The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-11-26
QUERIES FUNNY
At TIMES, TRAGIC
Of TEN, CLERKS SAY
Money Is Principal Cause,
Travellers Aid Finds, of
Distress of Those 1t
Serves

She came into the Terminal station
on the early Frisco train, and had
been waiting more than two hours
for the train on which she would
complete her journey. Her dress and
baggage indicated that her fifty-odd
years had been spent far from trains
and cities. But curiosity is a uni
versal trait. and the two hours spent
in waiting had worn the edge from
the uneasy feeling she showed on
entering the station. 1t appeared
strange to her, as it has to many
others, so she stepped over to Miss
Mary Brewster, who has charge of
the Travellers Aid bureau at the Ter
minal station. and asked in an unob-
trusive manner.
DO they hire that man to sing
here?" indicating with her finger the
train caller, who had just announced
a long list of stations served by the
outgoing train.
No" replied Miss Brewster, he is
calling the trains"
The lady hesitated but was deter
mined to get the question settled.
We'll, tell me-" she said, do the
trains come when he calls them?"
What do people ask at information
bureaus in Birmingham? The answer
depends largely on where the bureau
is located. But a visit to the NEST
prominent places where information
bureaus are located proves that in
oil "a h.
great, vibrating public little closer
than anyone else.
And Touch of Pathos
The gates of Birmingham are the
Terminal station and the Louisville
and Nashville station. Miss Mary
Brewster, at the Terminal, and Mrs.
Emma kifer, at the L. & N, have
charge of the Travellers Aid bureaus
at these stations. They answer hun
dreds of questions daily, and witness
incidents that cover the range of life
from the ridiculous to the pathetic.
THE lady who thought the train
caller was singing would have been
more amusing.' said Miss Brewster.
but immediately after she left me
a DEPUTY sheriff came in with a lady
who had four small children. He told
me to see that they got off on GER
tain train. 1t developed that her hus-
band was being detained for some
violation of the law. We are here to
serve the people who travel. and It
all comes as part of the work. The
most trying thing we have is the
great number Of lost articles. People
come and ask if I have seen their
purse, baggage. or anything they
happen to lose"
Thex Need Mouev
Mrs. Ebba Kifer.s at the Louisville
and Nashville station. has given In
formation to travellers for five years.
People come to me with every con-
ceivable question" said Mrs. Kifer.
There is one trouble that gives itself
away before question is asked. 1t
is the need for money. Many people
get stranded and seek help in OBJ
tanning funds. Regardless OF how
trivial question may seem to me. 1
always give it serious consideration.
for 1t may be important to the one
concerned"
Mrs. L. A. Chapman has supervised
the operation of elevators in the
Jefferson County Bank building for
two years. Her position places her
as the logical source of information
in Birminghams tallest building.
hdSt week a young couple came
in and asked me what the fare would
be IL they rode in one of the ele-
Gators to the top of the building.
When told that there was no charge.
they entered one of the elevators
with some hesltancy. They didn't
get off the car until 1t was back on
the first floor. The young lady was
pale with fright, and the man APP
peareds too upset to offer any con-
ISOLATION. They thanked me for the
ride and went on their way. This
case is typical Of many that happen
here"
she Sure Was Mad
The information window at the
post office is one OF the most baf-
fling positions in existence. Uncle
Sam always puts a trained diplomat
at this post. Any ordinary question
can be answered here, but the an
swer sometimes requires research
work.
"One of the hardest cases we have
had" said James C. Pickett. super
intendant of mails. was hat of
negro woman here in Birmingham.
She walked in with the flat asser-
ton that something was wrong.
been mailin' letters to Liza in Chi
I know she's not gettin' um' She
put the responsibility squarely to US,
and we tried to rise to the occasion.
We had her to bring letter in ad-
dressed as she had been sending them
She had her return address on the
envelope, and her handwriting was
plain. Finally. we asked her where
she mailed the letters, and were told
that all had beep mailed in the new
mail box on the corner. We didn't
remember a new mail box UP on the
corner, but sent man along to in
xestigate.
THE won IN growled an mutt,red
all the way to the corner. Arriving
at the spot. she walked to one OF the
city's new trash cans, and. kicking
it. said. There's where l put um.'"
Judge Greene to Lecture