The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-04-09
By Miss Blanch Balm of This
City
DEMAND FOR FLOWERS
Met by Plan of Young
Philanthroplst
Marion to be Beautified During
Spring and Summer by Thousand
or More Flower Beds.

AS a result OF the efforts of
twelve -year-old Blanche Balm, the
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Addison
Balm, of No. 9O9 NoNrth State
street, Marion viii be beautifed
during the coming spring and sum-
'mer with thousand or more now-
er beds. Little Miss Bair. who is
without doubt one of the youngest
Iphilantbropists in the wo:ld today,
Iduring the past few weeks has pre-
Isented FIVE Sunday Schools of the
city with between 500 and 1000
packages of flower seeds, and in do
ling so has launched movement
which promises not only to be per-
manent in this city. but has pros
|pects of spreading throughout the
state and country.
Local Sunday School workers say
that the idea is one of the best that
has been introduced into church
work for years, and all are enthusi-
astic in their words of praise for
the young girl who conceived OF the
plan, and through her own effort,
has introduced it to the public.
The girl philanthropist is merl-
ber of the Sunday School of Epwor:h
church, and ever since earliest
terest in the school. Approaching
the constant demand for flowers iT
church and charitable work, in
Frightening hours of sickness and
dispelling the gloom that pervades
homes of sorrow and toll, she de-
vised plan for supplying this de-
mand and making it possible for ali
of the Sunday School children of the
city 10 distribute flowers in Marion's
despondent and sorrowing homes. =
Five Sunday Schools of the <tity
have received flower Sseds from
Miss Balm. They are the schools of
the First Baptist, the German Meth
oGist, the Emanuel Lutheran, First
Presbyterian and Epworth NJ. f.
churches. In all of these schools,
nearly every child has taken pack
age Of seeds and promised to help
in the work of raising flowers to be
used in this work, spreading cheer
fulness and goodwill throughout
the city. The girl philanthropist
has also given seeds to all of the
members of the Epworth league OF
the uptown Methodist church. She
has offered seeds TO all of the Sun.
day schools of the city, and it is
expected that practically all of the
organizations will take advantage of
her generosity.
The seeds which little Miss Balm
has already given away will amount
In value upwards to SIS.
A few words about this remark
able girl in person would probably
be OF interest. She is only twelve
years of age, and is student in the
grammar school at the North state
street building. Little more than a
year ago she conceived the idea of
raising and selling flower seeds as
a plan for securing spending money.
She accordingly planted little plot
| " o''""" ~ tHV iot NJ tHe rear OF
her home on North State street. and
there started little garden which
was destined to grow into flourish
ing business. This business has
igrown to such dimensions that the
spare time which its little man
ager has out of school is not suf-
ficient to meet the demands. 1t
now requires the attention of the
|girls parents. besides woman who
is paid salary to act as an assist
ant.
The flower seed gardens of little
Miss Balm now cover three lots, the
one on which her home is located,
besides two in the East End. The
business Is still growing and shows
all prospects of some time develop
ing into an industry of no small pre-
tensions. The ne. proceeds are now
sufficient to support the average
family in comfort.
The first time that the little seed
merchant started out to make sales,
she carried her produce In little
market basket, she had little diff
Guilty in disposing OF the basket-fu
and from then on she has prospered
In a most remarkable manner. She
now has booth at the city market
and may be found there every Sat
urday.
1