The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1906-03-02
THE SUNSHINE SOCIETY.
An Organization Which Brings Cooss
Cheer Into Darkened Hearts.

Cheer Into Darkcned Hearts.
Among the many societies organ.
lied by the generous men and women
Of to-day for the welfare and happi-
ness Of others none has quite so inter.
esting history and unique q charac-
ter as the International Sunshine So.
ciety.
It Is so broad in its scope that It
embraces all the charities, yet IL In
itself no sense a charity, but an inter-
change Of kindly greeting and the
passing on Of good cheer, material or
otherwise. Sunshiners do not laher
under any rules, but there Is always
the personal touch Of sympathy which
means so much to the unfortunate
man or woman to whom fate has
seemed unkind.
A more appropriate name could net
have been found for the society, the
members of which pledge themselves to
bring sunshine into the lives OF
others: to do something each day to
tighten someone's burden; to speak
the cheerful word that may bring new
hope. new life and energy; to take NO
tice Of the lonely; to do the little acts
/! Of kindness, thoughtfulness ana
generosity that manifest the human.
sympathetic interest in ones fellow
creatures.
Opportunities for doing kindness
ara often lost for lack Of thought: the
members Of the Sunshine Society
strive to cultivate the habit OF SYM
pathy that will give them keener
grasp and a deeper understanding or
the lives Of those around them.
i The Society Is unique In that thero
are no salaries paid. The president
general, every minor officer and mem
Der gives his or her services. hven
the necessary clerical work is freely
donated. The personal sacrifices that
every officer and member makes %
carry on the work cannot be estimated.
Its Origin and Growth.
!. The Society was incorporated under
the laws Of New York In 1900 and 70.
day there are 100000 enrolled mem
: bers.
!, The Society is the outgrowth q .
thought expressed by Mrs. Cynthia
Westoyer Alden in the ONCE Of the
, New York Recorder several years aSo
during the holiday season. Mrs. Alden
Twas the recipient Of number Of cards
: from her co-workers on the paper -
we'll as outside friends. After enjoy.
. ing the cards, she, protested that sn0
would have been Better pleased 4 tho
I donors had not written their names On
! them. This statement horriied hee
4 audience and with one accord every
one exclaimed:
what! You wouldn't give our pres
ents away. would you?"
"Why not?" was the answer
"What do you do with yours?"
III A laughing investigation soon devel.
]. oped the fact that the waste baskee
/ was the ultimate destination OF most
q Of the cards received.
t 'Let me give you the history Of one
t pretty ten-cent card that came 70 me
t year ago." said Mrs. Alden. 1T mad
\ an exquisite poem on It, and ! enjoyed
}. 1t so much that thought at once g!
! an old uncle who would appreciate J,
2 and forwarded 1t to him. He, =
Y thought. did enjoy 1t. and 20 much
= so that he Immediately recalled a old
. friend to whom 1t would appeal Will
jspecial force. So he copied the poem
' and sent the card on. This recipient
7 found the card so helpful that she
9 |too, felt called upon to pass II on ant
y before the seven days holiday va
4 over the card had carried its Christ
!. mas message to six different person.
!, Of course this Is exceptional. but J!
: still an example Of the infinite posi-
. bilities Of gift accepted In the tru!
q spirit and then passed on, giving eacl
"a one the double delight Of receiving eng
IS giving" DO
j The cards which had afforded CA
Il little sermon were spread out and wert
n ~ :
"a | stttF fNcr%scS,od m neYk UaRol