The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-08-17

Passers-by in automobiles or on
speeding interurbans, gaze at it with
frank curiosity. 1t is understood
that Mrs. Ford is deeply interested
in social and welfare problems and
that this Valley Farm belongs to her.
If the inventions and vast wealth OF
Henry Ford have made him world
figure, they have made the activities
of his wife of of interest wherever
their name is known. The general
public knows little of the work &C
complished at Valley Farm; except
that it is some sort of rescue work.
The old house is bravely facing new
conditions. 1t is doing ultra modern
work; developed scientifically, by
professionally trained workers, Tor
the benefit of posterity. This is pos
sibly the strongest link in the chain
of work of the Dunbar Memorial
Woman's Hospital, and the most far
reaching of all the great and good
achievements of Detroit women. The
farm, 13 miles out in the country,
has proved a boon to the hospital
in Detroit, which is located on the
busy, noisy corner of Frederick and
St. Antoine.
Through Mrs. Ford's courage and
thoughtfulness in sponsoring this
work, it's results will be felt to many
generations. 1t has meant the SAL
vation of thousands, whose success
full reclamation has blazed the trail
for welfare workers.
What has actually been accom-
plished is of more importance than
any general theorizing. Mrs. Ford
has been affectionately called "the
erring girls friend" She says, "Men
are willing to help boys and men;
it behooves women to help woman
kind. This is not as easy to do as
it sounds. Weakness and impulsive-
ness have brought trouble and dis
tress to many girls and to their fami-
lies. 1t is wonderful what has been
done for them by those in charge at
Valley Farm. They do it beautifully
and sympathetically. They reach the
girls when they are friendless, de-
pressed and often bitterly antagonis-
tic to the world. The quiet activities
include two months training in hy-
giene, household arts and parental
duties. The kindly, for-sighted
board of trustees and the tireless un-
selfish trained nurses assist each one
to secure work and to establish a
clean, wholesome home"
Opens Door of Opportunity.
Mrs. Ford has opened the door Of
opportunity for many ambitious
people, and has put success within
the grasp of others. She is con-
stantly lending helping hand to
those who need it most. Each day
she is confronted with a round of
duties, for she is the energetic, cap
able type of American womanhood
which is playing tremendous part
in world affairs today. Her creed
is that "Money should be used to
make the world better, not to create
envy and breed selfishness."
Being a musician, Mrs. Ford has
a concert piano in her family living
room; a pipe organ in the walls OF
her drawing room; in her library,
which is lined from floor to ceiling
with much-read books, is Vic
trola: in her sun parlor an Edison.
.Music is refreshing" she says.
She organized the Dearborn Gar
den club, of which she has long
been president, and through her in
fuence the members combine well
fare work with nature study. This
club holds two annual flower shows.
Blue Ridge mountain rhododen-
dron, which in June is laden with
gorgeous pink blossoms, tanks the
Ford doorway and the lovely gray
stone mansion is very comfortable,
very homelike.
Seven thousand acres are in the
estate. The land stretches back to
the city limits and in the opposite
direction toward the tractor plant at
River Rouge. The first home built
by Mr.. Ford still stands in the
grounds. It is an attractive, white
frame farm house, with a wide We
randa and green roof, and is fur
nished as it was during their early
housekeeping days. Near 1t is a
rustic bungalow, where guests are
sometimes entertained.
Lilac and Heliotrope.
In spring and summer a rush OF