Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-19

(All items of social interest will be gladly
noted in these columns If sent to Mrs
George c. Ball, Nineteenth street, between
Tenth and Eleventh avenues, South High
lands. Telephone $685.
My faith in the girls of Birmingham
has not been misplaced or disappointed
Already I am receiving letters from
some of them offering their services in
the work proposed for the Mercy home, and
there is no reason to doubt that Birming-
ham girls will establish, in conjunction
with the board of managers of the Mercy
home, a place of shelter for deserving
mothers and their helpless, starving
children. In Atlanta, as in Montgomery,
many of the most fashionable girls are
actively at work for the hospitals and
are accomplishing much good. That our
| young women will do as well no one
| doubts for a moment. The following let
| ter from Mrs c. b. Spencer, president
| of the managers of the Mercy home,
| should arouse an enthusiasm and an in
terest in this matter which shall result
in permanent good. place of shelter
must be provided for starving women,
who are willing to labor if any arrange
ment can be made for their helpless lit
tie children: /
Birmingham, March 49, 1896.
My Dear Mrs Ball: Your excellent
and timely articles in the State Herald
of Sunday and Tuesday March Is and II,
regarding the Mercy home and the plan
suggested for extending the work is most
heartily appreciated and commended. /
trust it will meet ready response in the
hearts of the young ladies and matrons
OF birmingham. The board of managers
of the Mercy home will rejoice in an aux
ll1ary to the end that many more of the
little ones may be cared for and the
mothers helped-in the best way possible
to help themselves To bring the
greatest good to the greatest number"
is the purpose and has ever been the aim
of the organization.
That this scheme may be brought be-
fore the people and some practical plans
made for its development, l cordially in
wife all interested, both young and old,
to meet the board of managers and adj
visory board of the Mercy home at the
Commercial club rooms Saturday morn
ing, March II, at 1920. Surely no more
worthy object could call us together. Let
us do with our might what our hands
find to do. Very sincerely
MRS. C. b. SPENCER,
President Managers Mercy Home.
I give these extracts from letters re-
ceived from noble girls. who are ready
and willing to do their utmost in this
work for the needy, helpless women and
children of Birmingham
Dear Madam: Reading in Sundays
and todays State Herald your SuggeS-
ton regarding an addition, and certainly
an improvement, to the Mercy home, i'm
pels me to thank you for the good that
may come from your timely words.
II was much impressed with the sug-
gestion to offer home to the children of
parents whose daily duties compel them
to leave their children unguarded or per-
haps in charge of an INSCRIPTIONS per-
son. At different visits to the Mercy
home l have had occasion to observe
the excellent training to habits of clean
illness and truth given to the little ones
left in charge of the matron. The
thought, while contemplating the life of
these little waits, often came to me how
infinitely more fortunate these poor, de-
serted children are than those growing
up in the slums of our city, with no safe
guard against evil; and how fortunate it
would be If mothers who must leave
home to earn their daily bread could
leave their little ones at a place guarded
against evil, Offering a home and home
influences.
During my sojourn abroad 1 had the
good fortune to become acquainted with
a similar institution. All the larger
cities of Europe have homes established
for the benefit of the children of the
laboring classes. In France and Switzer
land they are called 'creches' or cradles;
in Germany the little ones gardens
Each is presided over by a lady of Gull
ture, the matron, who is assisted by ell
derby women, honest, simple folks, who
take care of the children. ! was much
impressed with the Importance of these
institutions. AS a seamstress, who took
her child there every morning. expressed
it, 1T is a blessing for my little girl and
a comfort for me-
The children seem healthy, happy and
well behaved. They have plenty of
wholesome fun, as should come to- every
young soul, receive an excellent moral
training, and last, but not least, whole
some food at merely nominal expense
dinner and supper for about cents of
our money. This latter provision re-
moves the sting of charity, which would
otherwise probably make many a mother
hesitate to take her child there. The
mothers are allowed to join the children
at dinner, if they desire, at very little
extra expense.
children are received from months
upward, some spending the entire day,
others coming after school hours.
"Immeasurable good is thus accom-
plished, protecting the child mind
against depraving influences, elevating
the morals, instilling good habits and a
love for all that Is good and true.
II must conclude as my pupils are be-
ginning to come in. Much more could
be said about this matter: but l wish
to say that l hope your suggestion Will
bear fruit, and should the young ladies
of our city act in this matter to please
count me among those willing to promote
the good cause with all their might. I
shall be more than glad to do all that
my limited time and power allows. You
may count on my sincere and earnest
cooperation"
Another sweet, sympathetic girl writes
me:
My Dear Mrs. Ball. Your little talk
this morning about forming an auxiliary
to the board of managers of the Mercy
home delighted me. l have often longed
to do work of that kind and would have
devoted great deal of my time to char
table work had l only known where to
commence. 1 am only too willing to do
anything l can to help the ladies' and l
feel sure there are dozens of girls in Bir-
mingham who would gladly devote a
good portion of their spare time to this
noble work. If you will kindly tell me
what to do l will attend to the matter