The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-17
MRS. w. w. FRENCH, POPULAR CHAIRMAN OF
 A "CTTY BEAUTIFUL" CLUB, EXPRESSES VIEWS
8y DOLLY DALRYMPIu


 pantalette gowns, of the rapidly | changing fasions in house decorations the opening of the baseball season, and the result of the recent election-in the midst say of all this mad hurly- burlv which makes us get up early and stay up late, just to keep up with the pro l cession, 1t is delightfully."- refreshing to md women who have time in spite of all this routine to show their civic patriotism, not only theoretically, but practically.
 It is surprising though when our city commissioners started out to preach the 'The Gospel of Beauty throughout this great big town, how freely converts were made.
 The various City Beautiful" clubs. formed only this season feyangels of the really practical part of the work) are constantly adding day by day con- verts to their already large number.
 And
 These converts are not merely dream CTS, as l said before.
 They are workers-for the "citv Beautiful" practically.
 They are toiling. laboring. persnir ing workers trying to make Birming- nam more beautiful and more produc- tlVe of flowers and plants and trees and grass and foliage than ever be- fore
 Every block of houses a park of homes.
 Every vacant lot beauufied and adorned
 Every street a boulevard-
 IS the pntranpipp vision a n1 object of the City Beautiful clubs" until Birmingham shall be called not only the Magic City" hut the Beau tiful City in the days to come
 Ali first, as in every pioneer endeavor there was murmuring of doubt as to the feasibility of the city beautiful plan, among 6 few but when it was understood that MT. Ward and the oth- CT commissioners had their hearts set on the idea those who know the hon orable president of the city commission also know that there is no such word In the dictionary for him as
 ''Fail!'
 The result is that from one end to the other of Greater Birmin gharf,r Y City Beautiful clubs" are thriyi --n .he the happy effect of theip , ,p ,,,. a',ns anu il seen and felt everywi6.ere ''''.'e'' Rcts tAF ,,.os.2'sSi in the City Beautiful club" .Ek is Mrs. William Williams French, president of the club which includes Humboldt avenue, between South Twentieth and South Twenty second street, and with Mrs. Byron Dozier, the capable secretary and treasurer she is accomplishing a splendid work
 Mrs. French who is one of Birming- hams most popular society women and most attractive and charming young matrons, combines with all her loveli- ness a practical side to her nature that is unusual and wholesome
 Nothing could help succeeding when she is the head of it with her keen wit and bright ideas, and in her work for the city beautiful she has brought her club up to a splendid standard and inspired the members with her own en- thusiasm-an aspect without which nothing can succeed.
 Tn my club, you see, l have a very small territory included" Mrs. French said in talking with me few days ago about the work, and nearly every body rents. That is distinct disad- vantage. as you well know, because people do not feel inclined to spend money on other peoples property, and the landlords are very hard class to deal with since they do not see their way clear either to eXpend the neces- sary money on improvements. That con- dition has made 1t very difficult for us, but We have in a measure overcome it. The first meeting of our City Beauti- ful club was largely attended and everybody was enthusiastic over it, and many improvements have been made ar- ready"
 For instance?" l questioned.
 Well, principally there has been lot of cleaning up" she answered. "All the members have contributed toward hiring help once during the week to clean the street. and we've set apart day for that. Each has also taken a personal pledge to keep the half of the street in front of their immediate business clean, and any day you chance to pass you'll see the women working with their flowers and getting their grass and trees and shrubs in tip-top order.
 Then you think 1t was a good idea for the city beautiful plan to be put into the hands of the women?' l questioned.
 "I undoubtedly do,' said Mrs. French. Tt is the only way that woman can show her civic patriotism, and besides 1t is a woman's duty. If every woman in Birmingham would set aside one day out of the week to spend in the open arranging her flower garden and her yard, this city would be the show place of the south in less than years time.'
 "It Is question that all citizens agree upon," I observed, "the Identification of our city.
 ''Yes, l think every citizen should be interested in the city beautiful move ment,' said Mrs French. Beautiful grass plots on the sidewalks, beautiful flowers in the yard and handsome trees can make of the most insignificant little shack a beauty spot in great city. The city beau tiful idea is one in which every man, woman and child can help. We will never have a city beautiful, however, until the streets are cleaner. Of course. the house. keeper can assist in this by doing as we've
  w. H. Jenkins Mrs. J. P. Levy. Mrs. G. H. Lewis Mrs. o. H. Montgomery, Mrs. J. c. McLendon, Mrs. A. G. Morton, Mrs E.