Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-12-26
AMONG THE CHILDREN
OF THE I,ElNEIllENTS.

fulness. We found little girls and boys
who knew not the pleasures Of owning
doll, toy, or plaything. In fact
they were content II they obtained
enough food and clothing to enable
them TO exist, and as our own early
experience had impressed us with this
actual condition existing, a determined
effort was decided upon to remedy
these matters. We bought as far as our
limited resources would allow a guam
tity of toys, and visit to the tene-
ment homes for the purpose OF dlstrlb-
utlng our gifts, opened our eyes to the
manifold needs of these people. whom
| the societies and varied institutions OF
| the busy city appeared to have for
| gotten. Charitable societies, churches
/ and kindred bodies were all helping to
| supply the necessarles, but how few
were the Individual efforts toward
| bringing sunshine and cheerfulness into
the tenement homes.
The first step was the formation OF
clubs OF young women, who would m
terest their little friends in collecting
| picture books. toys, playthlngs, etcr
with the intention Of distributing these
little sunshine aids In the homes OF me
| poor. Some Of these young ladies vol
J unteered to personally hand out these
| gifts and by their visits they learned
| to know the pressing needs OF those
| who dwelt In the gloomy abodes IN the
| nlley and side streets. From the infor-
| nation secured we determined on a
| new line that of cleansing and purify
| ing the slums. We learned TO know the
| needs for better tenement homes, and
| began an agitation toward the enact
ment OF laws that would condemn the
| hoyel and let fresh air and sunshine
kinto the filthy pest spots. In order 10
do these things, It was necessary TO
arouse public interest. There were
were many feasible projects that APP
pealed to us, and that we knew were
sadly needed in every community, and
while we had semblance OF organlza-
ton, we determined to secure positive
permanent results, but the main ele.
ment was lacking, viz:-funds.
We finally conceived the Idea OF q
little child's paper, that would tell TO
the world the story Of our work TINS
little paper In return for small sub
scription Is sent not alone to the SUD
scrlber, but an additional copy Is sent
each month to some little poor child,
and as II IL filled with bright pleasing
stories IL never fails to bring It's beau
tlful Lesson OF sunshine to It's dear lltte
readers. The receipts that were de-
rived from its sales has enabled us 10
carry on the work of the Legion ana
wholly from its sales we have been en-
abled TO establish the Sunshine Legion
Work in 52b cities. We are not char-
table society, and we ask no collections
from the people. other than the SUI,
scripton alluded TO, ylz:-sale OF our
| publications. From this source ALONE
during the five years OF our existenyv,
we have expended $4,000 among the
| children of the poor. We are adyocat'
ing IN each and every city the consum-
nation OF the following projects'-
Better Tenements.
Public Fairgrounds
Fresh Air Outings
Childrens Clubs.
Public Baths
Settlement homes where deserving
mothers can have their little ones caTeu
/ for while these mothers are enabled W
eoru n dollar toward their famllles
support. The Sunshine Legion support
several of these places today, since o'i
ganizing. nearly half mllllon bV %a
hooks have been distributed amohs '"0
tenement homes - nro.
santed IA The little folks and during
,ba summer months we paid for o'VvV
children Fresh Air Outings ~
Thanksgiying and Christmas times o Mo
provided free dinners and toys to ll,Uvv
children. and through our employ h ne
hu,aa,,s zoe secured work for huhurtus