The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-11-26
Mrs. Roberts Speaks
of Pratt Memorial
Fund


Mrs Charles Roberts. chairman OF
the Pratt Memorial Fund for the
Business and Professional women'a
club, reveals some beautiful and
practical thoughts, in her sentiments
as expressed before an asseInblage
of young men and women. who. are
preparing to enter soon into bust
ness and professional life.
Mrs. Roberts said:
ct am glad to have this opportunity
to come before you young men and
women. who are soon to take your
places in the business world. / am
especially glad to have a subject of
such interest to each of you, for am
sure each of you are interested in
giving credit and recognition to an
Alabama man and are also interesteg
in the matter of scholarship fand
to help the boys and girls or young
men and young women to obtain
business education.
1T has been known always by
few that John j. Pratt really origl-
rated the idea of a typewriter ana
Invented and patented such ma
chine in England. juno %. 1868. On
account of the war he could not OBJ
tain a patent in the United States
until August II, 1868 But it took
that enterprising young woman, MISS
Grace Jemison of TaHadega, to get
all the proofs together and then 10
consider the idea of memorial 10
this Alabama man.
No more fitting memorial could
have been suggested than scholar
ship fund to be known as the Jonn
] Pratt Memorial Fund, and no more
appropriate time could have been
agreed upon than THANKSGIVING
weeks--the time we realize all the
things we have to be thankful for,
, Surely we who earn our living by tne
| use of tho typewriter often feel
| thankful that such an invention is
thought of. and this opportunity is
being given us to express that feel
| ing. To establish and provide for
this scholarship fund. the State As
ISOLATION of Business and Profess
sional Women decided to ask every
person who had used or had in any
way benefited by the use of the type
r to rive. 81 or more toward
fund to be loaned to boys and girls
IN the state who had completed
| high school course, or who coulq
stand an examination in English
iaequivalent to that.
| We are hoping to raise rs much as
5000; $500 in Birmingham and ad-
fei,ing counties. This is to be loaned
to boys and girls who may wish TO
avail themselves of this opportunity
and are recommended by q. commit
tee in his or her community As we
cannot hope for many years to have
fund endowed. the plan is to lend
the. scholarships, to be paid back it
the convenience of the person Dor
rowing with an interest at the rate
of per cent. This will then be a
business transaction and will in no
sense be charity.
II suppose you all know that Mr.
Wheeler has given us $40 scholar
ship in his school. We hope this viii
be used over and over again, and that
the person or persons using 1T viii
always reflect credit on this school.
Next week we hope to realize our
quota of $500. and please bear in
mind that every little helps to make
a dollar, and please further help us
by talking of our object whenever
YOU have an opportunity.
II must use this occasion to urge
all of you to take advantage of every
opportunity offered to prepare your
selves to enter the various positions
awaiting you. Don't go out seeking
positions in half baked condition.
Please be advised by one who knows
the requirements of the position If
stenographer, accountant, etc. YOU
must for the first thing be able to
spell--then use the library--read and
read. In that way get a background
that will enable you to see the ro-
nance connected with your work, for
every busip ess. has its interesting
and romantic side