The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1907-10-23
GOOD LUCK OF WA|FS'
How Missouri Couple Is Making
the World Happier.
THEIR AIM is TO DO GOOD.
Mr.. and Mrs. Russ of Ravenwood, Mo-,
Having No Children of Their Own,
Have Taken Into Their Horne Eleven
Tots to Raise-May Adopt More.

While the annual farmers picnic
was in progress in Ravenwood, Mo-, a
few days ago big. comfortable farm
wagon rolled into the grounds and dis.
charged its human freight of nine
happy. hearty boys and girls upon the
grass under the trees. writes Ra.
venwood correspondent of the Kansas
City Star. These nine boys and girls
were soon engaged in cleaning all the
joy that childhood can gather from
candy. peanuts, lemonade and gayly
colored balloons. The Oldest child was
fifteen years old, the youngest FIVE.
IAN interesting and happy group
said stranger. is it possible tina,
they all belong to one family?'
They Go and they DON'T said a by
stander "Tha man and the woman
you see with them are Mr.. and Mrs
Oliver p. Russ. They are the foster
parents of the, entire nine"
Mr.. and Mrs. Russ do not run al
asylum for orphans or a school. They
have taken these nine little folks into
their hearts as well as into their big
comfortable home, IL home which be
yond doubt has not its duplicate in
Missouri and probably not in the ma
ton.
Mr.. and Mrs. Russ have no children
of their own. They have, however,
goodly supply of this worlds goods
and a desie to do their part in max
ing the world better and happier. In
the furtherance of this ideal they have
taken, in all, eleven children under
their roof. One of these children Il
girl, has grown up, married and has Il
home of her own. A boy died in younc
manhood. OF the nine children they
now have five are girls and four are
boys. Eight were taken from institu
tons for orphans. One is a distant
relative of Mrs Russ. One of the old
err girls is a-sister of two of the boys.
mo, we did not take these children
because we We're lonesome" said Mrs.
Russ. 81 was never lonesome III my
life. We were not e1travagant We
had home. We wanted to accom-
plish some good in the world, bu'
where and how to do it puzzled us.
At last we fell upon this plan as be
ing the one most apt to result in the
most good with the time and money
spent
The home that Mr. and Mrs. Russ
had was roomy and comfortable
enough for them, but when their falni-
ly began to grow by leaps and bounds
it soon overlooked, and Mr.. Russ had
to enlarge it, An addition was built
to the building and the house now
has thirteen rooms
Mr.. and Mrs. Russ give their foster
children all the advantages they would
give children of their own-all the adj
vantages, in fact, that we'll to do
northwestern Missouri farming com
munity affords. The Russ family home
Is one-half mile from church and
three-quarters of a mile from school.
All the children go to Sunday school.
Those old enough go to district school.
The girls take music lessons. One of
them, Mrs. Russ says, with pride,
shows unusual ability. One Of the
younger ones also gives promise of be-
ing a musician.
The children are not prodigies, said
Mrs. Russ, 'but we are pleased with
their work. We believe in heredity to
certain extent. We get child with
fine mentality If possible, but we do
not look for that altogether. We seek
moral qualities in the little ones, not
brilliancy of mind. We know at least
part Of the history of all the chill
dren. All are of legal parentage."
do you ever become discouraged
and regret having undertaken this
task?" Mrs. Russ was asked.
Never" was the decisive reply.
1--WE considered it we'll beforehand, but
we We're willing to endure 1t all for
the reward of knowing that we had
done our duty"
Mr. Russ, tall, rather heavy man,
with red hair and whiskers, appeared
rather aggrieved that he had been CIV
en- more credit for the work he and
his wife We're doing than he believed
he was entitled to. Mrs. Russ gently
objected, but Mr.. Russ insisted.
what could do without her inter
est and cooperation in my plans?" he
asked. Il can attend to my stock,
can care for my crops, but this-why,
she has the heavier part"
Mr.. and Mrs. Russ said that they
have found it necessary to whip only
two of the children they have taken.
They prefer to use moral suasion. but
believe in using the rod when the ne
cessity arises.
Il want to say" INTERCEPTED Mrs.
Russ, "for it is due them. that no one
ever saw children show more respect
for parents than these children do for
us. That little fellow, for instance"
indicating an attractive, sturdy, black
eyed boy of seven or eight years,
never takes drink Without bringing
me one. When they go to bed it is
always Good night, father Good
night, mother We don't ask it Of
them. They give it to us"
1t is possible that the limit of the
Russ family has rot been reached
even yet. Mr.. and Mrs. Russ may
take still more children.
"N-e are considering the NATTER md