New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-12-24
AFFLICTED LITTLE ONES
CrlppLes Contribute Their Mites To
Christmas Festivals.

Tears and smiles mingled at the Christmas
ercises the Rhinelander School yesterday morn
ing. The smiles were on the chidren's faces the
tears in the visitors eyes. For Of all the children
who filed that great, pleasant room, every one
was crippled. And the visitors surveyed this
great company of afflicted little ones, and remem-
bered how hard life is for the sturdiest child Of
poverty, the tears would creep insidiously TO the
surface
The Rhinelander School for Crippled Children
Is at No. $50 East Eighty-eighth-st- 1t is under
the auspices Of the Children's Aid Society," but II
Is supported almost entirely by one wOman-Miss
Emily Watson. Like all the Childrens Aid So
ciety schools il combines IN a remarkable way the
scientific methods and spirit Of the public schoo!
with the spirit Of love for the unfortunate. NO
one could doIbt the splendid educational work
done who heard yesterday the songs and recita-
lions Of the children. Such soft, sweet melodious
tones IN the singing of a large school came only
through good training. and it was most pathetic
sight TO see these crippled children rise and stand
by their little chairs to speak their little pieces
about happy homes and merry Christmas days
There was Rose Walch, who gave Crippled
Tim with such an appealing voice, such sweet,
Intelligent infections. that every listener was i'm
messed Roses father is dead. She is the old
est OF four children, and her mother, who scrubs
q big store on the upper East Side, has supported
these four children and has never asked for help.
Then there is Neie-$eie, who is nineteen
years old but looks like girl Of twelve or thir-
teen Nellie has q very good big brother, who sup
ports both her and her mother Nellie can sing
almost as well as Rose can recte, and her sweet
voice gave the solo Of one song, while the school
Joined in the chorus. She can do fancy work, too.
and the principal. Miss Stackpoo. hopes 10 de-
velop in her special skill in designing dainty neck
Then there was Lavina Turner. who spoke
little niece Llavira cannot stand. when helped
TO her feet. as some of the speakers were Lavina
can only sit IN invalid chair. crooked to one
side and with her head down on her chest AT
home they keep her prcpped up on a table by a
window. so that she see as much as possible
Little ABE" and Fanny and Ella who were among
the speakers marked d new departure In the
school for all three Of them mentally de-
fcient There are fifteen OF these children IN the
school who have q special class. special teacher
and special care. AT home they have been set
down simply as half witted"; not foolish enough
10 be committed to institutions. and not bright
enough 20 learn anything 30 tney We're
growing I'D absolutely without teaching Of any
kind. Yet in this special class it has been found
that their minds not blank but only Dormant
that through their fingers. by kindergarten and
manual work, their wandering attention can De
concentrated, their memory trained The little reel
tations given by these children were remarkable
uerforrnsnces IN their way
Lena Ferenice, fifteen years old. who until two
months ago had never been to school in her lie.
said, how sad l have often felt TO know that
,--e aS 40 III M - 1orar When
must grow Up 10 De an uneducaIed WI, a. 1-i,,5tr
one day, heard that there was school IN f1ient9
tel thaI although a cripple, there was soine'iiHe
she thanked Miss Watson, who was guest; Mrs
Alhb0ne and Miss Dyer, good friends OF the School'
And last Of ali there was little Christy Helleborg
i've years old who slipped in front OF the aGa ad
lille violin o his chin ana play5u
America He played it through once with win tn De
piano, and then the voices Of the children olleu "
Then the presents piled at the foot OF the great
tree, were distributed big boy came, Fs[t +
kind big boy-for when little boy or girl could not
walk up to the tree he carried them in his strong
arms so that each little cripple coul6 receive S u
her own present There was dolI Tor each ~ 4,
ban for each boy and box Of candy Tor every one
GIFTS TO KEEP THEM WARM
But only small part OF the Christmas money
had been spent these little gifts The other Gay
Miss StackpooI said of the older girls
Aren't you cold. my dear?'
Yes, Miss Stackpool very often rephea the
wouldn't you like some warm fannels?" Gan
cont know, ma'am never hao any nan
So most Of the Christmas money went for ha IAN
neis and stout shoes, and warm little coats anu 10
cloaks. And every morning when they ger 70
school they examined to see II the Clones a.
toward the pawnshops upon the advent Of new w
clothes are properly terrified into resistance "a
The very poor are lust like any one else-some are
iicted ones are the most tendery loved and cared
for OF the whole family But life is hard enough az
a heavy burden TO n5arerts Some of them feel
that they deserve good deal OF cfeolt 10y tr
develop a bitter antipathy for the child whch
MUST be burden on them as long s bnse mother
has never been to the school when she was not IN
an intoxicated condition and who used 70 amuse
frightened her out Of it. one day the boy ooke9
50 in school that his teacher asked him to tel
her HIS trouble. He burst into tears. ., =, ,a
My mother wishes that was oea 60 t n Sst 1jia
him whom their mothers do not want and whom
ne public schools cannot take n .r Ihf af there IS
such a thing as Kindness IN the "o'i"