The Delta independent., 1906-03-02
THE SUNSHINE SOCIETY,"
An Organization Which Brings Cooss
Cheer Into Darkened Hearts.

Among tie many societies orxan.
lied by the generous men and women
OF to-day for the welfare and happi.
ness Of others none has quite so inter.
esting a history and unique q charac-
ter as the International Sunshine So
ciety.
1t is so broad In its scope that It
embraces all the charities, yet is 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 labor
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 not
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 mo-
tice Of the lonely; to do the little acts
!!ot kindness, thoughtfulness and
generosity that manifest the human,
sympathetic interest in ones fellow
creatures.
Opportunities for doing a kindness
are often lost for lack Of thought: the
members Of the Sunshine Society
strive to cultivate the habit Of SYM
pathy that will give them q keener
grasp and a deeper understanding Of
the lives Of those around them.
The Society is unique in that there
are no salaries paid. The president
/ general, every minor ofiicer and mem
ber gives his or her services. Even
the necessary clerical work is freely
donated. The personal sacrifices that
every oficer aEd member makes to
carry on the work cannot be estimated.
| Its Origin and Growth.
The Society was Incorporated under
the laws Of New York in 1900 and to-
day there are 100000 enrolled mem
bers.
The Society is the outgrowth Of .
Thought expressed by Mrs. Cynthia
Westover Alden in the office OF the
New York Recorder several years ago
during the holiday season. Mrs. Alden
was the recipient Of number Of cards
from her co-workers on the paper a.
we'll as outside friends. After enjoy
ing the cards. size protested that she
would have been better pleased II the
donors had not written their names on
them. This statement horrifed her
audience and with one accord every
one exclaimed:
What! You wouldn't give our pres
ents away, would your"
why not?" was the answer.
"what do you do with yours?"
, A laughing Investigation soon devel-
oped the fact that the waste basket
was the ultimate destination OF most
| Of the cards received.
Let me give you the history Of one
pretty ten-cent card that came to mo
q year ago." said Mrs. Alden. "It had
an exquisite poem on 1t, and enjoyed
It SO much that I thought at once OF
an old uncle who would appreciate It
and forwarded it to him. He. IS I
thought, did enjoy It. and 50 much
, so that he Immediately recalled an old
friend to whom It would appeal with
Especial force. So he copied the poem
. and sent the card on. This recipient
.. found the card SO helpful that she.
, too, felt called upon to pass 1t on ana
before the seven days holiday Wa
over the card had carried its Christ
mas message to six different persons.
, OF course this is exceptional. but II
still an example Of the infinite posi-
, bilities Of q GIFT accepted in the true
, spirit and then passed on, giving each
, one the double delight Of receiving and
, giving"
The cards which had Afforded the
, little sermon were spread out and were
,