The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-03

When one considers the comparative youth of our great city. 15 years ago Is really speaking of its infancy. And the wcnan's club of Birmingham organized on October g. 1899. was a most precocious child Child did we say. nay it was born grown up, for it had wisdom and under standing, and was the mother of much that was fine In the latter development of our city.
 The Womans club or Birmingham was an organization that will always be dear to the hearts of many of the most repre- sentative women in this city for it was a big work and undertook under it's many branches to cover every and all avenues os social economic and cultural work pos sble Programmes covering the follow ing subjects were all mapped out in the most careful way: Art. business. civics, | current events. history, home. journal ism, music, philosophy, science. literature, pEils nthropy. reform, reciprocity and edu- cation.
 From The Age-Herald of June {, 1899, we have. an article by Miss Annie Ken drick Walker entitled. "A Review of the Brilliant Record of Achievement of the Woman's Club" Miss Walker says: When one goes up these Saturday aft err oons for a cup of tea at the Woman s club, for Saturday is their day at home, one naturally recalls the series of bril- liant afternoons the past winter when the club was thronged with numbers of women who came In for the lectures and the numerous other affairs which fol- | lowed during the season. The delightful atmosphere which has been created there | in comparatively a short time, impresses one of the turning of the tides here in | favor of club rooms and to those who have been in close touch with the Wom- ans club movement, it is great pleas ure to dwell upon the first steps which led | to the organization in which so many prominent women have become interested Tn the history of many clubs l do not
 believe there Is club in the south that could show a more brilliant record of
 achievement in so short time since or ganization as the Woman's club of Bir- | mingham.
 l "There has been for sometime a popu-
 lar demand for the large club but nc
 woman had taken the initiative toward orga nization, the first definite steps be- l ing taken by a few courageous men who
 Fingered one morning after meeting oi
 the federation and informally discussed the organization of the Woman's club of Birmingham. Mrs. l.. Crozier French was trade temporaryu chairman, and she with the cooperation or other women laid the foundation of the club. Later a mass meeting was called at the Com mercial club and the Woman's club wal lorganized. officers were elected and 6 constitution was adopted
 After this arose the question of clut 1 rolms for the body. and at last the clut apartments of the old Alabama club were | secured. Here were presented charming and interesting scenes all the winter, said member in speaking of the so' cal life of this club. The informal teaf
 were followed by lectures and musical.
 which were arranged by rne various de partments."
 Miss Walker. further in her article, il speaking of the civic work undertaken | said that the club "encouraged all prac
 tical measures that had for their ulti rste interests the city
 One of the first steps made was taking
 the Woman's exchange under the auspice' of the club. Here cooperation was need ed. and the woman's club held out it hend to the exchange, sister enter prise.
 There were lectures on physical cul ture and the needs of the body, house hold economies and systematic nursing | child study and kindergarten were dis cussed and one of the most importan steps taken was the formation of th Boys Civic club This branch include,
 the news boys of the city, and nigh
 school was started to assist the chil dren of the streets.
 The educational department estab lished free scholarships and threw it
 influence at once upon the side of high
 CT education for women.
 The civic department is responsible,
 says Miss Walker, flor the anti-spittinl
 ordinance,' and she states the civic de
 partment will undertake further re
 forms.
 That the club did do other things W
 have very recent proof of through som } correspondence with a charming "ol
 lady" who writes to this social servic
 department in reference to the earl. : closing movement in Birmingham
 It might be wise to withhold tn name of the dear "old lady" as sh
 modestly requested, and let the Wom ) ans club get all the glory, but tha ] isn't going to be the way we do 1t, an it's only fair to mention names whe } we have at least found the self-con , fessed mother of the Birmingham earl l closing movement.
 Mrs. Alice D. Orr started the wor