The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-16
ny HERBERT COREY
 WASHINGTON, D. C.. March 15.-- In 1894 Hugh s. Cumming lost silk

I hat.
 In itself the fact is not important, except to young Doctor Cummings, who doubtless grieyed, over a twelve dollar sacrifice to the god of hard luck. The hat itself may be considered a symbol of a changing age. It is stationary peg, so to speak, from which the United States Public Health ser vice measures its progress. A silk hat was the cranial decoration of a more leisurely. and less Efficient age. Some folk would say that the silk hat era was more dignified one than the one in which, we live. Others would hold that we have just as much dignity today and whole lot more pep. The verb to hustle cannot be conjugated in a six-guart topper. .
 Surgeon General Hugh S. Cumming of the United States Public Health service spoke of the silk hat the other day. He was seated at the desk at which the surgeon general of that day sat sWhea young Doctor Cumming silk hat in hand, stepped forward to re ceive his commission as an officer of the service. It is in the very same room. Doubtless the steam radiator eAiOt AAV" PuAo anu EBICn Ab tue very one on which young Doctor CummiIik, being somewhat Mustered, placed his silk hat when he reached for his com mission. Ie remained there while the surgeon-general of 1894 made a few remarks.
 Twisted Like Pretzel
 'sThat hat" said Surgeon General Cumming, twas twisted like d pretzel when I picked it up again. There was note of sadness in his voice. He seem ed to recall the journey back to his hotel, on which he yacillated betmeen striking a hideoua note Of low cou1alsy by wearing the mra pped and corrugated headgear and asbAreheAded eccentricity unbefitting a newly commissioned med ical officer in the government service. We all wore& silk hats in those days" said he,i Ion an occasion of that sort.'
 Officers of the public health service rarely wear silk hats nowadays except at weddings and diplomatic receptioIs,. Times have changed. The public health service of 1894 was good service as far as it went, but like other public functions of that day it did not go very fast. Nowadays 1t is the best in the world. No doubt there are high points in the international medical chart at which other services attain greater attitudes than ours, but the average level of 3the United States pub lie health service is neatly above that ot any other nation. And our service covers a wider field. The Senate not long ago unahimously and without de- bate confirmed Dr. Cummings reap p6intment in recognition of what he has done in promoting it's efficiency during his four years as chief, M I
 What The Silk Hat Meant Yet 1t may be that Dr. Cumming's silk hat, or what it c0nnotes, had much to do with his success. In the days when silk hats were more commonplace than they are today men found more leisure in which to be kindly and courteous. Their manners were better. | Youngsters were not being taught by magazine ads to thrust out hard jaws and jam rigid forefingers at a shrink ing world. The preferred plan was to compose understanding by the arts of diplomacy. It was not regarded as good form for man in authority to keep hammer and tongs handy by his desk.
 At any rate Dr. Cumming became known as good man to handle trouble early in his official career. There was more trouble in those days. The precise part the federal government played with the cities and states had not been as definitely fixed as 1t is today. Con- flicts of authority and jurisdiction were constantly arising. When necessary the federal government took unflinching charge, just as it does today when an emergency arises, but when possible the effort was made to soothe the ruffled feelings of the local administra- tors. .
 Fight Against Yellow Jack He had had several years experience in various health stations when yellow fever broke out in the south. Half dozen cities were affected and the health officers were more or less inexperienced. Thre was an inevitable hysteria, north as well as south. The desired end was to permit as free flow of commerce as possible without yielding an inch to- the Yellow Jack. Regulations and orders and ukases and laws combined with courageous but sometimes fluster- ed officials. to produce tangled mess. Dr. Cumming was sent down south to take charge of it--
 Now" he probably said, ''lets get this strengthened out--'
 It isn't possible to conceive the most gorgeous case of nerves that would not calm down under his treatment. He is cool, calm, slow and clear-cut of speech, and with sort of twinkling humor in his eyes. One feels that he would never get rattled and that he would always be entirely competent. As between two men of equal ability the one who keeps his head; on can best handle communal twitters. The other; full of bang and anxiety, might we'll have the effect on to bring their own spoons. There will