Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-07-23
CHILD STUDIES.
Many Of Them in W. c. 7. u
Rooms, "Wednesday.
They All Were Made Happy by Gifts
Of New Clothes.
Twas the Day Before the Annual Chill
dren's Excursion.

An artist fond of studies in child life
4 would have found material a-plenty IN
. the rooms of the w. c. T. u, Water
street. Wednesday afternoon. One who
was short on artistic feelings, but well
Z supplied with love of humanity, would
/ have found much there to interest him.
. Assembled there were scores of bright
little masters and misses, their eyes
! sparkling with eager anticipation, each
I anxious to know what the afternoon
was going to bring him.
! Some of the little faces were in need
! of an introduction to soap and water,
some were clean and fresh, as though
lust from the bath. Many boy was
4 barefoot and many shoe of both boys
and girls were run down at the heel,
OF at the toe and in an almost sole
less condition.
No vas the clothing which they
4 wore e.stirely free from patches. But
, these thin gs made no difference to the
kind heartd ladies who were playing
y hostesses to the little folks.
If the truth were known it is safe
! to say that they would have felt bad
: had the army of little ones looked diff
4 ferently.
& Not that they were glad to see chill
dren in the condition which these little
ones presented themselves.
Oh, no!
They know that there are many little
ones in Augusta, whose parents nave
struggle to supply food and keep them
clean and in anything approaching
health; also, they understand that many
/ of these children have to make Shoes
and clothes go longer than DO those
of the more well-to-do, and so must
present themselves with clothes snow
ing the effects Of prolonged wear.
That is why they would have felt bad
; had the children looked differently. 1t
:. would have indicated to them that a
false pride had kept the needy away
while a greedy desire to secure that
! which should go to others had sent the
more prosperous to the rooms.
The occasion for the gathering OF the
II children in the rooms of the w. Z. L. a.
NJ was that it was the afternoon preceding
J; the annual children's excursion, uhder
4 the management of the ladies' OF the
union For weeks past the ladleS nave
been making their arrangements 1or the
outing This consisted or something
more than making plans Tor cars u
3 take the children out to Maranocooh
and back. 1t meant that the adies
must get together a considerable
amount of wearing apparel; waists and
dresses for the girls, waists and
y trousers for the boys, shoes and stock
ings for both, for it is one of the be-
! liefs of these ladies that the chl'drer
: can enioy the trip much better II they
have all of these things
. In consequence of their efforts there
, was a great quantity of those Things
in the rooms when the distribution pc
gan on Wednesday afternoon. Wheh II
was over more than 800 pieces nae
been distributed among the llttle 1olk9
1t was during the distribution OF thlS
clothing that the interesting things
were to be seen. 1t was Touching y
600 how some of the tots received the
new things-for to them they were ne"
Tears would come into their eyes as
thew said thank you" and away the!
would run for home, their prizes husseo
close to little breasts.
Could any of those who made the
work possible have been present they
would have felt douby repaid for VIVA
thew pave-would have regretted that
+beir contribution had not been larger
n
- the REGIMENTS none could DOUBT.
Perhaps q word concerning the eH
n eursion. which takes place. today woule
not be amisS 1t was eight years ase
that the first excursion for the poor
children of Augusta was given by the
w. C. Il. u. and not year mas passeo
since that one has not been held freNi
Gus to this year the excursion mas az
ways been down river. and from 10
TO $50 children have taken part. FMS
wear it was decided, for many reasons
not the least of which was that many
of tho little ones were sick on the doWf
river trim to go to MaranOcook on the
Electric cars.
The money necessary to pay the eX
renses of these outings is secured %!
soliciting from people who are wllllhe
+o give assistance. Cashier Johnson a
the Granite National Bank will receive
all contributions which are handed te
him in aid of the movement. The laoie'
solicit funds and make the arrange
ments. They also solicit the clothing
mentioned above, and food for the Gnu
dreu. And here, let it be said. that the
amount of food received, yesterday,
the room was abundant.
As stated the excursion, today, IS u
Moranocook. where the freedom OF tns
Grounds has been extended to the part.
and it is believed that 1t Will pc vel
ENJOYABLE outing. A car VIII leaVe ~
rooms on Water street at CLOCK TN
morning. while two cars Will leave lh
junction at Grove and State streets :"
the same hour. 1t is expected ina. 'h
Marty will return to the city at abou
h15 this afternoon.