The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-06-20
Selected Story.
THE SHUT-IN SOCIETY,
BY MRS. RHODES CAMPBELL.

CHUT- IN SOCIETY,"" Geraldine
y said wonderingly. "What are
they shut in from, or for?"
Aunt Hilda did not stop to correct
the sentence. "From the outer
world, with its pleasures and gayety,
it's busy work, it's delightful variety,
it's temptations and activity. For
what, we cannot tell. They are in
valids confined to four walls or,
sometimes to several rooms; oftener
the bed is their home. They are of
all sorts and conditions, all ages, of
both sexes, rich and poor"
Geraldine tapped her pretty foot
impatiently.
"Oh!" she said, "a world of sick
people! What do they do but suf-
fer? How can they endure life? l
cannot imagine an existence without
tennis and boating, and driving
and lovely times. How did they
come to have a society, Auntie?
Things must have beginnings. Tell
me about it," she said coaxingly.
"Well," said Aunt Hilda, "a lady
who was an invalid enjoyed the let
tiers of sick friend so much that she
decided to enlarge the number some
what, sending letters around the little
circle at regular intervals. The lady's
name was Mrs. Jennie Conklin.
After a while Mrs. Helen Brown,
whose poems you so much admire,
and who died recently, took up the
idea, came to talk it over with Mrs.
Conklin, and the result was this vast
society. AS it increased, departments
had to be created and rules made. A
few joined, expecting pecuniary aid
and wrote begging letters; so it had
to be distinctly understood that its
aim was to cheer and brighten the
lives of shut-in-people, by writing
letters, personal visits, when possible,
and striving in every way to bring a
new world, broadening, strengthen
ing and amusing, to their bedsides;
but it was not an almsgiving institu-
ton. There are two classes of mem
bers: Associate or we'll members, and
shut-in or sick people. The latter
write to each other and to associates,
when possible. The associates write
to their chosen or allotted correspon-
dents. They are not limited. Some
take twenty, some dozen, the major
ity less, many but one. The associates
pay an annual fee of dollar-more
if possible; shut-ins pay fifty cents
and, if unable, less or nothing. This
entities them to a little monthly
paper called "The Open Window"
which is a means of communication
between the members. In it there
are short letters from invalids, arti-
cles of helpfulness, beautiful poems,
practical aids for bodily and spiritual
ills, we'll arranged Bible lesson, a
column of notices and requests, a list
of dates of various members birth
days. On these occasions the Queen
of the Revel holds reception, only
instead of real people, white missives
arrive in shower by mail, often little
gifts, and always CHEEKY, bright
words for the day. Then there are
advertisements in the back of the
magazine OF invalids' work; for many
sick folk earn money to help the
family, or to lessen the expense incl
dent to an invalid life" Aunt Hilda
paused for breath.
What can they do9" Geraldine
asked. "When I'm sick, / don't want
to do anything"
Must is a word you haven't
spelled very often, Geraldine, DEAR"
said Aunt Hilda; land when posi-
bic, don't doubt it is far better for
even invalids to be employed part of