabama Baptist. He was about
the friendliest man I ever knew. 1t
wasn't any pose. He never ran for Of
flee. He merely liked people and
missed no chance to get acquainted. If
he started for Montgomery, before he
arrived there he would know the engi-
neer conductor, brakeman and news
butch" by name. and what's more, he
had the power of making them recall
him when next they met.
He worked with me several years be-
fore I ever met his mother, but when
1 came into her presence and saw her
friendly look and heard her CHEEKY
voice. knew where her son had gotten
his gift. 1t was an inheritance from one
of the kindliest souls 1 have ever
known. l spoke to her about the ability
her son had to make friends and / have
never forgotten her characterization Of
him, for she said: Archie never meets
a stranger" That was it.
He earned well all the money 1 paid
him as a solicitor. but even had not
such been the case, 1 would have re-
ceived my moneys worth in the casual
remark of his mother Naturally not e.
bit offish, yet from the day she gave
me an insight into her sons viewpoint,
began to try and look on the people
strangers, but as fellow travellers
through life, worth cultivating at any
event for a brief while
All this to say that awhile back while
standing beneath shelter waiting for
car, l got into conversation with a
man. 1t was in Montgomery and I was
on my way out to the Union Stock
yards to pay my respects to Harry
Snow, the genial manager, and to see
the days run of cattle and hogs. 1t
developed his destination was the same
as mine, and as we had quite wait we
were soon in pleasant talk, for 1 dis
covered that he was interested in the
cattle industry.
| I have been trying to study the cat
tie situation in Alabama from all sides,
and from him I got some sidelights
which were mighty interesting. In the
first place, 1T was passing strange that
Kentuckian was in the heart of Ala
bama for the purpose of buying hogs
to take back to the Blue Grass State.
If any one. even 10 years ago. had pre-
dicted such a thing he would have been
classed either as visionary or practi-
tcal joker. and yet the thing had come
to pass.
| You can imagine my delight on MAX
ing such a find, for 1 felt that l had
really gotten on to a big piece of cat
tie information. for the encouragement
of the pioneers'in the game in Alabama.
I knew that men were coming here
from South Carolina and even Tennes-
see to buy our stock to take home as
feeders, but l did not know that any
practical hog men were doing the same
thing. l see in it much hope for the hog
industry, for if we can raise them
cheap enough for "stockers," what can
we do when we learn how to get them
ready for market in competition with
the western and middle states.
Now, those who are in the business
know what is classed in the trade as
peanut, or soft hogs" are penalized.
This means handicap both as to the
selling and the price. In a general way
it can be figured that the peanut or
soft hog is 2 cents under the market
price of corn-fed hogs. At first blush
this may appear to be q severe handi-
cap, but the acid test will come in
the final try-out as to the cost of pro-
duction. Can the peanut stand up
against corn in the pens of the stock
yards and the killing floor of the
packer?
/ know that the big interest sent the