The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-05-25
FOR INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL
Mrs. Shields Would Raise a Library
From Club Women,

Mrs. Ella Glenn Shields. police matron
has undertaken the project Of having the
ladies' clubs Of this state give a library
TO the State industrial school for girls
at BeIoit Mrs Shields has made nu-
merous visits to the institution in the last
few weeks. and she realizes fully the
4 need of library suitable for young girls
reading, and she wants the club ladies
Of Kansas TO furnish the library. The
State Federation Of Clubs viii meet in
Salina tomorrow, and Mrs. Shields will
go to that city and present the matter
TO the delegates and ask their co-opera-
ton in the work She has sent out q
number Of personal letters to influential
club ladies over the state, asking their
help. The letter is as follows:
Dear Madam-Wnl you kindly allow
me to place before your club a matter
that is very important, in my opinion.
In my capacity. as police matron Of
Wichita. 1 make frequent visits TO Be
lott, Kan, to the Industrial school, to
place girls there. 1t needs no explanation,
1 think, what calls for school which
we prefer 10 call industrial rather than
reformatory. but the fact remains that
there are in that school about 125 girls.
which range from TO 10 years of age.
when the law takes them under control.
to try 10 make of them good girls and
eventually good women.
The last time I was there Ia few days
ago. I was impressed with the need of a
girls library, and told the superintend-
ent of the institution I believed I could
raise the funds for such a library from
the women's clubs of the state. And so
I have planned to solicit their assistance
in this way.
They already have the nucleus of one,
but many of the books are worn and
are not suited TO the needs and taste of
girls, many of whom are ignorant. unin-
formed and unframed for any sort of
reading. They could be better reached
morally by more childish books than the
standard works which are there.
MY personal contact with so many OF
these unfortunate children has shown me
they are generally the innocent victims
of their environment Gn the first place..
and l feel that every motaer of good
children ought to be willing to do this
much for the uplifting of those who have
been taken from such surroundings, TO be
given a better chance in the world
u want to ask every club in the state
Of Kansas TO contribute to this fund and
with their contribution send me list of
az least twenty-five books they would
suggest and recommend for girls. My
Idea Mould also be TO place a tablet in
the main building (Which is a credit to
our state). stating that this had been
done by the club women of Kansas.
Il refer you to Governor Stanley or
AIesdames II. G. Toler, Lora R. Priddy
Or F. z. Beach. all ex-presidents of our
Wichita Hypatia club, as TO my standing.
4 can arrange TO buy the books at
and will personally see to their
being placed in the school so as to re-
lect the greatest credit upon the broad
minded, generous club women OF Kansas.
WIN your club cooperate in this?
Il may say the Hypetia club would as
sist in selecting the most popular books
rom the lists sent. Yours very truly.
ELLA GLENN SHIELDS"