The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-12
BESSENER DOCTOR BUYS EL|ZAbETH DUNCAN HOSPITAL.
Dr. R. w. Waldrop New Owner Of WelI-KnoWn
 Institution
BESSEMER BUREAUl
 THE AGE-HERALD ! Rasgernar Ala Ann IL

BESsEMER BUREAUl
 THE AGE-HERALD
 Bessemer, Ala, Aug. II
 Sale of the Elizabeth Duncan Me- morial hospital at Bessemer was ef- fected Saturday, the transfer being made from the United Charities and Hospital Board to Dr. R. ". Wald- rop, a widely known Bessemer sur geon. This sale has been pending the past several days, and the de- tails of the transfer were completed Saturday.
 Dr. Waldrop will take charge of the institution August 15, accord he has plans for considerably en- larging the institution in the near future, and will announce details of this program as soon as possible
 The United Charities began oper- ation of the hospital in 1909. when Dr. T. r. Robinson, who has since their use the old Robinson infirmary. This was housed in a wooden build ing, formerly known as the Library hall, which was the property of the Presbyterian church. In 1912 the present Structure was built, and since that time has operated on a large scale, becoming one of the pest known hospitals in the mineral district.
 Much of the success of the oper- ation of the hospital has been due 10 Mrs. c. o. Lopez, who has acted as since the hospital was organized. Due to her careful of details of the ,insti- .ution. a heavy indebtedness incur ed for the building and equipment has been liquidated, and for many 5eare the hospital has been able to discount its bills, operating on a heavy expense has been borne charity cases. this institu- ion taking care of all work of this character in the Bessemer district.
 The proceeds from the sale of the 1ospital will be used by the United Charities to carry on organized work n the city. It has not been decided definitely just what form of work is 0 be adopted, but 1t is stated sev- eral constructive undertakings are now under advisement. The funds realized from the sale will net a handsome income, all of which is to ,e devoted to relief work.
 SHRINE PICNIC MONDAY
 Big crowds are expected to throng West Lake Monday afternoon and Hub will hold it's annual picnic. Plans have been made to enter ain a gathering of at least 2,500 per sons. only Bessemer Shriners and heir families being admitted.
 Charles l.. Hawkins, chairman of .he ticket committee, has arranged 70 stay in his office, 213l3 Nine eenth street, Monday morning from } to 10 o'clock to distribute admis- ion cards. It is stated that there will be no Shriners on the gate and t will be necessary to procure cards before going to the lake.
 Another item the entertainment wishes to stress is that Shriners and the families are to be carried to the lake free of charge in every hundred who are illiterate. has only seven in one thous- and and still many of us think the country is backward and less civil ized than our own.
 l have visited some of the schools here in Helsingfors, and l am told they are almost equally as good throughout the republic. There is no home which Is more than three miles from school house, and there are peoples high schools in all farming districts. Nearly every town has its associations of the young people who study travel and history, and every locality has its choral society and athletic associations.
 Most of the schools houses have gymnastic halls, and some of the mower ones have shower baths. The government prepares all the plans Tor te school buildings and the coun- try. schools have gardens for teach. CTS and pupils. Many of the children along the lake go to school on skates, md the school houses have places for snowshoes and bicycles. Nearly every home has telephone and the children help each other with the essons over the phone.
 and Swedish.
 Nln going through the streets one hears several different languages spoken. The Finnish which is grow Ing more and more popular, was a oarbarous tongue when the Russians LOOK possession of the country in l S09, the higher classes then using the Swedish. But soon after the swedish scholars in Helsingfors be- gan to study the Finnish and to col feet the folklore. Since then the Fin nish language has become more wide y known and it is now crowding the swedish to the wall. There are now 274 newspapers published in Finnish and only about 100 in Swedish. There were formerly seven newspapers which printed the Finnish and Swed- sh in parallel columns. In the Uni versity of Helsingfors there are three academic languages. Finnish, Swedish and Latin. The street names are printed in the two languages and public documents are used in both tongues. Helsingfors has the largest book store north of the Baltic and every town of size sells English books. Our best fiction is translated almost as soon as 1t appears and one can buy the latest foreign books In the stores.
 Banks And Business.
 Helsingfors is city of fine stores, banks and. other financial establish inents. Its business buildings are usually of granite, of four or five stories, and some of them have such elaborate architecture as to be al- most barbaric. There are many American goods sold, and like the cities of Sweden and Norway, the town has an American air. There are number of large banks, some more than so years old. There Is a national bank which issues the Fin nlsh marks, currency which now runs into the billions, but which has a more or less stable value. There are savings banks almost every