Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-26

| hope or expect to see diverted from other | urgent and already appropriated de- mand. The town has just done splendid | ly in raising money by private stock sub- | scription for a greatly and long needed | auditorium building. We sorely need l this reformatory and work farm and 1 have been officially, in public and in pri- vate, urging this for over twelve months | Let us now, under this fearful need
 and pressure at the city jail, arouse our | selves as one man and resolve to build | 1t and it will be done.
 | Let everybody, white and black little
 and big, give something, if only penny | First give and then urge your friends | to give also. Send your subscription to your paper and I beg that each paper in the city will, in each instance properly
 acknowledge the subscription and pres" l this good work along.
 If you are politician or '~nuiuate ,is | for any public office, ap|are seeking some likely place" wt.e you can set 1 up your lightning 'u ,,a wnth ene nope nope that the lightp's or pupnc 1aVor ana | diotion ocone who is not a candidate, | for an, public office. and never expects | to cain be, stick your rcd right here by this reformatory and work farm eff fort, and I venture the prediction that city and district will glitter and simmer around your rod-if you subscribe as well as work for it.
 If you are a business man in this city, let me urge that you turn away this re- proach from your city, until at least some other provision, such as canal dig ging or road building can be made for these convicts. Your business will not suffer because you subscribed and work ed and spent your time and money to satisfy this terribly needed want
 Are you mechanic or laboring man, a1ox, <.fx wages spare a little, if possible, to as- sist in this good work.
 Are you a man whom misfortune. bad luck or misery has once held in it's fear full clutch? Then remember others who are now in its grasp.
 Are you a minister of the great God of justice, mercy and love? May I venture to ask that you now remember the in- finite pity of the Masters gospel, and help us to temper justice with mercy Arouse your people in public and in pri- vate. and urge them to give and work
 Are you a child, a child with your life all before you, bright and strong with your hopes. your future aims and ambitions? Oh. remember as you press bravely and hopefully along life's way, the poor boy who has limped aside. hurt and wounded, and in despair or sin, has given up the race and laid down to die Help him. my boy, take him by the hand cheer him up, put him on his feet again. and with changed life, new hope clear CT light, lead him out into the right path and start him ahead again.
 Are you who read this woman? Oh, then, let your womanS heart speak now. In Gods name and for humanity's sake, let 1t speak, and speak as true womans heart always speaks.
 If cn1y one life Is saved from shame and misery, 1t will well repay you for all the time and trouble that you may take.
 In conclusion I beg to urge immediate action. Let every family take this up and contribute. In each store. office, place, shop, foundry, railroad yard, eve- rywhere, where human hearts are beat ing and human sympathies go out to our fellow creatures, let subscriptions be started and the money turned in at such newspaper offices as may be selected. I firmly believe that this is matter which will unite all our people without respect to political or religious differences I so pray. While the board has not as body taken official action, still I feel that may venture the assertion that they will not only faithfully. through the proper committee, take charge of this fund and use it as you indicate, and for no other purpose but will also feel profoundly 'gra teful to you for thus relieving them, your servants, of most serious and un- pleasant situation. Yours respectfully,
 J. A. VANHOOSE, Mayor.