The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-20

'Gentlemen-The board of managers of the Mercy Home desire to call your attention to the great need of a place for dependent incurable children. Hav- ing been actively engaged for many years in work among the poorer classes, many cases of children af- f1icted with epilepsy. tuberculosis and other diseases have applied to them for assistance. To place such with healthy children Is impracticable. Some place should be provided where they may have continuous treatment and an en- vironment of fresh air and sunshine. To provide for this most unfortunate class is not only a Christian duty; it Is also the most rational course to pur- sue as a matter of economy and justice to the community. To do nothing for them Is little short of criminal. Your careful consideration of this important matter is most earnestly requested.
 MRS. c. B. SPENCER.
 MRS. A N. BALLARD,
 MRS. W. IT. JEFFRIES.
 Comtnittee.'
 This letter was entirely ignored no reply was received.
 ''As it Is now definitely settled that the present aims house is to be re- moved and a larger one built in the suburbs, I recommend that the matter be taken up with the present Board of Revenue and urged upon their atten- tion.
 As in the past I must. again call attention to the great importance of the city having a commission for the inspection of all charities receiving public money. not only as a protec- tion to the city but also as an indorse- ment of the charity.
 During the past year civic clubs in many cities have adopted the plan as an economic measure for the public good. This prevents all fraudulent soliciting, eliminates unnecessary char ities and establishes new ones when needed, and by indorsing only such in stitutions as comply with a fixed stand dard protects a generous and often too credulous public.
 "If this report meets the eye of the Chamber of Commerce of our city per haps it's president will see fit to add to the long list of committees one on charitable institutions. and the desired end will be attained.
 Strange to say many men are in- different tor this question of the care of the dependent and defective. and most of them seem to consider all ef- forts to this class a kind of woman's fad instead of an important social ob- ligation.
 Our former matron, Mrs. Margaret Ramsey, is with us again, after an ab- sence of three years. Her long acauaint- ance in the city and her natural qualifi- cations, added to a continuous study of the work and the improved methods of dealing with the dependent child, make her work most valuable and praise worthy
 "The added years bring new opportuni- ties for service and increased responsi- bilities. To meet these honestly and eff ciently must be our constan endeavor Respectfully submitted.
 MRS. c. B. SPENCER, President"
 Treasurer's Report.
 The treasurer, Mrs. James Weisel, re- ported the balance on hand January. 1908 as $44S. 30. Receipts in 1909 s4767 49. Dis bursements, $4S74. .06 Balance on hand January 1. 1910, s3s6.7S. The itemized re- port will appear in the annual published report
 The admission committed Mrs. w. IT. Jeffries, chairman. reported number in the home January. 1908. 76 Admitted during tho year. 135; dismissals, 123 largest num- Der at one time, s4; average number, 70. Five deaths were reported, four of them being young babies Seven wayward girls were cared for and helped. Ten home- less children were placed in permanent homes. One family of three brothers, aged '. 5 and Il, were placed in a beau tiful home in the country, where they will have all advantages and will not be separated
 Mrs. w. L. Murdoch, chairman of the house committee reported that the regu- lar contributions of groceries, meat, fish. ice and drugs for the year amounted to $S2S. .16.
 The larger family requires larger out lay of money. The contributions have been substantial and a great help. Many church societies have sent bread. sand wiches. hams and cake left over from entertainments and the Martin Cracker Co.,, Fisch Bakery and Lunch company, and others have assisted In the same way. All larger groceries are purchased at wholesale.
 The dietary is carefully arranged and its excellence proven by the uniform healthy, rosy checked children The aver age cost per capita for food is $S6.06 per year. little more than s a month.
 The report of clothing committee, Mrs. W. s. Brown chairman. says: ''To keep 80 children neatly and comfortably clothed is no mean task. In this work the Creche gives much aid; church societies, schools, merchants and numberless friends give their help and the work Is accomplished Total number of garments made, 436 Bundles of secondhand clothing received. 8S; new clothing and cloth, s4f
 Work of Greene.
 Mrs. Alexander T. London, president. reported for the Creche: Balance on hand January. 1909. sl64.0b: receipts for 19Oe, $562. .9s expended in 1909 s4s2 Il: balance on hand January 1910. s2s4s2. The work of the Greene Is to supply the children in two dormlt0ries with clothing school books and Supplies. and to provide all furnishings, bed linen and blankets, and the salshy of dormitory matron. We acknoTiedge gratefully the help Of friends through Miss Miles column in The Age Herald, the contributions of read-to-wear clothing. shoes etc.; also the assistance oT the Jefferson Volunteers, in repairing the Phil Finch room, originally furnished by them a memorial"
 The officers of the Creche are Mrs. Alexander T. London. president; Miss Kate Rogan, vice president Mrs. George H. Clark. secretary; Mrs. c. E. Thomas. treasurer.
 full list of contributors and full re- ports of the president treasurer and ,,t, ;,-,,x,,, .,f ,rp,,,,ittaoc uf he unfinished.