The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-28
NOTES IF TIE WEEK
 IN SOCIAL WORLD
Industrial School Proposed For
 Poor White Girls
NOTES HERE AND THERE
Vassar's Phianthropies, In Which Bir- mingham Wimen Take an Active
 Interest-Funds Needed
 for Good Work.

One of the most interesting and artistic
 entertainments of the season was given
 yesterday afternoon by Mrs. w D. Smith
 to the members of the Highland Book
 club and number of outside guests.
 Mrs. Smith, who is now in her charm
 ing new home at Greymont, received her
 guests on the veranda, where a refresh
 ing iced mint was served the punch bowl
 banked in masses of sweet peas.
 In the hall, with it's Japanese effect
 of color, jardinieres and suspended vases
 were filled with old-fashioned fever few,
 while sweet peas decorated the attractive
 white paneled dining room with its inlaid
 Chippendale furniture. The long living
 room opposite was a harmony in shades
 of buff and brown, its beams and wood- work of Flemish oak, great brick man. tie at one end and French windows open ing onto the veranda at the other. In the center of this a platform and Grand piano were placed, and here Mrs. Smith introduced Mrs. Beecher to the as-
 sembled guests. Standing beside a. tall
 vase of tiger lilies, Mrs. Beecher, who is a striking brunette, made an artistic
 figure in her clinging gown of apricot l satin under heavy cream lace.
 | Mrs. Beecher, who may In the truest sense of the word be called an inter- | preter, then announced that she would l recite Tennyson's "Enoch Arden" accom- 1 panied by the music of Richard Strauss, and explained before beginning the mus | ical motif, suggesting each character, | Mrc arfa cfrof ftrer h Ia on the piano.
 l If a fault could be found with what l was altogether so beautiful perform l anoe it might be said that the effect was almost overwhelmingly affecting. For ! Mrs Beechers recitation is as much act
 ing as reciting, and reveals wonderful | histrionc talent, while the accom- l parliament of Mrs. Aldrich was full of | feeling and exquisitely artistic. i Together they created a perfect whole, | and no more finished performance has | ever been given in this city.
 l Mr. George Gordon Crawford enter tained at dinner at the Country club last night in honor of MT. T. w. Robinson and MT. G. G. Therp of Chicago, high l officials of the Illinois Steel company, a | constituent of the United States Steel corporation. Dinner was served in the private dining room and the decorations were especially attractive, sweet peas l and gardenias being used most effectively Local guests were MT. and Mrs. Ross O. | Smith. MT and Mrs. F. H. Crockard, Mir. and Mrs. Pascal c. Shook, MT. and Mrs l William M Jordan, MT. and Mrs. E. w.. Barrett, Mir. and Mrs. Walker Percy Mr.
 and Mrs. Charles Stillman, Miss Moody, | MT. John l.. Raul.
 | The announcement that the board of | managers of the Mercy Home propose l to use as nucleus a fund of $5000 for | the establishing of a girls industrial l school in Birmingham should meet with | hearty cooperation on the part of philanthropists It is understood that a site adjoining the Mercy Home has been selected and that the board, as | soon as 1t is in financial position to | do so, will begin the erection of the school.
 For many years the board of this in- stitution has been anxious to build and equip an industrial sch ool for girls. It has long seen the necessity for such an institution in this city. Lack of funds has prevented any definite work In this direction, but the suggestion. when first made several years ago. met with en- thusiastic approval of all practical philanthropists.
 An institution where the signorant, uneducated girls from the country may have an opportunity to learn sew ing in its various branches, cooking. laundering and other branches of in dustrial education, Is sadly needed here in this district. The women on this board are in position to furnish sta tistics proving what such institutions accomplish In the reduction of crime and they have the facts in hand that go to show what crying need there is in this district for an industrial school for poor white girls. Mrs. Helen walpole, the travelers' aide at the Birmingham Terminal, asks that statement be made regarding the volun-
 tary subscriptions she receives from the
 public. She wishes 1t understoo iaat all
 money given her Is expended ill aiding
 poor and friendless women and girls who
 arrive at the Birmingham Terminal and
 are in need of assistance. She would be
 glad of any voluntary contributions as
 she constantly sees opportunities where
 she could do great deal of good if pro-
 vided with small fund. The travellers
 aid work is supported by the W. c. T. U.
 and the Y. w. c. A., generously assisted
 by the Birmingham Terminal company.
 Outside contributions will, however, be
 gratefully received and wisely expended
 by Mrs. Walpole whose duties, covering
 some IF hours at the Terminal, give her
 many opportunities for protecting young,
 Inexperienced women and of rendering
 financial assistance to the poor or Ill.
 Mrs. Charles Smith will entertain the
 Thursday Afternoon Social club this aft
 ernoon at o'clock.
 Mrs. A. c. Jenkins is in Chattanooga,
 the guest of her sister, Mrs. Milton Browne.
 Mrs. w. P. B. Davis will return early in June from Rochester, Minn.
 Mir. Frank S. White, Jr., attended the university commencement.
 MT. Hill Ferguson attended the univer- sity commencement.
 Mrs. Conner accompanied the governor to the university commencement and at the presidents reception she was dis tinguished and charming figure. By her brilliant personality and her unusual charms as converse tionaliSt Mrs.