The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-15

1 equipped and with plenty of light and
 air assured more satisfactory work in
 this department The dormitory for the hoys was much needed improvement.
 This was nicely fitted up and furnished by the Creche and was called the Phil Finch" ward.
 The home now is dreadfully crowded. but even the conditions surrouding 1t are so ideal that this is hardly realized
 The little hospital cottage is being used by mothers who have children young
 enough to need the mothers care and milk. Mrs Ramsey says in speaking of taking over the cottage for the use of the home for other than for courageous diseases. for that is what it is used for now in case a hospital is needed: "l think it is better to use all possible space and not send off one child, rather than close up the place and keep 1t until they
 get sick
 Children are taken in the home from infants up to the age when they are fit I to have industrial training. Then the girls are sent to the Girls Industrial
 school r However, the home seems to have no age limit, for in it's sheltering arms they are caring for an old lady 80 years old
 When this old lady, Miss Mary Bush, was taken in Birmingham was not so
 fortunate in having institutions of all de- scriptions, and it was this home or the almshouse for the dear old lady. The almshouse was not to be considered, for Miss Rush is a woman of intelligence and refinement. In after years, when
 other provisions could have been made for the old lady. she refused to leave
 the home. and seeing her heart would be broken should such a change be made, 1t was decided to keep her. As the wears roll on she sits meekly by. spending her second childhood in the
 midst of happy children and kind friends. Miss Bush has for a number of years been a contributor to a little Alabama paper and has consented to let the Bir- mingham public through this article, read one of her contributions This, called Growing Old" is fitting subject from Miss Bushs pen. Among her treasured
 possessions Is a scrap book. kept for years
 and containing many clippings of events
 that make history in the state of Ala
 bama
 The most advanced idea in institutional life is cooperation. Isolation is long past
 and no institution closes itself behind
 high fences of wood or prejudce so this
 splendid home branches out into the
 civic movements of the citys life and
 instead of having school under it's roof.
 it sends it's children of school age to the
 nearest public school
 Cooperation at Barker School
 Enough cannot be said of the generous
 cooperation of the principal and teach
 CTS of the Barker school. where these 40
 or 30 children from the home go.
 The Barker School Improvement asso-
 citation gives the children lunches free,
 which is burden of expense taken off
 the shoulders of the home. The report
 of the conduct of the home children is
 gratifying and interesting when one stops
 to consider that these children have come from all parts of the city and from all
 kinds of environment. The influence for
 good must be strong in the home when
 we hear of the children being model pu- pills in every way.
 The Sunday school work is carried on in the saSne way, each child following
 the religion of it's parents and all in- stilled with the idea of moral uplift in the home.
 The Kindergarten Is the only part of the school work held in the home. Last year there were 35 children attending the Kindergarten at the home. which would be an impossible number to expect
 the public school teacher to take care of with the other children attending. At night the Kindergarten room becomes the study room for the older children. The health of this institution is very remarkable. Almost no sickness prevails among the little ones and this is attrib-
 uted to good food, fresh air and regular
 habits Each little person old enough to
 attend to its own toilet has its individual
 tooth mug, toothbrush and wash rag. One very remarkable thing noticed over
 the entire building was the scarcity of flies. This was commented on and the
 matron said: 'At the home killing flies is a game" Naturally, when the chill dren all come into the diningroom at meal time the flies come too As soon
 as the meal is over the boys become a
 "swatters' brigade and the slaughter goes on until not a fly is left alive. In the early spring the institution had splendid vegetable garden. worked and tended entirely by the children. Twelve varieties of vegetables were raised. The Mercy Home has very valuable auxiliary in the "Creche." Through this
 source all the furnishings. bed linen,
 blankets, etc.. are given for the girls
 dormitory and the Phil Finch ward for the boys
 The Creche also furnishes all books and
 school supplies that are not given by the
 public school system.
 The influence of this home Is not over
 when the girls leave it's shelter. but goes on through life. Many of the very grati- flying results are shown when girl marries and comes back to have the ma tron and assistant and friends meet the new husband. Children adopted often