The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-30
,.......................s....s...l

of the late Father Reilly, who labored constantly in its behalf.
 The Boys Industrial school one of the
 most interesting institutions for the young in the state, is supported by ap- proprations, one for $10,00O having been
 given by the last legislature. Mrs. R.
 D. Johnston has been president of the
 board of control for the past several
 years. Much might be said of the work
 accomplished by these young Alabamians,
 but of that and other local charities
 more will be told at a future date.
 The Creche-that organization known to
 all Birmingham as one of the most phil
 anthropic, one of the broadest, sweetest
 and most necessary of charities-was or
 ganized about 12 years ago. It followed
 the idea of the day nursery in many of
 the larger cities in providing a place for
 working mothers to leave their little
 ones when they go out for the day. It
 was not thoroughly understood, however,
 and while there were always children
 needing shelter, just the shelter for the
 day was not enough. So after awhile they gave up the little cottage which was first
 used as headquarters and took up the
 work in conjunction with the Mercy
 Home, until that time a refuge just for
 women. Miss Bertha Gelders was the
 first president, and a strong and faithful
 little body of young women went to work
 laying the foundation for a charity that,
 as the city grows larger, becomes more
 and more necessary. The Creche has
 since its organization had four presidents
 the first, Miss Gelders, who served one
 year, was followed by Mrs Charles O.
 Locke Mrs. Richard Johnston then was
 president four terms, during which time
 Io enrnlafpd Mrq A TT London succeeded Mrs. Johnston and has
 been president ten years. In the early days funds were raised by entertainments given by the members and many people in the city will recall the Terpsichorean
 carnival given by the Creche, under the direction of MT. Agostini. About $l2oO was raised by this entertainment Nearly every prominent family in Birmingham was represented by some member in a dance or tableau-Mr B. T. Wilcox dance; there was the beautiful dance
 called the Fire Worshipers, in which many of the society girls took part; the American Beauty dance, chaperoned by Mrs Henry Gray; an attractive dance chaperoned by Mrs. H. R. Johnston, both of her daughters, Misses Eloise and Ada Johnston taking part.
 '"The Gibson Pictures" was another
 artistic entertainment given that year for the same CduSc-tii dliiCA to ehS 'AOiiiS for the Creche When memory recalls the beautiful entertainment, it is easy to see that beautiful tableau, Summer with Miss Ola Roden. now Mrs. Redin, | and MT Porter Walker as the central ! figures. Mr. James Bowron, Miss Kate Rogan. MT. and Mrs. Wilmer Beard, MT. | and Mrs. Richard Randolph and others 1 in Find the Englishman"; that beautiful | picture, hThe Widow" with Miss Eloise l Johnston as the widow, and little Leta | win Goldsmith as Cupid "The Story of
 A Sleeve" with Miss Molly Jordan, now i Mrs. ]. B. Levert, as the central figure. I Among others taking part were Miss Kate | Morrow now Mrs. Carthcart; Miss i Mamie Pearson now Mrs. Rix, who was
 posed as the typical American girl, and l Miss Lucie Hagood, now Mrs. Smith
 who was a stunning shirtwaist girl; Miss 1 Willie Morrow, now Mrs. Caldwell, and 1 many others, a number of men, Including 1 MT Archie Carpenter, MT. Mudd Marlin
 MT. Randolph, MT. Otto Marx and others 1 all enthusiastic in the idea of doing ] something for the Creche-the little l ones. Tickets to the entertainments ir ! those days were only sold from the boS l office. never on the streets, and the au- ! diences were always equal to the capacity l of the old OBrien Opera house. Since ] the Home was built. however, the Crecht i is maintained entirely by subscription ano
 the annual dues of it's members. The
 members, asstted by the church socie
 ties of the dty, do the sewing for the 1 children In the old days a Christmas
 tree was always given at the home fo' | the little folks, and happy time it was {! both for the members of the Greene anf ! the little ones: but several years ago tht !, Birmingham Elks assumed that respon'
 sibility by giving one every year fol l them The list of inmates has grown 1 in fact more than doubled within thu l past few years. So the duties Of ths | Creche have grown. It's list of officers | includes women who are able. conscien 1 tious and who love the work. They arc
 Mrs. Alexander T. London, president Mrs. c. w. Ufford, vice president; Mrs l Russell Hunt, secretary; Mrs. Eari' | Perkins, treasurer.
 l When asked to tell something of thl