The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-04-27

[ IN The SOCIAL REALM. !
-sY MRS. GEORGE G. BALL--w
by MRS. GEORGE c. BALL
ss se esos


insurance agent, as head worker. and then
invited the poor people to enjoy the bene-
fits extended.
There is no charge either for instruction
or privileges. Every effort is made by pre-
eept and example to induce poverty
stricken men, women and children to i'm
prove themselves mentally, morally and
physically.
This settlement has been in existence
two years, and Miss Witherell has had
charge of the work for twelve months.
Miss Witherell in discussing her duties at
the settlement says many things which
, may prove of assistance to other charita-
! BILE organizations which may desire to aid
the needy in a practical, permanent way,
among which are the following details of
her work:
''Our week is very nearly filed up with
our work On Monday evening the girls
have what is known and named by them
as the Monday club.
This is meeting of girls ranging from
the ages of 10 to Ia years, for the purpose
of keeping them off the streets and fur
nishing entertainment as well as as instruc-
| ton.
1--WE teach elocution at the request of the
children, and give them calisthenics to
straighten up their little backs and make
them straight.
Part of the evening is spent in singing
| glee songs and hymns selected with view
! to pointing moral.
Games and story telling consume the re-
mainder of the time until 10 o'clock.
| After telling or reading stories, they are
| discussed by all present. Each character is
| taken and analysed and the children are
requested to choose the character they adj
! mire the most.
I'm this way we attempt to have them
| form high ideals.
TUESDAY afternoon we have mothers
| meeting. The object of this is to get ac
| quainted with the parents of the children,
while affording them little social relaxa-
| ton.
"These meetings are arranged on practical
| lines. Talks on the care of homes and of
| the children given them, and stories are
| read bearing their everyday lives.
"They meet as equals and are treated as
| such, and they sit in social communion
| over the tea we serve, their hearts warm
| and they talk in confidential manner i'm
| possible to bring about by any other
| method.
"rhey still regard us as different beings,
| but hope gradually to make them feel
| really am their neighbor and friend and
| not their superior.
"On Tuesday evenings the boys from the
| ages of 10 to IA are given instruction in
| bookkeeping and mathematics and taught
to make out bills by Prof. Roudebush.
| Forty boys attend this meeting every
| Tuesday
The boys are deeply interested in the
work, and few ever miss attendance until
| they have taken the course.
| Thursday evening the Domestic Science
| club or labor organization for domestic
| servants meets. The purpose of this is to
| educate the incompetent and in this way
| dignity the service. We aim to teach the
| girls that their work instead of being hui
| initiating, is really the most important of
| all work. With badly cooked food the whole
world goes wrong.
1.-THE girls from the ages of 10 to IA are
| taught on Saturday from IL to IL O'Clock
| how to become housewives. They are given
! lessons in cooking, house cleaning and sew
| ing.
After they learn to thread the needle
| they are taught to make their underwear,
aprons and dresses by hand, and their pro-
| gress is wonderful
| Friday night men and women meet to
discuss social problems and municipal af-
| fairs.
| 1.-THE boys in the settlement are allowed
| the use of the small library connected with
| the institution, and this is a great treat to
| them.
| Hundreds of children are prevented from
| attending Sunday school because their
| clothing is poor We gather them in if they
have the only passport we require-clean
| faces.
| "At our last meeting we talked of the
| liquor question and its relation to the prob
| lens of social life and government poll
| cies.
| "These talks are given by men of all
| professions, including physicians, lawyers
| and ministers.