The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-08-13

gagged in-there are reports made by the various committees, all of which lead up to the fact that these same committees, enlarged, augmented, more enthusiastic eff possible) more active, and more vit~l than ever be- fore are still laboring faithfully over obstacles and through difficult ties to promote the success of the Y. w, and make it the haven of rest to the young womanhood of this busy. busting, workaday world.
 Since the little pamphlet of Feb ruary. 1915, was published. the Y. W, with the rest of the world. has passed through the great World war-where suffering and distress stalked red handed and where every Christian organization was called upon to do it's level best for the fighting men at home and abroad.
 Secretaries have come and gone at at the Y. w. c. A.: Edna sandlin has practically encircled t1e world in her great work of organizations; and yet the 'personner' of the Y. W. c. A.. executive board has kept faithfully at it's post-while reconstruction work has been done here as well as everywhere else.
 Hard times" have been felt; the lack of funds for carrying on"; the absence of money; the lack of ma terial aid in. so many ways has han dicapped the Y. w.; but always bravely onward. upward. has been the motto with "no such word as fail" in the lexicon of its work!
 Mrs. Stradiey
 Today--the Y. ". c. A., with It's wonderfully sweet, capable, director. Mrs. Jefferson Davis Stradley-who answers to the title of general sec- retary'-is doing a great work; It Is accomplishing a fine purpose; it is fulfilling a splendid mission.
 Just to know Mrs. Stradley is a privilege; what must it be to live under the same roof with her, to feel her gentle influence and sweet pres ence in one's daily life?
 With her soft euphonious voice unmistakably southern-although for 20 years she lived in New York city before coming here, she radiates the old fashioned South Carolina atmos- phere Cher native state) with all of It's charm and graciousness-mak her an ideal person for the respon- sible position she holds.
 Five years ago I came to Blrming- ham," said Mrs. Stradley in talking with me the other day about her work here. My position then was the girls. When I was offered my present position as general secretary, I positively refused to give up my other work. because for 20 years had worked with girls and I love them and I simply couldn't give up the sweet intimate friendship which my position as house mother afford ed me. So it was compromise-and I suppose you'd say I am all three-in- one!
 Always I have loved young girls: loved to be with them and enjoyed their society; after I left my native state and went to New York where was educated at St. Mary's, I took up mission work through my church in New York-'Old Trinity'-and it was In this way that I became so closely identified with girls and work among them.
 T had never done any Y. W. c. \. work until I came here; in fact, I was as green as blade of grass in re- gard to Y. W. work; but not with work among girls, so I suppose my experience in this way helped me to qualify for my present vocation. T never dreamed I could be so i happy anywhere as I have been in l the Y. w. work here; even during l the dark days of the war when my ] son shouldered arms and served his l country and left me-my heart torn | to pieces at this separation and my | thoughts of him always during those | unhappy and disturbed days-some- how my work eomforted me and was happy here In spite of these dis 1 tressing facts.
 l A Wonderful Board
 And it is all due-as every thing has been since I came here to the executive board of the Y. W have never seen anything like the spirit; have never made a sugges- | tion; I have never offered an idea about an improvements; I have never taken an initiative step that the ex- ecutive board hasn't co-operated witf me cordially. Sometimes sugges tion has had to be taken under coun- cil; but always the board has come to me and said that they knew ! haC a good reason for it, and they finall, co-operated with me.
 q am utterly spoiled when 1t come! to an executive board; the Y. w board has been so good to me ant
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