Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-11-23

the Immediate supervision Of Mrs.. Frank
Gibson as Editor.l
The W. c. -. L. will meet with Mrs,
Wallace on the afternoon of Dec. 10.
We expect Mrs. Mable Conklin about
Dec. /. The exact date will be given
later.
We give our space this week to an vut-
line of our work at Ellis Island. If our
readers will note the following para
graphs, they will have a reply TO the old
quest ion: "What is the w. c. I. L. do
.ing?"
Oar department Of "work among
foreigners includes a New York branch
with headquarters at the Barge Office
where the immigrant ships unload. A
United States Commissioner once declar-
ed this meeting and greeting Of immi-
grants at our chief ports as n of the
most valuable agencies of relief, reform
and good government.
To know what this mission means one
should be present when the great vessels
come in bearing thousands of passengers
ST ranger TO our land. There are people
seeking loved ones here and knowing
not how to find them; there are mothers
with children hanging to their skirts,
babies in their arms, little ones CRYING for
milk and bread. They, through ignor-
ance even when possessed of funds are
often unable to get what they need.
Speaking strange tongues, a poor bewild-
cred flock they are, herded in the pens,
which are sometimes so crowded it is
almost impossible to walk through.
Miss Orr m cts every shipload and
stands as the representative of a great
organization of women to give these i'm
migrants a friendly greeting To our shores
and render aid and comfort wherever
needed. Good second hand garments
are given to those who come insufficient
ly clad. She provides bread for the
hungry, procures milk for crying babies,
sends letters and kilograms for new
com ers, takes charge of young girls and
waits, and seeks to be a real friend to
the stranger
In addition to the friendly greetings
with which all are met. Miss Orr puts
into their hands little leaflets in their
| ruyy, fnnyItac NTH p,,.h sittnc NO Esural
come to the stranger "v:arning against
the saloon" "kind advice to "a friend"
"hovg to be good citizens "advice to
mothers on social purity etc. About
10000 leaflets in eighteen languages are
distributed monthly. Miss Orr speaks a
number of languages aud has 'caught
up enou h of others to make herself
understood in regard to simple want.
Mrs. Sophia F. Grubb has been for
fifteen year the head of this department
for the National w. G. I. L. TWAS due
TO her efforts, by voice and pen, that
liquor was abol shed from Castle Garden.
Ii was a veritable beer garden where i'm
migrants usually celebrated their arrival
by a fearful drunk, which ended in their
briug robbed by the crooks of the city.
In 1892 thu place OF landing was changed
to Ellis Island.
We regret to say that the order pro.
hibiting the sale of liquor at our ports
Of entry has been resciuded. Mrs
Grubb has written thosr in authority but
without avail. Now there is far less or
der aud good conduct prevailing and our
missionary work is retarded by coming
constantly into contact with the saloon
influence and usagrs, rendered more
potent by having the sanction of the
government.
We feel it a disgrace that our flag floats
over and protects a saloon at the very
entrance of oar gates. What shall we dc
about it?