The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-04
RenegUed Interest Noted In
Bfrmingbam's Library UfoUement


fiction department last year was in
creased by over 500 volumes donated by
the womens clubs. BY the way, it is in
teresting to note that there will be seven
Birmingham clubs studying Shakespeare's
plays during the winter They will be
invited to contribute the Furness edition
of Shakespeares plays not as l sus-
pected, the "Masqueraders." This club
Of clever amateur actor folk gave to
the library as the proceeds of their first
| entertainment last winter Sl1S. 70. This
was expended in authoritative works on
the drama. 1--WE are expecting other
| assistance from them" said the secre-
tary. "They are to be our patron
saints"
The Minister'S union is to install a de-
partment of religious literature. There
will be reference works for the general
student of theology, besides shelf filled
each with subjects bearing on the DIFF
/ ferent denominations. An appeal has
been made to the Birmingham Art asso-
I citation for assistance in building up the
! department of fine arts. The Music Study
| club will be asked to contribute refer
| ence books on music.
Thus is the plan for developing a IL
brary of utility. one that will raise the
! standard of culture in every home in our
| city. The executive board has directed
! the secretary to go to Montgomery next
week to collect publications issued by
| the different departments of state, and
which are highly important to lawyers
| and business men. The Trades Council
| has been asked to assist in the technical
reference library and 1t Is hoped and be-
| lieved that the workmen of Birmingham
| VIII rally to the support of the measure.
| When the increase of patronage in the
| library was commented upon some sur
| prising statistics were given showing tho
i've 4r,AA
| limited though they may be. On jan
uary l. when reorganization began, there
We're 209 paid subscriptions. Since then
| 1t has steadily increased and during June
| 80 new members were added. The aver
| age number of books taken out of the IL
| brary during any month to June l was 494,
while during June the number increased
| to 1881. Attendance in the reading room
| is more than doubled
Much of the credit for the splendid work
| done in creating an interest in the IL
| brary movement is due to the librarian,
| Miss Lila May Chapman, who was elected
| to her office June l. She is a young
woman of splendid scholarship. an ex-
cellent linguist and one who understands
| four languages. She is a graduate of
Wesleyan college and of the Atlanta
| Library school. She is considered a IL
brary expert. The library is splendid
| ~ systematized under her direction, for
she has that rare combfnat ton, personal
aptitude. technical training and scholar
| ship. With Miss Chapman this summer
are several young women who are pre-
pairing to become librarians Miss Louise
Roberts will go to Montgomery later to
take the summer library course. She will
| become Miss Chapman's assistant in the
| fall. Miss Bessie Ford is the assistant
| temporarily. Miss Clara Belle Sem Is
also preparing to become a librarian
A 70 fha
| latlon even now while plans for its
Improvement are still nebulous and un-
Ilnished. When these pans are fairly
Launched by the clever hands of those
who are working so earnestly in it's be-
half Birmingham will witness the up-
building of another institution of which
IL may be proud indeed.
The superb horsemanship exhibited +bi,
week by the contestants at the borsa
snow has caused general comment Manv
nave SPOKEN of the skill and the perfect
ease eXniblted by young visiting matron.
Mrs. Oliver Hazard Rucker of Toledo. n
IN managing each of the several steeds
ridden by her. She Is a horsewoman
porn ana bred. The daughter of an army
oHlcer and having much q her life been
IN army circles, she has never known fear
OF even the most unsafe. Her perfect mas
terry of this noblest of beasts is annarent
truly as part of the horse and every
movement as her slight form SWANS in
response to its motion Is grace itself. She
rode In the exhibitions, both cross-saddIe
and aside, but infinitely prefers the for
mer' and regards the latter only as an
accomplishment. Appearing in every rid
Ing contest for women Mrs Rucker 1vas
mounted on Mr.. Harry jenkins marc
Glover Eagle, DR.. CIRCUITS MARY lame >,
Mr.. Lallande's prince" and Mr. BaIls
handsome horse, Kentucky Colonel" and
became quite a favorite with the borse
show devotees
Some admirers of her horsemanshin
asked how early she learned to ride. Mrs
Rucker laughed and said: IT have q
vague remembrance of having been put
on pony at the age of and l have
ridden after fashion ever since, though
nave never owned a saddle horse, I
have ridden, indeed, but I never l,new
now to ride until came to Birmingham
when Mr.. Pollard even taught me how
to hold my bride correctly I suppose
my only riding accomplishment UP to
that time was the ability to stay on
foundation Of fearlessness. Of course
made the finer points easy enough to SO
clever young horsewoman
Mrs. Rucker Is spending the summer
with her mother, Mrs. Lucy Armes. and
her sisters, Miss Ethel Armes and Miss
Dorothy Armes She is one OF fonr
NiesA 'i"is sie'oi . anu Wds' De1Or6 her
marriage several years ago, Miss Edith
Armes Of this city. Many who saw her
in the arena the afternoon of the horse
show matinee saw also two lovely little
children under the care OF ''black NAM
my" Watching her from the grandstanf
but did not think of her as the wee tots
mother, nor knew that she is not only
capable of riding such horses as "Spa rls
ling Squirrel" as Mr.. Pollard has asked
her to do for him on the southern tracks
this season, but is one of the most charm
ing little mothers imaginable.
BON VOYAGE FOR MISS