The Detroit times., 1916-08-12
Mrs. Palmer Could Not
Have Picked a Better
Place For Her Riches

Lizzie Merrill Palmer has given TO the
city of Detroit the munifcent gift of one
million dollars for the establishment OF
home in which girls may be trained fol
housewives and mothers.
Although a woman who took no part
in clubs, societies or the present day
activities of women, Mrs. Palmer must
have thought long and deeply upon the
best place to bestow so great gift and
have decided that here was the work that
was most neglected and most needed.
Though never a mother herself, and
though the only child of rich parents,
never having felt the hardships of life
which come through lack of money or
educational advantages, the will Of Mrs.
Palmer shows that she has been close
observer and deep sympathizer with con-
ditions which confront the greatest part
Of our population.
She must have recognized the fact that
the foundation of character is built in the
+ home amid the surroundings of child
hood, and she must have known that the
great privilege and burden laid upon
woman should not be accepted in the care
less. haphazard, unprepared way which
brings disaster to many families.
She probably knew that half Of the
economic problem too is solved by tht
judicious expenditure of money by wo
man and the conservation, by her, OF the
food and other resources which consti
tute the necessities of life.
She probably believed that the health
of the community depended mainly upon
this same woman and the way in which
she selected, prepared and combined the
food for the family.
In other words, she must have had a
great conception of woman's sphere and
have believed that in fitting girls for the
responsibilities and functions of later life
she was doing the most that she possibly
could for the human race. Realizing al
these things and in looking about her
seeing them entirely overlooked by the
city and state, it is not surprising that
this generous woman should have dis
posed Of her fortune as she did
That she left it to Michigan rather
than New York, her later home, is fit
ting, for it came from Michigan pine
forests and it was here, too, that she
spent her childhood, youth and doubtless
her happiest days.
We want to call your attention, in par
ticular, to the fact that this gift. so hand
some in proportions and purpose, is mad
by a WOMAN.
Its proportions are not so remarkable
the size of the Palmer fortune considered
but very rich men have left Us with moth
ing like it to remember them BY.
Very rich men have left us with moth
ing in their wills to indicate ar interes
In humanity like this woman's interest.
tom" Palmer, the late husband of n
donor Of the Motherhood and HON
Training school, was one exceptio
among our men.
He gave us, in his lifetime, Paine
Z park, as beauty spot and breathin
spot and playing spot for the public.
His was the kindly and the genuinel
\ fatherly interest.
Mrs. Palmer's gift is one bespeakin
the most natural instincts and the mo.
natural interest of her sex-instincts an
m interest, by the way, which men, in ii
selfshness in which so many rich men
his city have died, have refused a part
our government by denying them III
right of suffrage.
An example of the selfshness Of whic
we speak is to be found in the beques
70 this city Of "Jim" Scott, who knew
n LOT of good" stories.
Here was a rich man whose forum