The age-herald., 1901-04-30
Mrs. Babb's Address.


 Samuel Blake. director of the Home Science department, was particularly in- structive and delightful Mrs Mary C. Babb of Montevallo. presiding teacher of the Girls Industrial School was the guest of honor and delivered a splendid address on Preparation for the Homemaking. :" The programme opened with several musical numbers Prof. washburn rem dered a delightful solo from Miss Row ley's beautiful opera.
 Miss Rowley was the accompanist, Mrs. ". B. Catchings sang several lullabies most delightfully."-. After the programme an informal reception was held and while enjoying the refreshments in the tea room the members enjoyed meeting Mrs. Babb socially. Following is Mrs Babb's address
 About ao00 years ago an intellectual, 1 Christian gentleman visited the city of Athens which boasted of its civilization, it's learning, Its culture. These citizens l called on the stranger to tell them some thing new, so he stood in the midst of them and in loud voice exclaimed: "fe men of Athens, in all things I perceive that ye are somewhat supersttious. For as l passed along, and observed the ob- l jects of your worship, l found also an altar with this inscription: "To the Un- known God" During all these years their learning, their culture, their refine- ment, combined with the religion of that Christian man have been handed down to us, and our gratitude is unbounded
 Today as I passed along and observed IL L.. evl your altar this inscriptions: "If our homes were all right everything would be all right. and till our homes are right, noth- ing can be right" Therefore I conclude that you worship the only true God. for 1t was He who by precept and example sanctioned, sanctifed and blessed the home.
 All honor to the Birmingham Woman's Club that is laborng so energetically and so faithfully to develop the women of this great city: great in it's growth. great in its rapid increase of wealth and great In It's charity. Three years ago we had a case of smallpox In our school Two of our teachers sought refuge in this city, and your people were such good Samari- tans to us then that we have never ceas- ed to be grateful. But your manhood and your womanhood were never so vividly brought forth to the eyes of the world as since the recent cyclone. Your bene- ficence your sympathy, your charity, your promptness to action and your re- fusing aid from the outside world are ex- amples to be known and read of all men. You shattered the alabaster box and it's fragrance has encircled the globe Ali these are objects for the home making.
 These clubs, as I understand, are not so much for one's personal improvement, though the reflex action Is appreciated, as they are for the physical. mental and moral training If onr children and o1r neighbors' children; anyway they are de- stined to be great factors in the product of the worlds history.
 Dr. Hanchett tells us that The uncon- scious man is the basis of our charac- ter: If so, then we should begin before the cel-life Is formed to educate our children. #st
 Already the club influence is being felt in the Alabama Industrial School at Mon- tevallo We are giving our girls that training, which If they accept, will make of them womanly women, as we'll as ena- ble them to be self-sustaining: so if they choose they may remain ''unappropriated blessings to scatter their sunshine in the darkened corners of all the earth (May God bless the unselfishness of all such womenD
 There are others who may-and many will--lavish their sunshine on one indi- vidual, and The heart of her husband will trust in her :she will do him good and not evil all the days of her life" She will seek wool and flax and work willing 1y with her hands" and this we teach Is honorable.
 Ladies, invite you to come with me into our workshop We are now in the room where they teach plain sewing Here are tables, desks. chairs and sewing ma chimes Since machines are contrivauces for transferring or transforming energy. our girls at first are not allowed to use a machine The instruction begins with practice on scraps, sewing straight seams. and when the pupil has learned the use of the needle and thimble she makes simple garment; then she Is taught to properly cut the material by placing the pattern in the correct posi- tion-a lesson in economy as well as lesson In lines and curves, for If the goods Is not correctly cut the waist will be zigzag or the skirt will hang in seal lops. They haste, turn the hem by meas ure. gather and put in bands. They are then taught to use the machine, and when girl has completed this course of instruction she enters the dressmal1- ing class. where she Is thoroughly drilled In taking measures and cutting all kinds of garments to actual measure by the s. T. Taylor System. The girls here are taught to baste. to stitch the outside and lining. to press. finish and bind seams. to make, trim and finish sleeves and waist and to bind, interline and hang the skirt; in fact. to finish the entire dress. This department is furnished with forms, plating machines, etc, so that the girls Tn this room are also taught designing. In addition to this they are taught fancy work of various kinds
 I now invite you to the millinery de- partment. where the girls are taught to make their uniform caps. This task off, the pupils turn their attention to hat making proper cutting the frames of bucram and wire, making them into all shapes, covering with velvet and straw, all of which operations are largely me- chancal. Then comes the opportunity for the display and development of talent in the art of designing and trimming, to which course their is no limit. In addi- tion to making and trimming hats the girls are taught to study faces. thereby deciding which style will produce the best effect They receive, entertain and dis miss visitors as they would necessarily have to do in a salesroom. They take, fill and deliver orders, keep books for the department, and. indeed do everything that calls into requisition all the talent of bright young woman. We have five girls who will finish millinery this year. and already their teacher. Miss Slough, has secured positions for four of them; one of them will begin work with $50 salary.