The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-08-27

phrased by some clever wag-prob- ably an old Booze Fighter" into;
 "See America Thirst"
 At any rate. both aphorisms are worth pausing before for momenti
 In regard to See America First" I have the most charming conversa- tion to record in which Mrs. Ned Richardson McDavtd, beautiful, at tractive, one of the loveliest women who has ever graced Birmingham so- ciety, and one of her most popular "belles" as a girl not alone for her beauty of face and form, but for the beauty of mind and heart, which she possesses to such a marked degree, is the speaker.
 Anything that Mrs. --cDavid says is interesting, be 1t ever so offhand and eXtemporaneous; she writes with a fluent pen, and her contributions in book form" as well as to various newspapers and magazines, her mem bership as one of the most distin- guished in the personnel" of The Writers Club" her delicious "sense of humor," all have given her pres tige that makes her views and ideas worth while.
 Realizing how interesting 1t would be to hear Mrs. McDavid's account of her western trip, I asked her a few days ago to tell me something of her recent journey and Westward Ho- boes" Gas one of our recent best sellers" is,Quaintly called) which car rled her over many thousands of miles in her own country.
 Prophet and Country Paraphrased
 Acquiescing most gracefully to my request. Mrs. MoDavid said:
 That old adaga. 'a prophet is great save in his own country could be changed to a country Is great save to its own oountrymen,' for all far-away things. especially those across the sea, seem more alluring to the imagi- nation than those nearer home.
 .If Americans would only permit themselves to See America first they would become fully awakened to the wonders and beauty of our own country, and more appreciative of the things that are ours.
 ~Why Journey to the Holy Land to see the Dead sea, when you have a Dead sea in Utah seven times larger than Palestine's Dead sea? Or sigh with longing for the sight of Swift xerland, with Glacier ensconced in our Canadian Rockies of North Amer lea, It's Alpine-like heights covered with snow. and its picturesque Swiss chalets ofingtng and nestling amid the dense pointed frs?
 ''Or, if one likes water falls, what's the matter with the great falls of Grand canyon or our own Niagara, roaring and laundering to satisfy anyone-and so on.
 sI believe when one expects to visit a few places only, and has plenty of leisure at his disposal it is per haps pleasanter to travel indepen- dently and feel free to tarry or move at will. But If one is to travel for many weeks, cover a great deal of ground, and visit number of places in limited time, it Is decidedly wiser to go in a conducted party. The conductor has learned all that expe- rience can teach, and the best routes, hotels, sights and pleasures are all planned at a saving of time and ex- pense. Some may think travelling in a party a bore, but I found that one could be to ones self to mediate, or to read. or join group and have companionship, as one wished.
 ''As you know, my daughter Nifty lene and I travelled with the Alexan and when I say personally con ducted by Mrs. F. G. Alexander of this city, who has carried and sent parties all over the world for Is years and when I say personally con- ducted.' I mean that she gave the party her personal interest, just as though the members were her own children. until. after the first day out, we all, old and young, affection ately dubbed her mother
 In Mrs. Alexnnder's Party
 "We left Birmingham on July 8, with the temperature lowering around 90, all grumbling about the heavy wraps and overcoats We car ried on our arms. We boarded pri- vate Pullmans, and those Pullmans and porters went with us, or followed us up, till we rolled back into Bir mingham a few days ago. So you see we soon began to regard them as home. In the cities and at the resorts where we, spent from two to four days, we always stopped at the best hotels, but if we were to leave during the night or before in the morning, we slept on our cars, which were sidetraoked. waiting. And we soon learned to seek gladly our little boudoirs and fall into them dead tired, and also to dress with eff ciency and even grace. if not with ease, In them, for we gave up the dressing rooms almost entirely to the girls.
 And We learned to sleep soundly too, for some nights we would climb into our cars and retire, and awaken the next morning to find ourselves flying along in another state. A train had picked us up in the night and whisked us off without our being awakened.
 "There were 42 in our party, the majority girls. which made it very merry party, indeed-and the minor ity men, there being three married men with their wives, and one young college boy.
 ''The larger groups were from Georgia and Alabama, and right away Georgia and Alabama began a good natured banter. Georgia and Alabama always would quarrel good naturedly.
 we had some charming girls from Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Ken lucky and Virginia, and. they gleaned every ounce of benefit and fun out of the trip. They saw everything to be seen, did everything that could possibly be done-clmbed glaciers. swan in every kind of water. rode. tramped and tried everything and anything once.
 "The small dressing rooms in our Pullmans were given to the gentle men, and the large smoker with its long cushioned lounge and mirror s. was fitted up for the ladies. No aliens were allowed in our domain. The porters kept a strict watch at every station, that no stranger boarded our cars. Nevertheless, a most amusing thing happened.
 Amusing Incident
 "One morning I sat waiting to go into the diner for breakfast The dressing room was, as usual at this hour. filled with girls. all in some state of. dishabille. soft pink bloom CTS, brassieres and various other bits of feminine underwear, putting on shoes and stockings, brushing their hair, etc., and all chattering like magpies. The train paused a minute