The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-12
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS
The Land of Beginning Again"

 | chance to make a new start.
 
 l A week ago Charley DeBardeleben said: 1 Frank, I want to take you out to the State Training School for Girls at East Lake, and I immediately accepted his invitation.
 So, yesterday afternoon with him and several worthy matrons and a~few inter- ested men, I paid my first visit to an institution that deserves to be better known in Alabama.
 
 It's the place in this state where girl who has had bad start can begin again to pick up the broken threads of her life, and as more than 50 of them stood and sang The Land of Beginning Again" there wasn't a dry eye among the visitors
 Why shouldn't girl who has been un- fortunate begin again? Is the door of hope to be forever shut in her face? If so, where is our boasted Christianity? The State Training School for Girls, which was established by act of the leg islature of Alabama approved April 13, 1911, is still patiently waiting for Gov ernor Henderson to release the appro- priation of $5000o made by the last leg islature for the purpose of buying a farm and erecting groups of cottages.
 In the meantime 60 girls from 10 to IS years of age are crowded into home that was built to accommodate an ordi- nary family. Crowded, yes, damned is the better word. They are packed in their quarters like sardines.
 I wish you could see the temporary makeshift of dormitory (made possible only by the gift of the Federation of Woman's Clubs in Alabama) Yes, the girls have all the comforts of a box car. No heat in winter but a plenty in sum- mer A peep into where more than a score of girls have to sleep is an in- dictment of the people Or Alabama. There is no excuse for it.
 One bathtub for 50 girls is enough to put a premium on being dirty, but in spite of the lack of proper bathrooms the girls manage somehow to be clean and tidy
 The kitchen was sweet smelling and spick and span. The laundry was in good condition. The rooms were we'll kept, but the lack of room is the trouble. Think of having to eat. study and get one's recreation in the same room.
 
 I was glad to find quite a number Of books and magazines in one of the rooms. The girls read 139 volumes last month, using the East Lake library.
 It was pleasant to hear the girls recite patriotic pieces and to listen to their hearty singing of America
 A young woman connected with one of Brmingham's fashionable schools of her own volition and without pay gives her time once week in teaching them to sing. She was present I withhold her name at her earnest request. She is doing a blessed work. And now, who are these girls?
 These girls may be committed by any state or city court, by their parents or guardians, or by the girls themselves, upon signing the proper papers. The term of commitment is indefinite. inasmuch as no girl can be released until she is fitted to become self-sustaining, or until some other suitable home or school is provided. I'm glad quite few are out on parole and holding responsible positions in Bir- mingham
 Mrs. S. D. Weakley and the noble women who have stood by her deserve the thanks of every man and woman in the state for the brave and patient fight they have waged to give the neglected girls of Alabama a chance to get look into ''The Land of Beginning Again" And now comes Charles F. DeBardele- ben, the president of the Chamber of Commerce, a man with a great heart and says if the state won't do it's duty and keep it's promises to the poor and neglected and mistreated girls, he is going to put them on the consciences of Birmingham and see that they are properly cared for.
 The physicians of Birmingham. and East Lake have been most generous in their service to the school and have given the girls necessary medical atten- tion without any remuneration whatever. The ministers have also given their aid; as a result, services are held every Sun day afternoon.
 All the work about the institution is done by the girls, each one receiving thorough training in housekeeping, cooking, laundering and sewing and there is class in gardening and they have 2 good garden started.
 The school Is under a board of man. agers consisting of Mrs. s. D. Weakley, president Mrs. Alice Johnson, vice pres ident; Mr. Otto Mooney, treasurer; Mrs. H w. Bostick, secretary; Mrs. Charles Brown, Mrs. A. J. Dickinson, Mrs. Flu gene Jacobs, Mrs. J. W. Fain, Mrs. J. D. Oliver, Mrs. c. R. Johnston, Mrs. F. Tyler Mrs Bibb Graves of Montgomery, with Hon. Charles Henderson, governor; Hon William l.. Martin, attorney gen eral, ex-officio members of board of managers.
 Mrs. Ophelia Amigh came to Alabama, the first southern state to establish such a school with reputation made in Illi-