The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-17

Reciprocity and Education Day, cele-
brated annually by the Federated clubs
OF Birmingham, has become one OF the
leading factors in the Intellectual life
OF the community and is anticipated by
the cultured women of the city as one
of the most enjoyable and beneficial aft
ernoons of the year. Never have the clubs
had more timely or practical topic for
discussion as this year, and never have
the speakers been better chosen. The
entire literary programme was given to
the discussion of co-education as applied
to our state university, and the university
was represented by two members of its
faculty, while also among the speakers
were local educators who discussed the
general subject of co-education and also
the president of the State Federation of
Clubs, who is fully acquainted with the
arrangements made at the university for
the education of young women
Mrs. L. j. Haley, president of the Br-
mingham federation, presided over the
meeting, presenting the speakers and in
terspersing occasional remarks in her
usual bright, charming style. which has
so much to do with the spirit of any
meeting OF which she is chairman. Mrs
Charles Henderson, president of the Ala
bama Federation of Women's Clubs, fol-
lowed Mrs. Haley, extending greetings
from the state federation and giving her
Endorsement of the meetings purpose in
the happiest style Mrs. Henderson is
not only one of the cleverest women in
the state. but one of the most charming.
In appearance yesterday afternoon as
she faced her audience from the platform
of the Central High school, she beautiful
ly represented Alabama womanhood.
With graceful bearing and charming face.
she was also the perfection of sartorial
attractiveness, wearing one of the smart
est of formal blue cloth tailored gowns
and a French hat of corresponding color
graced at the side with Paradise feath-
er the shade of the soft drapery of plush
across the crown.
Mrs. Henderson, in uttering a forceful
appreciation of the opportunities granted
to girls at the University of Alabama,
stated that during a recent visit she had
found conditions commendable, but the
equipment not SO good as it might be.
II feel" she said that We should do
something toward lettering conditions.
A question of the moral side of the mat
ter has caused me in times past to stop
and wonder if co-education is best |
feel convinced that the presence of wom-
Ell in university life lends spirit of
purity, light and love just as it is meant
that womans presence anywhere should
do. Competition, the work of men and
women side by side, is an element for
the higher aims of BOTH
The address of the afternoon was pre-
sented by Prof. j. j. Doster of the Uni
versity of Alabama, and following the
suggestions brought out in his able pa
per- Dr. j. II. Phillips. superintendent of
the public schools; Miss Willie NJ AL
len. principal of the Margaret Allen
School for Girls. and Prof James S.
Thomas of the University of Alabama,
briefly but with the fund of knowledge
which has come to them from long
sociation with Alabama educational work,
gave other thoughts upon the big sub
iect of co-education. which eN~ry MEM
Der of the fine audience heard with ap-
probation.
DR.. Doster gave concise but COM
nehensive view of educational facilities
now provided for young women at the
university and a review of the period
during which women have been admitted
as students There are. he states, 20
women students now in the institution
three more than last year-11 more than
the year previous. Every department,
even that of engineering, is open to them.
They are from every section of the state,
and in the 296 who have been enrolled
on the student list, 10 were from Tusca-
loosa, Al from Birmingham. five from
New Decatur, IS from Mobile and IL
from Montgomery Thirteen have re-
ceived A. NJ degrees. two the Nj. S. de-
gree and Al the B. $. There have been