Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-11-14
GIRLS HOME LIVES
ITS YEARS, DESPITE
MANY ADVERS|T|ES
Name of Female Humane
Association Changed
to Modern One.
TINY TOT ON STEPS
OCCASION OF INCEPTION
Survived Dark Days After War
Between the States, When
Federals Took Richmond.
ny VERA PALMER.

contributing toward the brighter and
more sympathetic side Of life, will bt
delighted 10 know that the Fc,nal,
Humane Association has changed rs
name TO that OF the Memorial Home
Tor Girls. This institution. now stu
2ied in Highland Park. is one OF the
eldest in The entire South, II Il does
Not an,eda;e al others. for despite
many hardsh:ps and fierce economic
struggles through long, dark days. II
has maintained It's place in the COM
inun!iy for nearly century and n
quarter. In that ;imc II has given TO
society many excellent young women
whose lives, otherwise, would hav.
burned on; altogether differently.
That the name has been changed
from tho harsh "nSti,u;.onal" terms
given 70 II in another and less un-
Outstanding dag is largely owing 10
Mrs. Frederic William Scot; and
her sister. Mrs. Frederick Noting.
81 this city. both members OF the
directorate, whose many and bount!-
;ui gifts in memory OF their mother,
Thc beloved late Mrs. Mary Ross Bu-
ford. wife Of the late Colonel \.
Sidney Butord. have made life richer
;os hundreds OF girls. But moro OF
ihis later.
Richmond has long heen famed FOR
iis charitable organizations. but
few persons realize tina,
in 1905, just s!Sty-eight years after
Colonel William Byrd founded his
ci;y on the banks OF the James. tho
heart OF woman was touched BY the
sight on her doorstep one cold and
Irca-y morning OF little homeless
and friendless girl. This woman o:
the Old South could not turn tho
iny scrap OF humanity adrift. and
She interested two friends in help
Tug her TO provide for the child, and
from this small! beginning the home
mad its inception.
For the next five years these wo-
ncn-M-s. ,Gencra) Wood. Mrs. Ed
ward j. Darlington and the fret Mrs.
Philip :. N!choiaa-strugg.cd By
themselves, but IN 1911 ~ &C; Of the
Genera! Assembly the wori: was in
corporatcd as the Female Humane
Association OF the City of Richmond.
That was time OF Stern d:sc,.,iinc
when iadiEen; girls were madr %
feel that they should be thankful 70
he provided for Mt all and not 20 az
pect many OF the comforts or any
of the hcaut!fu! things OF life True.
they We're taught 10 rcA! and write
and 10 do little arithmetic. and 20
rhis limited curriculum was added
knitting. spinning and
every kind OF domestic business"
Also. Article NJ. Of the Constitution
adopted in 1888 states TIM. "thev
small be taught .he fundamental prIn.
"irlcs OF the Christian religion. and
nave their heath and mo-als d.:l-
Gently attended TO-"
According 10 = yule Ia!I down va...
carly IN tho hiS;cry o: The homa re-
.'g!on was re2eiEyd. from a variety Of
viewpoints, FOR IL was necessary for
he wards 20 attend sunday school
~ Monumental Episcopal Church and
20 20 10 service In turn 10 the Metho-
dist, baptist and Presbyterian
Churches. When the time came :o-
,hem to bc received as cou-,un!ean.s
however. the Grca, majority were
confirmed a; Monumental.
scope Much ENLARGED.
In It's earliest Gays the associa.
Ion cared for the poor generally.
pu; "!th!l a Few years il conferred
al! Interest on the children. which
mon cou!f b" drawn only from Rich.
iHons. s!ihouLh now there are rep
ressrtat:ve.s o! every SECTION @: Viz
ginh eDd from North Carolina. Then
100, orphans were given p.e.erencc
Children h.
parents, hu; modern sociology teaches
mat an unworthy 2nren; IL often far
more o: menace thaa It's death.
which would simplify matters cx-
eecd.ug'y, and therefore no prefer
enct i9 made. That II required
great deal 81 time 10 look after Tho
details Of the association In The earlv
days. or that women then l!HeJ to
talk even better than they do now 10
SHOWN from one of the rules which
IS TO tho effect tina, the society
sha!! meet at - O'Clock \ NJ and
adjourn at o'ciOcK T. NJ. ur,css
two-thirGs OF the meeting vote :o,.
a longer H.i'inE In othcr words
three hours ana "taen conc"
In the long ago j, was custo,o,,v
for the association 70 bind OF, s,,ch
poor children 80 came under the,
are" which modern manasem.n.
fepudiatcd, However. on finding TIA,
The poor children" often were yery
much TO be pit!ad on accoun, o. Inc
treatment they received In thc.r Ios-
ser homes.
This practice. o. course, enabled
thc board 10 take IN a much CREATE
number OF distressed and !naIr..-
females" but as their distress was
not asSuaged, hG: rather accelerated
8. was stopped by later generation
Funds used Ia be derived IargeIv bv
,he enrolment o! prom!ncn, women
as members. the Tee eeins a m.
nua!ly. II is gratifying 70 note nm,
Mrs. John Marshall made a r.rpl,,
contribution OF SO year as d:d als,
Mrs. John W!ckham and Mrs Car.
rington, together with number n,
other social ard benevolent leader,
OF their day.
T Although the association began ~.
brightly Il DID not 70 far hcfor.
eDcountering severe storms. cu!in!n.
ating in 1927 in nothing short Of :
+ tempest. Al tina. time the in.,,tp
ton is declared 20 have been In e;
very declining condition" Only four
(, tecatchi'drsn could be supported. IN.
GsH thc EXCEPTION OF 1900 cof,tri
isc n 4