New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-10-10
CHRIST CHILD SOCIETY
Il Charity That Vas Born an the
Heart of Little Girl.
IFrom The Tribune Bureau


| Washington Oct. 9-Without advertising
| ostentaion, but living up to its motto, Labo-
rare est orare"-'-To work is 10 prsy"-there has
| grown up in Washington and branched out TO
| other cities the Christ Child Society. which
| with limited resources is accomplishing meal
| culable good.
| The society its inception and its success
TO Miss Mary V. Merrick who has always been
| its president. While still child Miss Merrick
| undertook 10 make glad the Christmas OF an
unfortunate neighbor. Saving her pennies and
without any ones knowledge of her charita BILE
| intentions. she provided an entire infants out
Astonishing OF twenty-five articles, even TO
| soap and towels-for the baby OF the poor fam
| lily. presenting it on Christmas Day. Gratifed
by her success in Frightening the Christmas OF
one mother and perceiving how pleasant had
been the work. Miss Merrick determined to in
terest her playmatcs in forming a club to relieve
suffering among the poor. Thus she formed the
nucleus OF the present Christ Child Society,
which in the last year. in spite of its small
! income, less than $3.50. aided and instructed
no fewer than 200 children.
The society has many novel features. It has
never abandoned the work which led to its
| alton. and perhaps its chief work consists in
providing outfits for infants, but it also fur
nishes much clothing for children under the age
OF twelve years. The members Of the society
Vincent de Paul Society. District Nurses, police
| and others,
At Christmas each member is in duty bound
TO help brighten the day for at least one child.
Not only toys given 10 the children. but also
| clothes, even 10 shoes. Each child is told to
write a letter asking for the gift most desired.
one little girl wrote: Dear Christ Child, send
me a doll; never had one in my life have
| no address; lives around. Send it TO Mrs.
-- and viii get IL" Another child. fash
ioning her letter. doubtless, after plants heard
1 from her elders, wrote: Send me doll and
will be good; please send me carriage and 1
VIII reform my life" glance through the
| rooms OF the headquarters of the society at
Christmas time gives the observer the impress
| sion OF Kris Kringle's house before he makes
his rounds. An idea of the amount OF work
coniplshed by the society be gained when
| IL Is learned that about one thousand letters
were sent out and responded 10 last Christmas
Another important feature Of the Christ
! Child Society is the fresh air work. Washing
ton has taken a great interest in this particu-
| lar portion or the good work OF all charitable
societies. The Diplomatic Corps nstru-
mental in helping the work along the last year.
| The summers in Washington are trying to the
poor. In spite OF the fact that contributions to
| the fresh air fund amounted less than
| 81 900. there were a large number Of children
| who enjoyed 4 two weeks stay a farm
! thirty-fve miles from Washington. Each child
| is boarded there for two weeks for s..
The society has also established sewing classes
| for the girls. at which the small children
/ taught plain sewing. darning and patching,
| while the older girls are instructed in millinery
| and dressmaking. There are classes where boys
are taught the art OF basket making, singing
| classes. stenography classes and night classes
| for men, particularly the Italians, who have come
! 10 Washington in large numbers. The last work
has received the special encoura cement of His
| Eminence Cardinal Gibbons. The society has
= also founded four libraries for children and
| one FOR older persons. A fact which doubtless
goes far 10 increase the capacity of the society
! TO accomplish much with little cash outlay Is
! that one its rolls ever receives a penny
| in compensation. and the members even, paw
! their own expenses
! Among the members OF the society NAV he
! mentioned the following prominent persons Of
! Washington; Nine. Jusserand. wife of the
| French AMBASSADOR; Sonora Calvo, wife OF the
| Costa hcan Minister, Mrs. Milton L, Allies wife
| OF the former Assistant Secretary of the
| Treasury; Mrs. Julian James. Mrs Jerome Bona
| parte, Mrs. 4. p. Gordon Cumming, Admiral
and Mrs T. NJ. Ramsay, Mrs. Edward d. White
! wife or Justice White of the Supreme Court
! and Mrs James II. Sands.
| There was recently established a branch Of the
Christ Child Society in New York at the St Rose
Settlement, Nos. 2JI and 800 East list street
| which has undertaken the same good work that
| mas met with such success here. The president
/ OF the New York branch is Miss Anna Nc
| IauGhhn and among It's members, which mum.
! her twenty-five, may be mentioned the Rev c.
! NJ. Theunte, o. p. the director OF st. Rose SET
tement; the Rev. DIR J. +. Fenlon and Mrs
| William Arnold. president Of the ST Rose Set
| Element.
Under the title OF the Cathedral Branch OF fine
Christ Child Society the Baltimore branch is
weekly at the home OF Cardinal Gibbons The
| president Of the Cathedral Branch which has a
| membership OF fifty, is Miss Leonora s Seagpr
The society and its branches make constant
appeal for the cordial cooperation and support
| % the public Not only contributions OF money
cast OF clothing. books. toys, etc, all CRATE
! fully received.