The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-28

This evening at St. Mary's Parish Hall
 and on next Saturday afternoon and even
 ing novel entertainment will be given for
 the benefit of the Holy Innocents Free
 Hospital for Children.
 | It is an interesting fact that MT. Alvin
 Ernest Belden, one of Birmingham's clev-
 crest, most talented, and most capable | lads-a young fellow still in his teens, and
 with a heart as big and generous as you could find in days Journey--is the power behind the throne in this venture, which deserves the liberal support of Birming. ham people and which 1t will no doubt have.
 MT. Belden has given great deal of time and energy to the arrangement of this beautiful entertainment and he has selected for the participants some of the prettiest girls in the city, as we'll as some of the cleverest boys.
 MT. Belden is full of enthusiasm over the prospective produetion and is very happy in chatting about 1t, and what il will mean towards the furtherance of the plans and early opening for active work
 in the Hospital which is so much needed here at the present time.
 Ills zeal and earnestness are most com mendable, and 1t is seldom that one sees
 young fellow of his years who is affil-
 lated with such serious and important
 matters-an example that is quite worthy oe emulation even by those who are his
 senior in age as well as tastes.
 1T first became interested in the work for Holy Innocents Free Hospital for Chil- dren," said MT. Belden. in talking with me yesterday about the beneficiary for his forthcoming entertainment. when learned settlement work In which I have been largely engaged, through the Parish House work of All Saints Church and St. Marys Free Kindergarten-that there was
 no ward in any Hospital in this city for
 children. Can you imagine such a situa- ticn? I do not mean by this that the Hos pitals do not take care of sick children, but there was no especial wards set
 aside for them. At the Hillman Hospital when a child is taken there. it Is placed in the ward with grown ups There are six children there now who, for various ailments, are done up in plaster casts, They need recreation, sunshine, air and plenty of it. Every one knows what this means to sick child.
 Tn my settlement work" continued Mir
 Belden. q happen to be a witness in 8
 case where one little tot was suffering
 with Scarlet Fever. There were five chill
 dren and the mother and father, hudded up in one little place. and the child who | had had the fever was lying prostrate
 and i'll and when he was asked some
 questions, among others. What he kept
 chewing vigorously, the little fellow an
 sN cred that 1t was tobaccy. When ques- toned more closely he said that he had chewed 1t since he was years old and he was then 13. There he lay, the poor little | ignorant fellow. with no place to be taker
 to.-there is not an infectious ward In 8 l Hospital in this town for child af. | hicted with contagious disease to be carried-and there were the other chil-
 dren of the family--his little brothers and sisters who were subjected to the dreac
 disease, as we'll as his mother and father | for Scarlet Fever is deadly when 1t at | tacks grown people, and they are as lia'
 ble to take 1t as children when exposed
 to it.'