The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-04-18

that in behalf of the Women's Emergency
corps one of the largest organizations
arising out of the great European war.
sunderland House is to outward appear
ances as unpretentious a building as such
big house can be- The minute the front
door is entered the spirit of modernitv de-
parts and the style of furnishing trans
plants us into the time of Louis XIV and
Louis WI. The anteroom and the semi
circular boudoir on the ground floor.
where the duchess receives her intimate
friends. are furnished with beautiful Buhl
cabinets with the comfortable double
cushioned brocaded armchairs Of that
period and with electroliers to initiate the
stately candelabra of that time.
The dining room. which can be entered
from the boudoir through a small ante
room-in which a fine portrait of the
duchess is the most arresting objectr-has
marble floors and walls. At night when
the rich eolors of the marble are reflected
in the mirrors of the closed shutters the
huge room is vivid reminder or the
glories of Versailles. A magnificent gobe-
lin panel covers the wall on the side be-
tween two doors facing the windows
Fifty people can comfortably dine in this
room. which ordinarily is furnished with
large oak table and another smaller one.
/ was received in the duchess special
worlIroom on the second floor. When
entered / knew at once that | was in ths
presence Of one who takes work seri-
ously. On a screen facing the writing
table is large map of Europe with flags
indicating the position of the warning
troops. The writing table itself is very
large and covered with documents of all
kinds; it proclaims its owner a very busy
woman. Here the duchess is found on
most days at about 10 a. M, and, when
work is strenuous, even before this hour.
There was no long holiday for the duchess
last year; she has vigorously denied her
self anything but the briefest of week.
ends and ever since August a has been
constantly at work
The primary object of the Women's
Emergency corps" said the duchess
after her greeting. 'is the care of the
middle classes, the immense class of
artists, actresses, authors, musicians,
Journalists, secretarie, typists, short
band writers, etc, thrown out of work
by the war. Until the Women's Elmer
gency corps took it up, the needs CT
the middle class workers were in dan
ger of being forgotten. Charity can
not and will not ever reach these
workers, for they would rather starve
then claim It"
Here the duchess enumerated some
of the different schemes fnaugurated
by the Women's Emergency corps and
perhaps pride of place should be given
TO the ldDOI OpthcQ ny Lue XIV
eminent at Old Bedford college, the
present habitation of the w. e. c.,
and kindly lent by the council of Bed
ford college. Here professional women
register, as their services can be placed
through that branch. The duchess
went on:
Collecting Surplus Food
1--WE are collecting surplus food from
metropolitan markets and other
valid kitchens and to existing dining
rooms which feed nursing mothers. We
have received many generous gifts of
food from Wholesale dealers, and hope
to open dining rooms in connection
with labor exchanged for immediate
aid to workers out of employment.
1--WE have organized Industrial CEN
tiers in many parts of London. and are
providing in special workrooms in
many of the districts of London paid
work and instruction for middle class
workers and others who find them
selves in distress on account of the
war.
I'VE have organized a corps OF
women highly skilled in motor driving,
motorcycling and motor repairs, also
corps of women skilled in riding, driv-
ing and care of horses. We have Of
fered the services of this corps to the
war authorities
1--WE are seeking in various ways to
provide work for the middle class
woman who has so far been the Sc
Nerest sufferer from unemployment
owing to the war. We have already
eight workrooms where wooden toys
hitherto made in Germany are being
manufactured under the direction of
experts, who are teaching the workers
this trade. Mr.. w. A. Wildman, A. Il.
C. A., is giving the designs, and we
hope that business firms will follow