The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-08-13
-
- ;SCGIE i.
It's Beginning, History, Object, Meth
ods-Not Charity Inter-
change of Kindly Greetings.

ty is 4 duly Incorporated institution
under lie s>ws ct the state OF New
York, having Headquarters at 9G
Fifth avenue. New Yory City, and
with branches in every state in the
Union. and in several foreign coun-
tries.
To the questions so often asked,
elbow did the Sunshine society origi-
na+eo" *:W?hat is its object 20
"What has it accomplished?' and
elbow do You do the work?' The fol-
lowing answers ere made: DuiinG>the
holidays several years ago, the presl-
dent-9enelal was the recipient OF a
number Of cards from her cc-WorkerS
on the New York Recorder a; we'll as
from outside friends. On Christmas
day she protected. and said that while
she enjoyed the gifts, she would have
had infinitely more pleasure in their
receipt if the donors had not written
their names on them. This statement
mortified her audience, who with one
accord exclaimed:
'sWhat! You wouldn't give your
presents away. would you?"
:Whv not" was the reply, "What
do Won do with yours?'' A laughing
investigation soon developed the fact
that the waste-basket was the ultl-
mate destination of most Of the cards
received. Some spent a few months
tackled on the wall, until fly-speeked
and discolored; others were used as
book-marks until lop-eared: then all
were thrown away without having
given an additional ray Of sunshine
to anyone beyond the immediate re-
cipient.
"Suppose you take the history Of
one pretty ten-cent card that came to
me a year ago" said the president
general.
"It had an exquisite little poem on.
it, and I enjoyed it so much that
thought at once of an old uncle who
would appreciate it, and forwarded 1t
to him. He, as I thought he would,
did enjoy IT. and 50 much that he I'M
mediately recalled another old friend
to whom it would appeal with special
force. So he copied the poem, and
sent the card on This recipient found
the sentiment so sweet that she, too,
felt called upon to pass it on, and be-
fore the seven days holiday was over
the card had carried its Christmas
MESSAGE to six different people. OF
course this is all exception, but still
it is an example Of the infinite posi-
bilities of gift, if accepted in the
true spirit, and then passed on, CIV
ing each one the double delight OF
giving and receiving.''
The cards which had afforded the
text for the little sermon were then
spread out and their possibilities dis
cussed. Here was dainty one with a
great cluster Of royal purple pansles,
'sMrs. So and So loves pansies' and
it might have been sent on to her II
It hadn't been marked all over. Again
a group of cunning little pussies that
nwould have been Just the thing for
a little invalid child who needed
amusing." but that, too, was carefully
marked with the name of the sender,
and thus spoiled for passing on.
Inspired With this idea Of sending
out remembrances that might be null
tiplied four-fold. a new set OF cards
was Given by the staff to the Presl-
dent-General who Immediately sent
them all out again. The thanks re-
ceived for these cards were so pretty
that an item was made Of it in the
New York Recorder. This caused. FUR
ther correspondence and resulted IN
q club for the exchange Of friendly
greetings. The name "Chat" was
at first chosen for the column, but IN
time the membership grew so large
that a club badge and the motto
HGood Cheer' we're selected ana the
name "Shut-In" given to the society
on January Is, 1896. the name OF the
society was. changed to the Sunshine
Society and in February. 1900, was
duly incorporated under the laws OF
the state Of New York. From the first
the organization has eHjoyed truly
phenomenal popularity and growth.
Object.
The object is to incite its members
to a performance of kind and helpful