Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-03-24


conceived it.
Il have received many letters from
wives of employees telling what profit
sharing has done for them and their
children. I receive letters from cities
where Mr.. Ford has branches OF his
business. Every one bears witness to
the fact that the plan has made for in
creased health and happiness.
"One instance that came to my at
tention Is typical. An Investigator re-
ported that the family of a man who
earned So a day was fast sinking into
invalidism. He reported that the family
was taking hoarders and that the wife
not only had to care for large family
but for the boarders as well. She was
fast becoming a petulant, worked
woman and, the children were running
wild about the streets, becoming excel
lent recruits for the. petty criminal
classes. Through Mr.. Ford's plan the
family removed to a suburb OF a city
and quit taking boarders., They were
restored to health, and now they own
their own home and have a tidy bank
account.
''That is the keynote Of every letter
/ have received from the women"
said Mrs. Ford. They thank me- for
my help In the matter and tell me
homes. They are given chance to live.
To speak in business terms, there have
been dividends Of 100 per cent. in
family health and happiness.
II never visit the families of my
husbands employees. They are his
partners in every sense Of the word,
and we do not want them to feel or
fancy the slightest hint of patronage.
would not visit their homes unless I
was invited. ~
Another and lesser reason is that !
am very busy with other work that re-
quires my personal presence and effort.
/ am on a board of managers OF q
working girls hotel and am deeply
interested in a home for younger girls
little first offenders who have ap-
peared for the first time in children's
court i also do personal visiting among
the needy of our city"
In this connection 1t is we'll known
here that Mrs. Ford Is one Of the most
ardent Of workers for social reforms.
She is personal visitor at the city's
detention homes and often eats lunch
with the inmates Of the House Of Cor
rectiop, and she is constantly in con-
sultation with women police workers.
She also employees a number Of agents
who investigate charity cases for her
and make reports on which she acts.
Some she visits personally, others her
agents are instructed to care for. Mrs.
Ford Is also constantly in consultation
with charity organizations.
A short distance beyond the Ford
estate is Dearborn Valley Farm, which
Mrs Ford owns and operates in con-
junction with the Dunbar Memorial
Hospital in Detroit, the object Of which
is welfare work for convalescing pa
tients, While 1t. Is little known, 1t has
become one Of the most important links
in the welfare chain which Is gradually
being weaved about this city. Many
girls are sent there and they all leave
thanking their benefactress for the
help they have been given. .t
Mrs. Ford's attitude on the question
Of erring young girls is that they
should be given all the help possible to
return to a normal way Of living.
The two months training at her farm
In hygiene. needed parental care and
household care often, it is said, alter a
girls entire attitude toward life. Ex-
perts only are employed there.
Some o! Her Gifts.
Mrs. Ford Is an ardent supporter Of
the family garden and has organized
at least one club for this purpose. She
herself has raised many flowers on the
Dearborn estate. She is also musi-
clan, and concert piano adorns her
living room, while in the library is a
pipe organ. The library is stacked
with books. . .....
Among her gifts Is public library
site to Dearborn. She built and gave
to the Episcopal church there large
rectory. She gave $4,000 recently
toward a home for wayward girls in
Detroit, which has been named after
Bishop Williams of the Episcopal dio-
cese. This home is used in caring for
girls who have been arrested but are
known as first offenders" and who,
police matrons say, should not be in
carcerated with the hardened prisoners
at the women's detention house.
Mrs. Ford is we'll read and has trav-
eled much. She has visited nearly
every country in the world. But the
Fords own no home outside Of Wayne
county, Michigan, with the exception
Of small place in Florida. .r.
During the World War Mrs. Ford ac-
quired and furnished and maintained
home for Belgian refugees in England
and taught them how to care for them
selves. The home was used only
temporarily for these youngsters. as
they were adopted into other families,
and a constant flow was maintained
throughout the entire war period. AT