The vidette., 1916-06-01
MEMPHIS POOR ARE MADE
HAPPY.
One Thousand Dresses Of ExeelIest
Quality Distributed by Noted Pm
apthropist in Memphis, Reeestly.

history of Memphis has anything
in the way of public charity erea-
ted such widespread interest as
was manifested recently when the
one thousand (1000) dresses,
donated to charity through the
generosity of Mr. L T Cooper,
were distributed at zoo South
Main street, at the Chisca Hotel
Building.
Ladies prominent in Memphis
social life, leading relief workers.
heads of local charitable institu
tions and many prominent citizens
were on hand early in the after
noon to assist and cooperate with
Mr. Cooper's representatives in
this worthy cause. The scene was
a most interesting one; passers-by
stopped in wonderment to inquire
what was going on and it was a
tribute to the charitable spirit of
Memphis to note the enthusiasm
with which Mr. Cooper's timely
gift was received.
Not only were poor women.
girls and orphans of the various
institutions remembered, as had
been previously planned, but sew
eral hundred other poor and needy
women and girls from all parts of
the city came to seek Mr. Cooper's
bounty, and none were denied.
Long before the appointed hour
a large number were on hand wait
ing for the doors to open, and
formed line which extended for
more than a half block. Before
the distribution was completed a
large crowd had gathered, and
everyone seemed to enter into the
spirit of the occasion.
Practically every charitable in
stitution in the city, both white
and colored, were provided for,
the heads of the various institu-
tions being present in person to
participate in the distribution and
to see that all the needy and
worthy were properly taken care
of.
The charitable institutions rep
resented included the following:
Home for Incurables, Porter
Home and Leath Orpan Asylum,
st Peters Orphange, Wesley
House, the Industrial Settlement
Home for Negroes, Through the
Mary B West Circle, King S
Daughters, children of the Juve-
nile Court were provided for, Set.
tlement School, Second Presbyter-
ian Church, by Mrs. Van Lewis
and Mrs. Armstrong Guthrie
School, by Mrs. w. It. Outten 4:
Linden School by Miss Dixie Sam.
pie Riverside School by Miss
Beauchamp pupils of St. Mary's
School (Catholic), by the sisters,
and many others.
Among the ladies who gave the
distribution their personal atten-
ton were the following
Mrs. Myrtle Stevens, Mrs. B.
r. Henderson, Mrs. B. R. Hen
derson, Jr., Mrs. A. ]. Hayward,
Mrs. A. c. Floyd, Mrs. Hugh
Hayley, Mrs. Van Lewis, Mrs. NJ.
Myers of the Juvenile Court, and
Misses wager of the Salvation
Army. Bessie Simon, colored
represented members of her race
and rendered valuable assistance
in providing for them. These
good women spent the entire af-
ternoon to make the distribution
the great success it was. Adju-
tant Yager, of the Salvation Army,
worked untiringly in order that
those of greatest need might re-
ceive the charity. He saw per-
sonally to the distribution of four
hundred tickets to people whom
he knew to be worthy and gave
his services for the better part of
three days to this end.
In referring to the occasion, Mr..
G. F. Willis, Mr.. Cooper's South
ern representative. said. My
only regret is that Mr.. Cooper
could not have been present 20
witness this scene. He was once
a poor man himself and is never.
happier than when helping oth:s
ers."
When asked whether Mr.. Coon: