Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1906-02-21
THE SUNSHINE SOCIETY.
An Organization Which Brings Coos
Cheer Into Darkened Hearts.

Among the many societies organ.
lied by the generous men and women
OF today for the welfare and hapni-
ness OF others none has quite so inter-
estlng history and unique charac-
ter as the international Sunshine So.
ciety.
1t is so broad in it's 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 no.
tice of the lonely; to do the little acts
of kindness, thoughtfulness and
generosity that manifest the human,
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 keener
grasp and a deeper understanding of
the lives Of those around them.
The Society is unique in that there
Il
general, every minor officer and mem
Der gives his or her services. Even
the necessary clerical work is freely
donated The personal sacrifices that
every officer and 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 a
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 a number Of cards
from her co-workers on the paper as
ing the cards, she protested that she
would have been better pleased il the
donors had not written their names on
them This statement Mortified 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.
N.Y..
A laughing investigation soon deveI-
oped the fact that the waste basket
was the ultimate destination of most
OF the cards received.
FLet me give you the history Of one
pretty ten-cent card that came to me
year ago. said Mrs. Alden. eft had
an exquisite poem on it, and I enjoyed
it SO much that | thought at once OF
an old uncle who would appreciate 1t
and forwarded it to him. He, as
thought, did enjoy it, and so much
so that he Immediately recalled an old
friend to whom it would appeal with
special 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 it on and
before the seven days holiday was
over the card had carried it's Christ
mas mes ..ge to six different persons.
Of course this is exceptional, but Is
still an example of the infinite posi-
bilities of a gift accepted in the true
spirit and then pa. ID on, giving each
one the double delight of receiving and
giving
The cards which had afforded the
little sermon were spread out and were