Evening star., 1936-07-19
Friendship House Is Good
NeighbOr to Its Community
Christ's Injunction to Minister as
Though to Himself Is Borne Outm
Historic Home Built in 1900.

ground space, which Is illuminated
upon occasion. rs the playground
used at night?" you inquire. Eyes"
comes the emphatic answer. PLAY in
the early evenings upon a supervised,
illuminated playground is a very real
asset for keeping Older children out
of the activities and interests that
make for crime development" How
fitting that there should be this re-
action in the home of that mayor who
conspicuously during his term Of office
strove to improve penal conditions in
the District.
During my visit, It was interesting
to See the classes in sewing and dress
making in operation, one Of the girls
busily intent upon the finishing
touches that had to do with as smart
and ll-fitting a little gingham coat
suit as I have seen this season.
Boys Paint Play House.
Several older boys under the direc-
ton of Mr.. Dean Longfellow was
painting a play house which carpen-
try squad had made one Easter holi-
day. The boys recreation or game
room is fascinating place. 1t is To-
Gated In what must have been the
great kitchen Of the old home in the
heyday of Its glory, for a mammoth
fireplace runs across its front, in
whose cavernous depths can still be
seen the original cranes and kettles
Of an era when gas and electricity
were unknown marvels for the cook
ing Of our daily food.
In thH play yard one Of the most
sturdy jungle Jims have ever seen
anywhere is the handiwork Of needy
father who was helped to new start
In life by being employed to con-
struct 1t.
Presently such wholesale face and
hand washings and teeth brushing
operations as I had never before seen
became the vogue, with Miss Burklin's
various assistants taking most partic-
ular pains to see that each one was
using his own particular parapher-
malta, taken from separate conpart-
ments carefully marked with their
owners names. 'And why the gen.
eral h-up?" was my query.
Wouldn't you like to wander about
for yourself and see?" was Miss Burk-
Inns reply. I would and did.
Evidently every one was getting
ready for the rest hour. The older
children did not have to take maps
but could quietly read, either to each
other in little groups, or on their own
in the downstairs hooks Of their
choosing.
OF to Slumber Land.
Upstairs in bedchambers, where
there are still the original mantels
over the fireplaces that are in every
room, small cot-beds, carefully spread
with homemade little blue-edged cot
ton spreads. invited rest and repose.
Then of came the bedspreads, the
outer garments, underclothes, shoes
and stockings. with each being taken
care of according to a ritual that
fairly rejoiced ones soul with the
order and system of 1t all. and the
lesson in neatness that 1t uncon-
sciously taught. Presently each little
youngster was in her own sleeping
garment, fashioned by the older girls
sewing club, and almost before you
could realize it southern breezes from
windows that look toward the Potomac
as in days of yore were lulling these
children of Friendship House OF to
quiet health-giving slumber.
How every woman's soul would have
sympathized with the righteous wrath
of a tidy conscientious little soul at
her Bohemian neighbor, newcomer
to the group, who had sprawled across
her bed without having taken of her
bedspread and folded it UP before she
hoped in.
And how Gid this adventure in faith
and friendship, that has so valiantly
struggled against lean budget and
tremendous odds, come to be?
Back in 1904 two Associated Charity
aides, Miss Adelaide Rochefort and
Miss Ida Green. in their little Office
at 219 Pennsylvania avenue south
east, felt the need Of establishing a
center where cultural and recreational
guidance might be established for
those who we're unable to pay a great
deal for the privilege, yet who would
spurn assistance from so-called
charitable organization. In pursuance
of this idea, they rented a room in a
house at Tenth and M streets, near
the river, at what is now Tenth and
Potomac avenue. During the first
four years of its existence the center's
workers were all volunteer ones.
Friendship House Founded.
Undeterred by difficulties that would
have downed others than those who
we're the devoted adherents Of an un-
faltering purpose, the motivators OF
the idea pressed on until in 1905 they
took over the May-Smallwood house
at 324 Virginia avenue, then falling
into rack and ruin. They said, we
will call it Friendship House." be-
cause Friendship is not only noble
and beautiful thing for an individual
but the realization of it Is the ideal for
the state"
Twenty-seven years ago this past
April, Miss Lydia A. Burklin. native
Washingtonian, whose higher educa-
ton has been q rich one acquired in
the university of life. came to Friend
ship House as its head worker. Be-
cause of the devoted service Of Miss
Burklin and those who have been asso-
ciated with her as co-workers. Friend
ship House under the leadership OF
its president, Henry p. Blair. and
such board members as Mrs. James H.
Baden, Mrs. John Barber, Mrs. VIII
liam Lee Corbin, Mrs. Wright Clark,
Mrs. C. L Christie. Mrs Thomas j..
Hurney, Mrs. Milton King, Miss Flora
johnson, Mrs. Howard G. Nichols,
Miss Emily Storer, Mrs. Albert Sta
bier, Mrs. Bernard Walls, and many
others-is fulfilling the dream OF Its
founders as an agent for community
service. The old house Is a gracious,
serene place, too, despite its myriad
activities and wide varieties Of service
to others with a dignity that some
hou raeros IN have carried over from