Evening star., 1909-05-03
Managers All Women.

0SSAS AL " OUeu.
An industrial school for boys was estab-
lished in 1900 through the influence of
the federation, by Mrs. r. D. Johnston
and her associates. and / understand that
II has the distinction of being the first
public institution in the United States
With legislative charter and supported
" taxation TO have board of managers
Composed exclusively of women Start
ing with capital of $1,000 in a log
cabin, in nine years this institution
mas become one of the most important in
Aass thoroughly equipped for the care
and education of homeless boys, with
property value of more than S1jOOOO A
battalion OF 200 well drilled and uniform
ed lads from this scho9l marched In the
procession at Che opening of the new rail-
way station at Birmingham April g. with
their own brass band, composed of twen-
ty-five instruments, and received more at
tention than any other feature of the pa
rade.
Most of the boys are sent to the school
from the juvenile courts, but upon their
entrance all appearance of restraint and
correction Is eliminated. The honor sys-
tenn prevails. 1t is sort of boys repub-
lie, the boys make their own laws and
impose penalties upon each other for their
violation. Most of them are permitted
10 go from the court to the schol alone,
bearing their own commitment papers
and many of them prefer to be detained
there than be relieved. They are taught
farming, printing, shoemaking, barbering.
COOKING, sewing, music, and are given q
common school education. The military
feature mas recently been introduced, and
is proving a great success. The school
band IS a paying institution and brings
IN revenue of several hundred dollars q
year from It's concerts and services at
meetings and on other OCCASION Eighty
per cent or more of the boys who leave
the school become Industrious and usefuI
citizens and several of them promise To
bccome leaders In the communities to
which they have gone.
The Mercy Home.
Seventeen years ago. through the actjr-
ity of the women OF Birmingham, the first
and only non-sectarian institution of the
kind in the state was established at Bir
mingham to care for the defective chill
dren and delinquent children of the great
coal and iron district. Mrs c. B. Spencer
was then elected president and has since
served IN that capacity, assisted by .
BOARD OF lady managers chosen from the
members of the Womens Christian Tenn
pcrance Union. Twelve years ago they
raised the money TO erect and eouip q
building to supply the needs and wants of
children. 1t Is called THE Mercy Home -
and is precisely that. 4 committee on adj
mission investigates every application
and opens the doors to widows who have
no place 10 leaVe their children while
they are working for their living; desert
ed wives with babes in their arms, and
all motherless children. whether their
fathers are able TO support them or not.
The simple common sense methods OF the
family are used in the care and training
OF the inmates for the purpose of develop
ing the home instincts; the children do
not wear uniform: they are divided
among the public schools and the Sun
day schools of the different denomina-
tions. SO that they come in contact with
ordinary child life They are befriended
by various organizations. The Elks al
ways give them a Christmas tree; other
societies give them picnics and Thanks
giving dinners. and they are clothed and
fed from the gifts OF Christian people,
The board or managers of ''The Mercy
Home has obtained an attractive farm
three miles from Birmingham, where Il
is proposed to establish an industrial
school on the cottage plan for wayward
girls. Work has already commenced upon
the first cottage. and II is intended to
build as many as may be needed. The
girls will be given a common school
education and will be taught sewing, mil
linery laundry work, stenography, type
writing and housekeeping. Each cottage