Evening star., 1901-12-14
MRS. BALLINGTON BOOTH.
Among Prisoners' Families

Among Prisoners Families
Mrs. Maud Balington Booth is In the city
today. Mrs. Booth is well known as one
of the leaders for many years of the Sal
walton Army work of this country, and
later, with her husband, in charge of the
work of Volunteers Of America, an organi-
cation similar in plan and scope to the
Salvation Army. One of the special fea-
lures of the work of the Volunteers of
America has been the efforts in behalf of
those confined in the jails, workhouses and
peniteutiaries of the country. This feature
of the work of the organization has been
Mrs. Booths especial care. and she speaks
earnestly and eloquently of the needs, not
only of the prisoners themselves, but of the
families left in so many cases without
means of support. In speaking of the con-
dtions among these families Mrs. Booth
said today:
My work among prisoners has brought
me in a very material way into touch with
the families where innocence suffers and
where burdens almost intolerable weigh on
the hearts of lonely women. AS the Christ
mas season approaches our thoughts turn
with plying sympathy to those homes
where no glad preparations can be made
for good cheer and joyous celebration. AS
our work has reached out more and more
into the homes of the suffering poor, we
have been increasingly led to feel that the
object of Christmas cheer should be as
ings for brief celebration around Christ
mas dinner, to carry Christmas into the
homes in some really lasting and practical
way.
Last year, with the money contributed
By our friends. bought warm clothing for
children ranging from newborn infants to
girls OF sixteen years-groceries, vegetables.
turkeys, chickens and fuel. Toys Of every
in by friends With these things we
were able to gladden. hundreds of homes.
Hi many instances the little ones had been
unable to attend school for the want of
clothing and in numberless cases we found
on Christmas eve not even bread in the
house.
I'm one home that visited personally the
day before Christmas. J. found q little girl
playing with a much worn doll. 1t had
lest its head, arms and legs were missing
and she had only strip of red flannel to
serve as clothing for her dismembered
baby. She was one of six children living
with her mother in two small, dark, tene-
ment rooms. In many places the hard
worked mother broke down completely on
Seeing the unexpected gifts and wept with
a gratitude more eloquent that many words
This Christmas / am planning to bring
happiness to five or six hundred families if
i can gather the necessary funds, and
those who give can feel that the money
will be spent so as to bring the most pos
sible lasting good.
In our volunteer work We do not adopt
the method of begging on the street cor
AIrIS VI sOllFlllhS 1lOh uOOf 10 0OOr 1Or
our cause. l have before placed this need
before the public through the columns of
the press and the responses have dlway s
come from those hearts that We're gener-
ously willing to share their blessings with
those whose lives were 80 empty of joy and
comfort.
''All donations sent to Mrs. -Balllngtea
Booth, No. IS Cooper square, New York
city, will be gladly received and acknowl-
edged Gifts of toys, dolls and partly
worn clothing. either for children or adults.
will always be most welcome
When We remember whose birthday we
are celebrating. can there be any more ap-
propriate act than the giving of gifts to
Him. and He has said that those who do so
t. any of His little ones feel they do it
unto Him"
Mrs Booth Is guest at the home of Mr.
William Cary Sanger. assistant secretary
of war.