Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-17
Aunt Dorothy's Corner

Dear Children: No doubt you have all
heard a good deal about the scarcity and
high price of coal this winter. and, what
is more. fear that some of you have been
made to feel little uncomfortable because
of It.
How many of you know of what coal Is
composed, and what 1t once was? 1 have
thought that In my letter to you this week
I would tell you just little about coal
Just enough to set you thinking-and then
perhaps in your letters to me you can tell
me something more that you have found
out about 1t.
In the first place coal burns and gives
out heat, and this means that in some way
q great amount of sunbeams are stored up
in It, for nothing burn or give out heat
that has not caught and held the great
energy that there is in the sunlight. This
is why wood and plants burn. While
growing they work up the strength or the
sunbeams into themselves, and then, when
they are set on fire, as call it. they
burn and give back this strength and
energy.
Now, persons who have studied the sub
1ect and know all about it that can be
known tell us and show the proof, that
coal is made of trees and other kinds of
plants that were collected for more years
than l able to tell you, in boys and
swamps and then gradually buried under
the earth and sand and gravel that pressed
heavily upon them.
Fer long ages they were subjected to
many influences that ] do not need to tell
you of now. so as to change them into the
coal that we burn in our stoves and tur-
naces.
BY the use of the microscope and, indeed,
without it,, perfect pieces of plants, not
unlike those which grow upon the earth
TODAY. can be seen in the coal beds. 1hey
have been baked and altered by the heat
and pressure of the earth. but they still
have the sunbeam strength and energy III
them. and this is the heat and light That
they give when we burn coal, which, as
/ said before. is composed chiefly of what
was once vegetation on the EARTH.
And now. having told you this little OF
what coal is. will you not, children. set to
work and see what more you can find out
about it and write TO me of what you have
learned. Maybe you can tell me of good
deal that l do not know and at the same
time write a prize winning letter.
Some very good original puzzles and sto-
ries have been received and will be used as
We have space for them.
Do not direct your letters or manuscripts
TO Mrs Hogan. but to the Editor of the
Children's Page, Evening Star Mrs
Hogan, You must remember, is president of
the Junior Sunshine League.
| want to thank the little girl who sent
a picture painted with her prize paints,
and also for her pen drawing.
Yours sincerely,
DOROTHY DAY.
Acknowledgment of Prizes Received.
Please acknowledge receipt of prizes as
promptly as you can, stating what you have
received and how you like it.
Rollins Mattern. book; Eleanor William
son. book Mildred D. Yenawine, book;
Ruth Scott paint box; Marie Carter. paint
box; Nettie McGill. book; Elsie Sniffen,
paint box; George H. Milne 81; Louela L.
Smith. paint box; Helen Maddox. paint box;
Amy C. Eckhar6t, paint box; Frank Greg
DRY, 81.
Prize awards for January II:
Books to Aimee Atlee Truan, No. New
York avenue northeast, Washington. d. c.;
Alice Moran, 73J 18th street southeast,
Washington, d. c.; Ruth McGbbon lis
New York avenue northwest, Washington,
d. c.: Stanley SnOdgrass, pa 4th street
northeast. Washington, n. c.; Helen Town
send 1860 Harvard street northwest Wash
ingtou. ID. c.; Anne H. Cleaves, 1916 Sun
deTand place. Washington, D. c.; Gladys
Freeman. 1922 10th street northwest. Wash
1ngton, d. c.; Ethel Clark, 2S04 18th street
northwest. Washington, D. c.; Della Barry,
800 Sheridan street northwest. Washington,
d. c.; Elmer Frazier, 461 Florida avenue
northwest. Washington, D. c.; Daniel Kline
614 Tennessee avenue northwest, Washing
ton, ID. G.
Young artists outfits to Mabel E. Levy,
34I9 Morgan avenue northwest. Washing
ton, ID. c.; Leon Motz, Jefferson, S. c.;
Beulah Smallwood, Fulton p o., Howard
county, Md: Frank Sobotka, 613 n street
northwest, Washington, D. c.; Edwin Levy,
4o6 New Jersey avenue northwest, Wash
ington. D. c.. Mary Darrah 1856 street
northwest. Washington, D. c.; Caroline
kast 61I I'D street northwest, ', ashington,
d. G