The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1902-12-16
THE YAKIMA HERALD.
TUESDAY, DEC. IS, 1902.
International Sunshine Society.

Let it travel down the years,
Let it wipe another's tears,
Til in heaven it appears,
Pass it on.
This is the motto of the International
Sunshine society. What is the Inter-
national Sunshine society? Perhaps the
question can be answered by giving it's
early beginning-a bit of Sunshine
history.
About ten years ago, or more, when
the New York Tribune is said to have
had the first "woman's page" in the
world, edited by Mrs. Cynthia Westover
Alden, there appeared the Sunshine
acknowledgements on the page. We all
began to read it. We learned that the
founder and president-general of the
Sunshine society had been accustomed
to sending to her friends cards, poems,
and greetings in the form of good cheer,
and often those she had received; when
these had served the purpose she passed
them on for others to enjoy. One Christ
mas time Mrs. Alden gathered about her
small circle of friends with the idea Of
passing on the numberless Christmas
cards, souvenirs and the years greetings.
This was from no Interpretation of the
giver or the gift, but desire to share
with others the pleasure which had been
inspired by the kindly thought, and to
pass on this good cheer to brighten some
dreary life.
So much satisfaction was found in
sending Sunshine" that it was decided
to continue the work through the year,
and the first Sunshine band was organ
lied. The experiment was successful /;
the local papers began to notice the
work and the ladies found so much to
encourage the work their hands had
found to do, many came to inquire how
to do Sunshine work ,-finally, the
growth was so rapid, and it seemed to
vibrate a chord in the public heart, that
it was decided to incorporate the Inter-
national Sunshine society, which was
done in February, 1900.
The work is not charity, but an
interchange of kindly greetings, and the
passing on of good cheer.
The object as set forth in the constitu-
ton is, "to incite its members to the
performance OF kind and helpful deeds,
and thus to bring happiness into the
greatest number of hearts and homes.
The membership fees shall consist OF
some act or suggestion that will carry
sunshine where it is needed"
From the mere thought of giving
pleasure to few has grown the larger
good to the many. 1t has become inter
national in character, with 1000 we'll
| organized branches, over 100000 mem.
bers, and over 200 newspapers giving
space to the Sunshine department.
1t began in giving cards and souvenirs
now it is a practical, helpful and
powerful organization. A $4,000 home
for aged men was opened in Tennsssee
last March, through the efforts OF Sun
| shine members.
A poor man lay i'll in New York
tenement. One of the charter members
of the first Sunshine society visited the
tenement and saw the unfortunate "shut
in" 81 must send him wheel chair
Surely, can do that" she thought, al
she left the place. So she advertised
through the Sunshine department of the
New York Tribune, and in reply she
received the gift of wheel chair from
thirteen different donors.
The rich put away in store room and
garnet the comforts which they nc
longer need. In ample, unused rooms
one thinks to pass on that comfort to q
sick person or this luxury to the long
"shut in" who perhaps lives just acros:
the block. The life of busy people has
many calls 1t is from no lack of sym
pathy with the afflicted and the dis
tressed. But many stand ready to give
to the really deserving examples o
need. # sunshine and good cheer, onl,
they must be told where to bestow thu
common, every day, old-fashioned Sun
shine. This is the vork the SUNSHINE
, societies do. 1t appeals to nearly ever.
one, because anyone can do something
, and then it doesn't take any grea
amount of time. 1t just grows of itself
1t is an interesting chapter to read O