Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-05-10
THE KINGS DAUGHTERS.
MARVELLOUS GROWTH OF A BEAU
TlFUL ORDER OF SISTERS.


Dfamonds-They Also Include Hard
Working shop Girls and Cash Girls In
Our Big stores.
A richly dressed lady leading shabby
little waif OF a girl boarded train at
Hartford one morning last summer and
led her little charge through the long
train, looking inquiringly into the faces
Of the passengers. Evidently she was
seeking some kindly person to whose care
she might consign the child, which she
was sending into the country for a season
Seeing NO face which inspired her with
confidence to ask so great a favor, she re-
traced her steps to put her charge in care
of the conductor, when passenger beside
her, a lady removed her wrap and re-
vealed over her heart tiny silver Maltese
cross tied with purple ribbon. In
stantly the lady approached her, touched
the silver cross, whispered the mysterious
words. I'm his name" and told her all
her need. In his name" answered the
traveller softly, aud tenderly lifted the
child on her lap, and cared for and
amused her through the journey as
lovingly as though she were her own.
A lady, whose elegance Of attire and
beauty of person attracted the attention
and awakened the admiration of all who
saw her, stepped out of one of the large
and fashionable stores of New York TO her
carriage, which stood waiting at the door.
The wild March wind caught her flutter-
ing silken draperies, and rudely tore her
cloak from about her. AS she struggled
against it a little silver cross fell from her
dress and went tinkling down on the
pavement mite of girl with scrap
of shawl over her head darted out Of the
shelter of the doorway, picked up the
silver trinket and drew its counterpart
from her own shabby little frock. 1T is
the badge of the Kings Daughters, said
the lady, softly; ''are you one, too?" She
held out both her hands with smile SO
gentle and tender that it was more
precious to the shivering little girl than
the money the lady left in her half frozen
hand I'm his name.
Who are these royal daughters of the
king? What is their mission! What is
the Specification of the silver symbol they
wear and the potency of the mystic motto,
''In his naIney'
In January, 1886, circle of ten ladies
met to discuss and arrange some plan
which should unite all Christian women
in one grand sisterhoOd of service. Adopt
ing the system of Edward f. Hale's Ten
Times One clubs they constituted them
selves a Central Ten, around which
should crystalline other Tens of workers,
not assuming any authority or RESPONSE
bility over them, but simply to form a
nucleus around which they might cluster,
and from which nj ut radiate encourage
ment, advice and guidance. OF the va
rious names proposed for the order that of
the Kings Daughters was most favorably
received and finally adopted the badge Of
the society was selected in the small sill
yer cross tied with the royal color; the
watchword chosen was the simple In
his name of the apostles of old, and the
notices of action Sc ected Were
''Look forward and not back. ="
'Look out and not in"
"Look up and not down"
LEND a hand"
The society as organized had no consti-
tuition and no code of laws save the one
general regulation that whenever any rea-
sonable request should be made 'In his
name" it should be granted without ques-
ton or delay.
Never was less said or written, and
never so few plans made for any work, as
the design of the society was to move
silently and steadily and to secretly ac-
complish its purpose of bridging the
chasm between the rich and the poor, and
to unite all women engaged in any kind
of good work in such way as to secure
to each the sympathy and cooperation Of
all. Yet from almost every state in the
Union, and from most remote countries
over the sea-Inda, Australia and New
Zealand-from people in every walk in
life, from pastors of churches, matrons of
hospitals teachers of schools. leaders of
philanthropic societies, presidents of col
leges, from the bellies of Fifth avenue and
the street gamin of $le Bowery come It'd
ings Of the continual organization Of tens
upon tens of Kings Daughters, until
$500 silver crosses have been sold and
10000 members have enrolled their names
among the Kings Daughters, although
the society has been organized only Two
years.
As for the kind of work accomplished
by this remarkable sisterhood, it is too
varied and extensive to be recorded in tie
tail There are Tens that visit the sick,
Tens that supply the hospitals and homes
with flowers. Tens that support foreign
missionaries, Tens that sing and Tens
that sew, Tens that eu'low beds in hos
nit,ls Tens that nrovide pleasant conn
trv homes for deserving moor and Tens
that simnlv ..hri,Ile their tongue,, and
..onde.vor to 1.-Two in love and charity with
all MON, all sin bis nnme ),
Tho cash Girls ohove referred To are
lnoyn ne ..the Httla doorkeeners y whose
unioue motto ia Lord keen thou the
door of mv.nouth. -nnd there are Hearts
e,eo Tons of ltt1e children who cultivate
nonsias for tho bospitols There ara the
0uiot Tons in schonls and tbe Courteous
IT, ~ oI,;,, tl,t ..I<iro..s D.,rhtorS
.;..I t1.i... 81 a.. c11
J,dv,s Ten whose vounrest member 10