The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-01
Mrs. Spencer Talks About The Mercy
home Industrial School For Girls
The Creche and It's Wor-Hope and Helpfuness the Motto
Need of Systematic Industrial Training Institution
Now In It's Nineteenth Year
BY DOLLY DALRYMPLE.

To the traveller who frequents the
crowded thoroughfares, as well as the
more remote districts of Paris, and who
is unacquainted with the language Of
la belle vile, it is sometimes puzzling
to figure out the attractive building In
closed in tall iron fences, above whose
hospitable doors is inscribed the word
"Creche."
Birmingham has her Creche, too, the
inspiration of some Of her noblest women,
helped by Protestant, Romanist and Jew
a common interest of Birminghams citi-
zens, and one of her most vital and i'm
portant institutions.
The Mercy Home stands sponsor for
this auxiliary, and more than that is pre-
pairing to foster another of the most ex-
cellent and greatly needed branches OF
work that the town had ever had, name
Iy an Industrial School for Girls, which
will soon be started, and which will af-
ford opportunity for the practical train
ing of hayward and delinquent girls, be-
tween 10 and 20 years Of age.
For nearly 20 years, under the capable
and excellent presidency Of Mrs. c. B.
Spencer, the Mercy Home has stood be-
tween criminality and hundreds OF chill
dren; has laid open the way to work for
hundreds of mothers who stand for both
father and mother; it has made possible
for hundreds of fathers to go about their
daily work with no narrowing thought OF
his motherless babes in the hands
unfeeling hirelings. All of this, and much
more, does the Mercy Home mean, and
beginning in the usual way, with rev
earnest, true, stout-hearted women at the
helm. has grown, year by year. until to-
day it means more to the little sisters and
brothers Of the rich than almost any in
stitution in the city.
Just at this time, when the annual
Creche fund is being replenished. and the
five acres of beautiful ground have been
given to the Mercy Home for its Indus
trial school, 1t occurred to me that Little
chat with Mrs. c. B. Spencer, Its at
fable and agreeable president, might Do
of interest to many, and SO asked ner q
few days ago to tell me about the plans
the board has in view for the new WORK
..It has been the ultimate plan for many
an Industrial school for practical train
ing of our girls, and we have now arrived
at the time when our plans are about
to be contaminated, and of course we are
all delighted. You see. In this. our nine
teenth year, the Mercy Home has ABOUT
rs children. The younger ones are cared
for by the kindergarten, about ~ IN num-
Der, and the Creche looks after the cnii
dren above the Kindergarten age. Apout
As of our girls and boys are attending
the public schools. but what we want 70
do is to establish this Industrial school,
where the practical, as well as the ed
ucational side, can be looked after.
MANY of these children eventually nnd
homes" I observed.
"Oh, yes," replied Mrs. Spencer. 1--WE
have placed children In permanent homes
about one month, for the 10 years we
have been in existence"
"And are these children always salts
fed and satisfactory" asked.
Most people, when they como to US
are looking for a pretty, brown-eyed, rosy,
golden-haired boy or girl" said she
laughingly, land We do sometimes have
that sort, but tho majority are poor little
waits, who must be brushed and iaun-
dered and cared for before they are fair-
ly presentable and you have no Idea what
a few months or even q few weeks care
can do for them in a NICE refined, home
atmosphere" -
"Is Mrs. Ramsey still In charge OF the
Mercy Homer" / asked.
ooh yes." replied Mrs. Spencer. ''She
ia 40 much beloved, and has done such
------------------