The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-05-22
BY CAROLYN b. ELLIoTr

When Rosa Maria and Bettina and
eyed girls sang The Star-Spangled
Banner" when Jake and Tony and Phil
lippe saluted odd Glory reverently like
the true scouts they are, l realized that
all the patriotism wasn't left in Garibal-
dis sunny Italia, but that plenty of Il
was utilized every day in the making. of
good American citizens at Ensley Com
munity house.
The eighth anniversary it was recently
at the Community house when hundreds
had gathered to celebrate the gala oc-
casion that was the birthday of this
splendid settlement at Ensley.
THE FOUNDER
While the founder of the institution,
who has been the community supervisor
all these years, was shaking hands with
the numbers of friends aroand her, 1
found myself wondering what had
been Miss Dorothy Crim's receipt Tor
building UP such wonderful community
spirit now interesting more than 500
people, when she began eight years ago
with only the wealth of kind thoughts
and few babies in kindergarten class.
.'Neighborliness,'' / decided, was the chief
ingredient of Miss Crim's receipt mixed
with worlds of faith in the making OF
American citizens. AS matter of fact,
| do not consider that anyone is better
fitted than Miss Grim to stand at the
head of Uncle Sans reception line to
open the doors of the new world wide TO
those whom she welcomes to their UNI
tried home that was discovered for them
once upon time by their own country
man one Christopher Columbus. Very
soon the newcomers themselves discover
a new world, too, when they find that
the latch string of community house
hangs on the outside for everyone OF
them, whether that one is tiny Lilade
who runs in for Miss Grim to come
quick to see if baby brother is much
sick;o whether that one is big Antonio,
who seeks entrance to the English
classes or whether she happens to be
somebody's mother who brings her child
to the baby clinic seeking the doctors
care.
CITY MISSION BOARD
The community work at Ensley is
conducted under the auspices of the
city mission board. representing 20
Methodist missionary auxiliaries of the
Birmingham district The executive
committee elected by this efficient
band of women is composed of the fol-
lowing officers Mrs. Mary &. Russell
president; Mrs. s. P. Marsh vice presi>
dent; Mrs e H. Newsom. secretary;
Mrs. Fl. r. Brownell. corresponding
secretary; Mrs c. F. Horst, Jr, treas
urer.
DEMOCRACY THE KEYNOTE
Democracy is the keynote of tn e
Community, house. 1t begins with 50
little children in the kindergarten. to
which scores of others are seeking en-
trance to have the benefit of MISS car
abel Hollingsworth' capable instruc-
ton. Democracy is also the password
of the Fairgrounds, where hundreds of
children congregate. and is in the at
r,osphere of the auditorium where the
athletic clubs convene.
BOYS CLUB
Bows from the kindergarten join the
club for little Americans, and are
graduated from this into the older
boys club, then into the citizens club.
There Is also the garden boys club,
the garden itself being the thriving
evidence of successful husbandry. Jake
Lorino was the fortunate young agri-
culturist who won the prize recently
for the best garden.
The Boys Scouts of Community
house have made an enviable record
under leadership of the commission,
NJ Farnum, Ben Lorino, Joe Timbrello,
with Albert de Prima as patrol leader
John Shilbetto, reporter, and Max
Aouileno, scribe.
Citizenship is priced above all else in
the clubs, each one of which is doing
work that is self support
ing. Recently the athletic seniors and
juniors were organized with Sam Tini-
brello, president, and John Reitz., sec
D. C. Bracken is the
supervisor of the boys work.
GIRLS CLUB
Ensley Community house also boasts