The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-06-20

Asheville. N. C.. June 19-(speeiaL)- One of the most interesting talks or the southern conference of the Young Womens Christian association, which held its last session today. was made by Mrs. l. D. Steele of Birmingham, who is a member of the American committee. Mrs. Steele addressed several hundred young women who gathered in the 'nuS'c room at Wentworth for what Is calico the platform hour. a certain time each day of the conference being especially set aside for platform talks, which 1rc eiven by different members of the com mittee.
 Mrs. stee1es subject was home mis- sions. She gave in the course of her ad- dress many interesting statistics, taking up first the condition of the mill chil- dren. She drew pathetic picture of the overworked child of the cotton mills' and while the factory laws are now somewhat improved, she urged continued effort on the part of women, who have already ac- complished so much, until public opinion Is fully aroused to the suffering of the children employed in the cotton fac tories.
 Mrs. Steele also discussed the condi- ton of the young Chinese children of San Francisco, who are practically slaves.
 She considers the amelioration of these conditions that now prevail in those American cities where the Chinese popu- lation Is constantly increasing to be a work in which the women of this coun- try should be especially interested.
 In regard to the vast number of immi- grants, she said that the large cities were now having their China town, their Little Italy" their "Bohemia' and these people, this foreign population, were bringing into America strangs customs. new religions and habits of life that made them in many ways a menace to America. Mrs. Steele touched upon the negro question, but her strongest pleas were for the poor whites in the mill dis tricts and in the mountains. From the mill to the mountains Is but a step. she said. and in describing the environments Ol lltSG WOiiltn anu ohC AANNo her hearers feel that sufficient work lay before them if they undertook in the right way and spirit the improvement of the mill and mountain people.
 Mrs. Steele will remain in Asheville this week in attendance upon the convention of Christian Endeavorers.
 She has taken a most active interest In on of Iaa1fp Q one of the vesper services and being present al the various important meet ings.
 The Birmingham party. including Miss Morton, Miss Berryman and a number of young students from the seminary, will leave Asheville today.
 Miss Loula Lake, the former secretary of the Birmingham association, who has attended the southern conference, will go to China in August She will be met in Tokio by her fiance MT. w. ". Brock man, and they will be married there by her brother, who is a missionary in China. Mir Brockman Is also mission ary and he and his brt7e will reside in China.
 Just before Miss Lake left Birmingham she was given a farewell luncheon by Mrs. James Bowron, and 1t was known at the time that she intended joining her brother in China.
 She delayed her departure some months, and while she has not changed her plans in regard to continuing her work in far away lands the pretty romance which she now acknowledges adds much inter- est to her sailing. A. K. w.