Evening star., 1937-04-21
5OTH ANNIVERSARY.
OF HOME MARKED
Mrs. Roosevelt Participates
in Observance at Girls
Residence.

perpetrators of the Young Womens
Christian Home, 235 Second street
northeast, on the occasion Of the in
stitution's fiftieth anniversary.
The modern, attractively furnished
home, constructed with funds from a
memorial trust in 1881, was thrown
open to the public for the golden
anniversary celebration, commemorate
ing It's growth from private home,
where two girls were cared for in
1887, to its present status.
The value Of this home is in the
personal touch" Mrs. Roosevelt told
the audience, "and in the security
that it offers to the girls who come
here to live. So many of our young
people are troubled today by inse-
curity. They have feeling that
conditions are changing, that the
world about them is changing.
1T is different when they have no
parents if they have home. like
this, q personal touch in that home,
and some one to whom they can 90
when they feel unhappy or when they
are very happy. 1t gives them a great
satisfaction"
Founded in 1887.
Mrs. Roosevelt expressed her in
terest in the history of the home,
founded by Mrs. Mary G. Wilkinson
IN 1887 when she set aside two rooms
in her residence at 232 C street.
The prociIny,tte
similar incident during her own
travels about the country, telling of
meeting woman tavern keeper who
took in young people to live with her
and gave them home, "tiding them
over during a period when they might
have been quite discouraged.
This woman's contribution" said
Mrs. Roosevelt, meant the difference
between these young people going
through life happily or through such
struggle that life would be an ex-
tremely bitter thing. A home like
this keeps young people from being
bitter. I congratulate those here on
their opportunity to render such a
service to the girls, and the girls on
their opportunity to have security and
chance to help themselves and
others and to be happier for the years
that they have spent here"
Right Rev. James E. Freeman,
Bishop Of Washington, opened the pro-
gram with the invocation. Miss X. E.
M. Dumbell, president Of the home,
presided and introduced the speakers.
The second and eldest living presi-
dent OF the home, Mrs. Elizabeth H.
S. Gurley, who came from Philadel-
phia for the occasion, was introduced
to the audience. Mrs. Gurley declared
lit has been my joy through all these
years that this has been home
rather than an institution"
Edgar B. Laferty, Los Angeles social
worker, recounted memories of his
grandmother, Mrs. Wilkinson. who
founded the home and made it her
life's work. He came here at the in
vitation of the homes directors to
speak on the program and to unveil
a portrait of his grandmother.
Two other portraits were unveiled.
One was of Miss Bessie ]. Kibbey.
who in 1892 contributed her grand
fathers mansion at 3ll c street as
a new location for the home, and the
other of Mrs Flora M. Thompson,
whose trust of s250,o00, left on her
death in 1881, financed construction
Of the present home
The trust was given to the home
under the terms of Mrs. Thompson's
will, making George w. White and
the directors Of the National Metro
politan Bank her executors, and leay-
ing the residue to found a memorial
to her husband and mother, to be
known as the Thompson -Markward
Memorial. This memorial was offered
to the home. 1t was accepted CRATE
fully.
Portraits Unveiled.
The portrait of Miss Kibbey, show
ing her at 10, was unveiled by Mrs.
j. H. Ten Eyck Burr The portrait
of Mrs. Thompson was unveiled by
White, who is treasurer of the home.
Miss Kibbey herself attended the
celebration and spoke on The Rea-
son Why"
Il told the girls" she said, that
I didn't want to give my home to
them Gin 1922. I wanted to share
it with them. I got a lot more out
of it than they did by their using it,"
Mrs. George White, the homes
honorary president, spoke of Mrs.
Thompson, her trust fund and the
new building.
Mrs. Bessie McDade is now super
intendent of the institution, which ac-
commodities 100 girls Of restricted in
come who have no home of their own.