The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-16

How the Sunshine Society Originated.
TO the questions SO often asked, How
did the Sunshine Society originator
What is it's object?" What has it ac..
complished?' and How do you do the
work." the following answers are made:
During the holidays several years ago, the
president general was the recipient Of a
number of cards from her co-workers on
the New York Recorder as well as from
outside friends. On Christmas day she
protested and said that, while she enjoyed
her gifts, she would have had infinitely
more pleasure in their receipt if the donors
had not written their names on them.
This statement Mortified her audience, who
with one accord exclaimed:
What! You wouldn't give our pres
ents away, would your
why not" was the answer. tWhat do
you do with yours?" A laughing investi-
cation soon developed the fact that the
Waste-basket was the ultimate destination
or most of the cards received. Some
spent few months tackled on the wall,
until f1y-specked and discolored; others
were used as bookmarks until lop- cared;
| then all We're thrown away without hav-
| ing given an additional ray Of sunshine
to anyone beyond the immediate recipient.
Suppose you take the history Of one
pretty ten-cent card that came to me a
year ago., said the president-general. ut
had an exquisite little poem on it. and 1
| enjoyed 1T so much that thought at once
of an old uncle who would appreciate it,
| and forwarded it to him. He as
thought he would, did enjoy it, and so
much mat he Immediately recalled an
other old friend to whom 1t would appeal
with special force. So he copied the
poem and sent the card on. This REGIMENT
found the sentiment SO sweet that she,
too, felt called upon to pass it on. and
| before the seven days holiday was over.
the card had carried it's Christmas mes
sage to six different people. Of course,
this is an exception, but still it is an ex-
ample of the infinite possibilities Of a gift
II accepted in the true spirit and then
passed on, giving each one the double
delight of receiving ana giving
! The cards which had afforded the text
Tor the little sermon were then spread GU,
and their possibilities discussed Here
was dainty one with great cluster OF
royal purple pansies. MRS. so-and-s.
loves pansies,"' and it might have been
sent on to her If it hadn't been marked
| all over. Again, group of cunning little
pussies that would have been Just the
thing for a little invalid child who needed
! amusing, but that, too, was CAREFUL,
marked with the name of the sender ant
thus spoiled for passing on.
4 inspired with this idea of sending Out
remembrances that might be multiplied
fourfold, new set OF cards was give,
by the staff to the president-general, wht
INN ediately sent them all out again. TIL,
thanks received for these cards were $,
pretty that an item was made of it in tn,
New York Recorder. This caused furthe
correspondence, and resulted in club TO
the exchange of friendly greetings TIL
name Chat was at first chosen for thu
column, but in time the membership grew
SO large that a club badge and the mott
Good Cheer were selected, and the nam
"Shut-In" given to the society.
!, On Jan. 15 1895, the name of the soci
ETY. was changed to the Sunshine society
This change was made because of con
fiict with shut-in society organized /
1884 Changing the word Shut-In t
i Sunshine did not interfere with the clu
motto or pin. The society now has 800,