The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-17
BLACK AND WHITE BALL SYMBOLICAL
 OF WORK DONE AT NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE
By MRS. SIDNEY M. ULLMAN


 over the idea of black and white as a stunning effect. For this reason the gra- cious ladies who designed the splendid
 black and white ball have taken this | fashion fad their basis for a delightful
 entertainment Undoubtedly the effect lends itself in countless ways and society
 will revel in the delight of the unique decorations and charming black and white costumes.
 But the idea of black and white is not frivolous. The contrast is not only pleas ant to the eye, the thought not only born in the ever-e existing charm of antithesis. Black and white has much deeper sig nificance, fauciful you may say it is, but nevertheless true; white is the idea of social betterment while social degrada- tion, through poverty and crime is black. It is the contrast of joy and assistance, rendered, white; and hopeless depen- dence, black; it is the white thought of love of humanity, against the black thought of love of self.
 It is the center of hopeful generous, understanding, friendly and neighborly assistance, it is Neighborhood House. white; and the community without Neigh borhood House left in ignorance, and poe erty and degradation, black
 White is the joy we live and give through sympathetic understanding, black is oppression and selfishness.
 Neighborhood House, it's superinten- dent it's guardian angels, it's volunteer teachers, it's day and night classes, it's clubs, it's nursery and it's playground, its neighborhood dances and it's visitors, need no introduction to Birmingham It has long been a benefactor in the city. Neghborhood House has grown in every way for years, until now it reaches end- less homes, teaches countless children, and moulds through contact the charac- ters and lives of it's neighbors. It has been called a ''gcod neighbor," which is the highest compliment and the best name that could be given it.
 If you do not know Neighborhood House visit it. Then you can better realize what it means to the community in which it is located. You can also better realize what it needs in the home, and the real reason the ladies of the board are trying to make the ball such a success.
 These arc some of the needs for the ball to GOV CT some of the needs of the work. Miss Annie Laurie Sparks, in speaking of the Improvements and as sistance needs in the house at present, said:
 We need an added equipment in the domestic science department. we need better and more adequate equipment on the cliildren's playground, and we need all kinds of things in the day nursery. We need a great deal to replace the wear and tear on the house. In other words, the Nelghborhood House board has sent out an S. o. s. through the black and white ball to help the upkeep of this ST lendid work.
 The domestic science department of the institution is very useful adjunct. Here the little girls are taught the science of dietaries, which is always important and doubly so in the foreign households. The great majority of persons using this cen ter are Greeks. The influence and in- struction of the cooking and household lessons are taken home and the good is very apparent. Home comforts are real ized home decorations are simplified and the influence of refinement and educa- ton are felt
 The playground needs no extolling No park in the vicinity of Neighborhood House has made this playground a neces- sity. and it's equipment should be ade- quate for the children. Proper supervis- ion is one of the necessities the ball hopes to finance.
 Daily the working mother brings her little ones to the nursery, to have them looked after while she works. She is caTe-free through this agents kind hand to dc better and more efficient work This alone should so appeal to your hearts that each should desire to assist the ball.
 Tt is not crime for a person to be poor, not at all, but to let povery exist where it can be remedied, is a crime be- cause poverty invariably produces crime in some form or other. The men and women who profess to follow Christ, are sinfully negecting their opportunity if they fail to look after the physical well fare of their fellow man." These fine words were said by Dr. Gibson, in Dal- las, Tex, and are significant of the ne- cessity of the support of this work, for here is a working agent in the hands of competent social workers, aiding in the uplift and physical welfare of the fellow of the community.
 It is our duty to make folks happy, to bring white into their black lives, to help their living conditions to aid their chil- drcn, to aid the children to help them selves.
 Filth is black and the knowledge of cleanliness is white, so the proceeds of the black and white ball will aid it to spread the gospel of cleanliness
 Unhealthy back yards and dark alley 1 ways for children to play in, are black; l supervised playgrounds well equipped are white, so the results of the black and l white ball will spread the gospel of or | sanized play and supervised recreation.
 Twenty-Five per cent of the babies that ] are born die in their babyhood and 50 per cent of the persons born die before | they reach the adolescent age because ! of the lack of preventable causes. This l is black. A day nursery that cares for | the little helpless children of neigh l borhood is white. The black and white 1 ball will, through it's proceeds, spread | ths gospel of health and assist the com l munity in raising little children, credit | and asset to the city.
 The white soul of generous humanity is l shining over the black night of poverty l and the contact will make for the eleva- ton of the black and the ever spreading | good of the white.
 The black and white ball will be a | brilliant affair of the near future it | should have your cooperation because of | It's charm, it should have your presence | because of it's novelty and entertainment l Dut best ce all. it should have your sup |