The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-11


 upon a man because he commits 8 crime, but because he is punished for d crime. The criminal who evades or escapes the law Is not disgraced, but he who is less fortunate or capable and is caught is branded forever"
 Mrs Booth felt infinite pity for and sympathy with the men who had been caught" and there was no need to tell them of 1t. They felt 1t. Many of them had wives and children. left helpless because of the convict's incarceration. They wrote to Mrs. Booth as to their only friend. entreating her to see If something could not be done for their destitute families.
 Thus it was that Maud Ballington Booths distinctive mission came to her. From the time she addressed in San Quentin penitentiary the men who had been caught she has wrought brave ly and well for them and for those de- prived of their support. Everybody else turned from them with aversion. Among the different lines In which the Volunteers of America are interested there Is a prison department. and Mrs. Booth is at its head.
 The third time I have seen this wo- man whom prison convicts the Union over call Little Mother was recently when called to ask her what the pris- on department of the Volunteers of America does in the line of Christmas work. Mrs. Booth is a beautiful wo- man. not tall. but very graceful. bru- nette with warm brown hair and ten der brown eyes. She has rather an Ori- ental type of face and looks so very young that one can scarcely believe she has a son IT years old. She wore a soft black cashmere gown cut slight N,. Ak AA azure stars. symbol of her office, pinned across the breast.
 At each Christmas time Maude Booth undertakes to see that all the families of her prisoners have something to make the day glad. There is no public dinner. but each child receives a suit of clothes and toy to make 1t happy. There are also for each little one two pairs of stockings. one pair to wear, the other filled with candies and nuts. The mother. too. gets a Christmas pres ent of some article that will be use- full to her. Then the dinner, that which does most of all to realize Mrs. Booths Idea of taking Christmas into the home" Bach prisoners family gets a turkey or pair of chickens. with vege- tables and other things. in all food enough to last several days. Fuel to cook the food goes with the eatabIes. for the Christmastide finds many a prisoners family without a shovel of coal in their poor rooms. In New York A wagon distributes the donations, and Maud Ballington Booth herself goes with the wagon to bestow the good things and give the women and chill dren her blessing.
 Where do you suppose the money comes from to pay for these gifts? We'll Mrs. Booth earns 1t nearly all herself by 1ecturtng. Epom city to city, from town to town, she goes. her sweet sympathetic voice touching the hearts of men and women with the story of her efforts to befriend those who most need friends.
 Eight years ago Mrs. Booth organiz- ed the V. P. L-Volunteer Prisoners League--among those who are doing time" in the various penitentiaries. Members receive a league button and agree to a few simple rules, religious and otherwise. In return Mrs. Booth places on her list the names and ad- dresses of their families and protects and cares for these. It Is much to the prisoners to have such friend No wonder they regard her with something very like worship.
 The work of the prisoners angel does not end here, however. When the man who does time has finished doing it had comes out, whaat then? He finds 1t almost impossible, even when determined to Tive square" to get honest employment. With a malice that has taneh of the hendish h t.