The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-30
"KQtherine Inn" To Be HOnOree


 o little house of happiness
 Whose wonders light the way, Whom gentle wind and sunshine
 bless,
 You took me in today!
 Your doors looked fair to all who
 spied
 But oh, you're lovelier insidew
 
 What a sweet idea 1t is, Katherine h." the little sister of the Big Sis ters' association.
 And every member of the organi- zation loves Katherine Inn, just as though it were really human being a flesh and blood relative--a little wonder girl, who deserves all the admiration and affection which is heaped upon it-deserves 1t all. and more.
 It is a genuine pleasure to talk to any member of the Big Sisters about the work of this institution, and ex- ceptionally interesting to hear the views of Mrs. K. w. Berry, the ef- ficient and popular recording sec retary of the association.
 When heard that there was to be a swimming party out at Edgewood in the near future for the benefit of Katherine Inn, I donned my bonnet and went my way foraging about for documents in evidence regarding the party
 Mrs Berry was just the person, everybody said, from whom I could hear all about the plans and specl- fications--so to her I went, and what she told me about the event, as well as about the Big Sisters was brim ful of delightful enthusiasm and loyal hope and promise
 Mrs Berry began by saying:
 Anyone who has been so fortunate as to make a tour of inspection of the Katherine Inn might well say with Mary Carolyn Davies, Your doors are fair to all who spied, but oh you're 1ovelier inside" For surely no house could be more de- like than this business woman's home of the Big Sisters association. You will find Katherine Inn big, fashioned, brown house, with wide, hospitable porches and broad, green lawn in front. Mrs, Cora Bethea, who is the matron, will answer your eager ring at the door and by her simple, gracious ways and hospitality will make you feel at home at once. The large, cheerful room at the right, with the Victrola in the corner and an inviting table covered with books and magazines in the middle, Is the living room. Just back of it is the music room, and if you call late in the afternoon, there will no doubt be girls in q happy little group about the piano, playing and singing. A large room running along the left side of the house is the dining room, and it is so bright with it's long rows of win dows that it seems more like a sun parlor than dining room The lit- tie tables for four are painted gray. and covered with dainty crash table pieces. and perhaps you will find few bright flowers on each. There is note of blue in this room, worked out so artistically in the curtains and delight to even a professional deco rator.
 Upstairs the bedrooms, which have been furnished largely by church soci1fes and individuals, car ny out the Iaote of 'homeyness.' for that is the dominant one down. stairs" Mrs Berry continued. Alp parently those who furnished these rooms all had the same idea-that the business women who live in them must have as much of the comfort and joy of real home as dainti ness and attractiveness in furnish ings can give. Mrs. Bethea will probably tell you with pride as you enter one of these rooms, that the draperies have been copied by one or % -s 1. At the back of the house is a huge sleeping porch, which is perhaps re- sponsible for the bright eyes and sitting out there.
 When you descend the stairs again and say goodbye to Mrs. Bethea, you are sure to carry away with you the knowledge that the working girls and women who can come home to such a place as that after hard day of work must find it indeed a little house of happiness.' and must do their work better next day foi the comfort and joy they find there. And. as Mrs. Bethea said, S6 girls have made the Katherine Inn their home for either few days or for months, since it opened on January II.
 "Of course, such delightful home could never have come into being had it not been for the generosity and kindness of the Birmingham peo- ple," Mrs. Berry declared. The girls, of course. pay most reasonable rat es for their rooms and b,ard. but even so. under Mrs. Bethea's efficient man. agement, the hT<se, as far as actua; running expenses go, is almost self supporting. Nevertheless, ali of the initial expenses, such as paying for the house itself, for macn of the fur niture and improvements are very large. and the Big Sisters associa- tion is finding the raising of the needed money a man-sized job. How : ever one member of the board had the brilliant idea of giving swim ming meet and dance for tho benefit of the Katherine Inn. and the fol- lowing delightful plans have been evolved:
 "Wednesday. August 1e, at Edge wood MT. A. W. Abell. the physical director of the Y. M. c. A.. is going to stage swimming meet that all enthusiastic swimmers should well come with glee. It is to be open to boys and girls. men and women and the eight fortunate, or rather skilled ones. will win such useful and at tractive prizes as swimming suit and a vanity case. There is to be a fancy diving contest, also, and some mysterious thing called an egg and spoon race Anyone wishing to enter the meet must give his or her name to MT. Aoe!l by | oclock Tuesday evening, August 9, The 1 judges are to be M. w. Gahster of the Red Cross Fred c. Gully, of the Boys club and H. w. Wesler. the Chief Scout master
 There are also to be present sev l eral other judges, but these need have no knowledge whatever of ath- letics, as they have to liigc scme- thing much harder of decision then even an egg and spoon race--ant