The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-13
BY HAYDEN CHURCH

very wealthy and whose history goes
back hundreds of years"
1t had been obvious as soon as one
reached this particular part of Barns
bury street. hitherto the most Woe
begone of thoroughfares, that one was
in a different atmosphere. the houses
on each side of the street suddenly be-
coming trim and well fron.ted with a
certain distinction of their own--and
here was the explanation. In bygone
days, it seems, this district was known
as Gossey field. and in $780, Ann Mills,
the daughter of former clerk to the
Diapers company, bought this field
and added 1t to the endOwments OF
two sets of almshouses in other London
districts which had been established by
her father. The house that has been
lent to the Society of American Wom-
en- in London proves to be one of Ito
houses which now stand on this field.
The income derived from the leases of
these houses Is applied primarily to the
maintenance of the alsmhouses and the
balance Is paid in pensions to persons
living in the surrounding parishes and
to a certain number of outside pension
ers appointed by the Diapers company.
The management of these al1nshouses
has been in the hands of the Draper
company ever since they were founded
nearly 800 years ago.
The American women's factory" In
IarSDury street mas now DeSlt HI De-
ing Just over q month. 1t is two
story house which will accommodate as
many as so workers, If means of em-
ploying them can be found. That. how
ever is a matter OF money, to be used
in providing various knitting machines,
materials, and so on, and funds are
badly needed and will be gratefully
received. AT the outset the Society OF
American Women in London, out of its
emergency fund, donated $3.50 toward
the upkeep of the factory and other
private donations have been received
and further ones are hoped for, but not
half enough to carry out the society 8
schemes has been forthcoming as yet.
Mrs. Page, the ambassadors wife,
and honorary president of the society.
is giving the lighting and heating of
the house, no small item. Sir THOMAS
Upton. alwaysto the fore when 1t is
a case of American enterprise. has
given 80 pounds of tea. 15 pounds oil
cocoa and a similar amount of coffee
A liberal private donation also has
come from Herbert G.. Hoover. whose
wife is the new president OF the so
ciety. while another member of the so
ciety, Mrs. c. A. knight of New York
has given two badly needed Snittins
machines round and flat one, By
means of which sweaters and SOCKS cal
be fabricated with extreme CELEBRITY
Meanwhile the Duchess of Marlborough
has promised TO Vlsit lhe iactory
while others interested are Mrs itegi
Maid Owen, the daughter of Secretary
of State Bryan, whose soldier husbaps
is now at Aldershot expecting to "a
to the front any day: Mrs. Edgar Kick
ard of San Francisco, and Mrs. f. c
Darling of Richmond, Va. The latter
by the bye. gave the factory one o
it's first orders, this being for Iuan
tity of knitted gloves which, whei
completed. were dispatched by the'
donor to the Iron Duke, Admiral Jel
lcoe's flagship. and drew letter o
warm appreciation from the eallan
sailor in whom Britain hopes she ha
found another Nelson. Another lars
order which the factory has filled wa
for IS pairs of knitted socks whicl
have been sent to the crews of tn