The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-19
DOLLY MEETS MISS G. L. ELY NEW HEAD
RESIDENT" OF "NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE,"
BY DOLLY DALRYMPLE

just tlny DIT or girl Miss Georgia
Letter Ely seems. with such a big 'Job"
on her hands, as Head Resident" of
Nefghborhood house.
From the2far west Miss Ely comes brim-
ful of enthusiasm and energy, determined
to make her work here big success
She's all heart and mind, ner slender,
little body and frail, pretty face, being
that of mere girl, and yet she's had
such lot of experience in the short years
of her life. so much to her credit in set
tlement work. both in this country and
tabroad
Everybody loves "Neighborhood House,"
and the beautiful work done there.
1t might well be named Universal
House. for 1t is a charity that every
BODY, everywhere, is interested in
1t is no respector of persons, denomina-
tions things. and it is the most prac-
tical charity in the world, for 1t endeavors
to strike at the source of need and want
| by teaching the secrets of economy and
science and judgment in the home, which
| is after ALL nothing more or less than
just the science of life
Not satisfied with merely taking care
| of the childrens end of such conditions
providing shelter and food and play
/ grounds for them, and a we'll equipped
nursery and all the "doctoring" and
'mothering" they need while the real
mothers are at work, the work of
Neighborhood House finds in the mothers
themselves a fruitful field for endeavor.
IL you haven't anything better to do
some morning, suppose you drop in and
pay call on Miss Ely and the little folk
down at Neighborhood House.
I'll warrant you'll be glad you did it.
You'll find the neatest, cleanliest, most
orderly spot that you've seen in this old
dirty, dusty, Birmingham for many and
many day. Everything is in apple pie"
order, from the moment you step up on
the big front porch and ring the bell
until you lana clear back to the rear
premises, where the kitchen things and
backdoor affairs are managed.
You could trail your finest satin gown /
over the floors of Neighborhood House |
and not find a speck of dust on it after
ward.
How many housekeepers could answer
to such roll call as that?
| play few vakostes just like any
body else.
Because I'm very human and have my
hobbies just any other woman has |
and one of them straightforward House. |
Whenever there's a real good reason |
for me to write a story about it, l do so |
just as | do with the Young Woman's
Christian association, the Sunday School |
association, The Boys Industrial school, |
and lot of other fine things like those.
The reason / found TO be an easy one |
this time for story at Neighborhood |
House, for doesn't Miss Ely, the new
In he n
troduced to Birmingham?
And
It's my pleasure to do so!
She's a very delightful subject for an
interview" too, l may say, because she |
is so wholesome, so honesb genuine |
AMI so finel
Tell me about your work before you
came to Birmingham" I asked Miss Ely |
yesterday, as we chatted in the big, |
oozy, living room at Neighborhood House, |
while the sound of merry laughter from
dozens of little tots ut-of-doors flooded
through the windows.
well" said she in her sweet, modest |
way" I have had a lot of experience
since | left college. which was in l9OS |
You see, somehow people begin work so
much earlier than they used to-girls go
out into foreign countries as we'll as at
home to do settlement work as well as
teaching. During my college course,
stopped for year between 1906 and 1897, |
and taught, then went back and finished
my collegiate course. After graduating,
went out to Turkey and for two years
| was employed in the American. Collegi- |
ate institute at smyrna
WAS your work entirely settlement |
work out there?" | asked.
oh no." was the answer. Il went as
a regular teacher, but under the King
Daughters I did settlement work also.
My life out there was very interesting.
The school was composed mostly or
Greek and Armenian girls, with only
few Turkish girls among the number.
You see they believe so little in educa- |
ton for women and really, until very
lately, the Turkish women have been
reared in almost total ignorance, then
given in marriage, never having an atom
of freedom or independence"
''But what a dreadful thing to allow
girls TO grow up and assume the cares
,-.s......s...s..s....o.ss.. ss....s........o."o"...
Pike mamie Pearson) of New Hamp-
shire.
The number seated about the large
circular table was composed of Mrs. r.
II. Pearson and her guests, with other
friends of the hostess and her honoree.
The decorations We're characteristic OF
Mrs simmons exquiite taste. A tail
basket in the center was laden with
sweet peas in all their lovely shades;
lavender, pink and deep crimson with
the tones between made the centerpiece
most attractive. The candleshapes which
topped silver sticks were rose colored
and bonbons were in the pastel colors
to match the flowers.
Mrs simmons guests were Mrs. r. II.
Pearson, Mrs. Bertram Pike, Miss
Katherine Pike, Miss Annie Pearson,
Mrs Roberta Bridges, Mrs. c. NJ Ru-
dulph, Mrs. Eugene Lilly of Chicago,
SsA1A
Buck, Mrs Thomas Il. Morris. Mrs f.
W. Dixon, Mrs. Samuel l.. Ledbetter,
Mrs j. ID. Moore Mrs. George Cruik-
SHANK, Mrs. Philip Alexander and Mrs.