1935-06-01 — Page 7

No. 12

China Mail

HOME SUPPLEMENT

HONG KONG, SATURDAY, JUNE 1. 1935

No. 12

MAY INSTITUTE

Impressions

VERSEAS papers have been talking a lot about babies lately. The fact is, that in both England and America « more babies are wanted for adoption. Depression or no de- pression, the English National Children Adoption Association. the American Cradle Society. and a number of well-known institutions have found that there are often not enough babies nowadays to take care of requests, and so there is us- ually a long waiting list.

Mother" whose babies die, has bands and wives who want child- ren, but cannot have them in the natural way, all turn to the "baby market." that group of agencies that sees to it that homeless babies are provided with good homes. The babies are given thorough physical examinations and certified their health. Family histories are also supplied as far as possible. The main concern is always the fature of the child. A good home is assured-and all is well.

as to

But the extraordinary thing is that in both America and England it is reported that the demand for girls is always heavier than the de- mand for boys. Girls, in America at least, are wanted with curly blonde hair! That may be the in- fluence of the movies, bet, none the less, women are apparently no longer the unwanted sex.

a little

She

• Perhaps the reason is more profound. A woman feels the absence of a child in her life more strongly than a man. Deni- ed the exercise of her natural in- stincts she may become physically and emotionally unsettled... can therefore quite honestly con- ceive a tremendous affection for- other people's children. A man is constitutionally not inclined to show the same enthusiasm. Thus in cases of adoption, it will most often be the wife who is the mov- ing force.

It is not unpatural that the wo- man in adopting a baby should be attracted by the girl, upon whom she can more readily and for a longer period lavish her affection. She knows, too, that the. daughter is more naturally devoted to the mother; the ties of loyalty are

strong.

A

Even when marriage intervenes, mothers retain the companionship of their daughters long after that of their sons. When a man mar- ries he is immediately saddled with responsibilities which are bound to separate him from his family. But "there are few married women who' cannot or do not spend some part of the day with their mothers if they are within reasonable dis- tance,

Similarly, although a mother's jealousy of her daughter-in-law is proverbial, even the most domin- ant "matriarch would not believe that a son-in-law could deprive her of her daughter's affections.

Phyllis Jucky.

HELENA

FOR WOMEN

"was

on. January 22, 1914 in the damn core the

War, that Lady May, wife of the then Governor of Hong "Kong, received a letter in which Mr. later Sir) Ellis Kadoorie offered the sum of fifteen to twenty thousand dollars for the purpose of erecting a Hostel or Women's Institute in the Colony. pro- vided that a similar sum could be raised within two Fears. This money was a free gift to Lady May to be used as she desired. with the single

7.

NEWEST HATS.

$7.50

Made to sell for $9.50. Ready-To-Wear Made-to-Order

Aurelia's

Front view of the Helena May Institute

Left: View of the garden and entrance to the Concert Hall.

proviso that any Institution so formed should bear her

name.

On January 30 Mr. Ho Kom- tong offered to pay the other half of the cost, and so the existing site in Garden Road was purchased at. a cost of $3,600, and the architect's plan, by Mr. Fam of Messrs. Dennison, Eam and Gibbs, accepted. Me: Kadoozie signed the building contract, making himself personally responsible, and be further agreed to pay for th furniture, providing that his total commitments did Dot exceed $35,000.

In September, 1916, the building was formally opened by Lady May. and then comprised a lounge, libr- ary reading room, matron's quar- ters, several class rooms, a "resid- ente sitting room and eight bed- rooms. Since that date many al terations and additions have been made, there now being 18 bed- rcoms, a large dining hall, and an extra storey, towards the cost of which Sir Ellis contributed $25,000. In 1916 a resident matron, was engaged, and in 1922 a resident secretary, there is now a fall- time librarian also.

The Hostel affords accommoda- tion and comfortable home for business women at 2. reasonable cost, the scale of charges being. made on a sliding scale, according to the salary and income of the applicant A special rate is granted to missionaries. and a limited number of rooms are avail- able for travellers. Stewardesses on ships are also made especially welcome.

Concerts or entertainments are held fortnightly during the winter, and the dining room is frequently the scene of most interesting Tectares. The Christian Fellow- shin meetings, to which mambers of the public are, most, wymły welcomed, are held every Friday morning at 10.30 o'clock: and the Institute rooms are also thrown: open

to the committees of.

charitime ...in

varions

Colony:

Spezial facilities, offered to members are the hiring of the -matched at Bepulse Bay, and of the tennis court in the garden. The library is an important factor in the amenities of the Institute.

The cotite management is, in the hands of the 14 members of the council,