Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-08-10
GIVES GLADNESS
TO MANY LIVES
LOCAL BRANCH OF SUNSHINE
SOCIETY MOST ACTIVE
LOCAL ORGANIZER BACK FROM
NATIONAL CONVENTION
Members Are Engaged in Worldwide
Work and Have Enlisted Enthu-
siastlc Support in Los
Angeles

have been beneuteu Dy OF III U.s.
aid of the Sunshine society OF Los An
sreles ara acquainted with the fact that
the society is an international one.
Also that its headquarters are IN New
York CITY and that it was founded by
CYNTHIA Westover Alden, considered
one of the brainiest women in the east
ern netropilis Mrs. Alden is the presl-
dent-reneral of the vast organization,
which position she will hold during her
life -,
The society is not charitable insti-
tuition as some believe. Neither is II a
club and, although its members are
composed entirely of women they 90
not talk of the fashions when they hoia
their monthly meetings.
The international Sunshine society
was organized about seven years ago
by Mrs Alden, who at that time was
doing journalistic work for one OF ths
large New York dailies. 1t was during
the Christmas season that she received
several. cards with appropriate greet
ings and well wishes, characteristic OF
the season. The sentiments expreSSed
on the cards were highly priced by Mrs
Alden. Priced so highly in fact that
she Immediately remailed them TO sew
eraI other friends that they, too, might
partake Of the optimistic thoughts eX-
pressed on the cards. The original
senders of the cards were astounded
when Mrs. Alden informed them that
she had sent the Christmas cards 10
other friends. To all of their queries
she gave the following answer, which
was the principle upon which the or
ganization was founded: That is what
pleasant thoughts are for; to retain
their essence and then pass on TO some
one else.' ,
From the incident Of the postcarsd
there developed the present Internal
tfonal Sunshine society, which mas
branches in every state in the Union.
in England and throughout India.
Through the efforts of the society the
first Blind Babies Home in the world
was founded in New York city, which
Richard Mansfield as zone of the
greatest blessings the country ever has
received" At this home the blind
babies of the country may be housed
and brought up under the care OF at
tentive and earnest nurses, all OF wnop1
are under the supervision of the inter-
national Sunshine society.
Just before the last illness of Richard
Mansfield he was planning to give
gigantic benefit performance, the pro-
ceeds of which were to be turned over
to the International Sunshine society;
Among other noted professionals VINO
have taken an interest in the work is
Madame Calve, who has given two
benefit performances for the society," OF
which she is member
Founder of Local Branch
The president of the California
branch of the International Sunshine
society is Mrs. William Wallace Nc
Ieod, who has Just returned from at
tending the national convention at
Houston, Texas. She was the founder
of the local branch, which was organ
lied during the month Of April, 19O2
Mrs. Mcleod moved to Los Angeles
from Texas in the fall of 1901. AT the
time of her arrival she did not know
anybody in this city, but happening 10
glance through the Sunshine Bulletin
the monthly publication OF the lnterna-
tional Sunshine society, she read an
article which greatly interested her and
caused her to write to Mrs. Alden. IL
was about children's Christmas stock
ings. The letter pleased Mrs. Alden TO
such an extent that she made Mrs. NC
Leod president of the California branch
of the society. -
An amusing incident connected with
her nomination was the fact that Mrs.
Mcleod was a stranger in the city and
was almost at a loss as to how to pro-
ceed Her surprise was great Wheh
she began to receive contributions from
various people in Los Angeles. who also
congratulated her upon the founding
of a branch of the society in California.
She soon called a meeting OF these
contributors and formally launched
what since has become one of the lead
ing organizations of Los Angeles.
Starting with ten members the local
branch now has 165 members. Regard-
less of the fact that there is no initia-
ton fee Of any sort, and largely per-
haps because of the fact that the So
ciety does not cater to charity. the
membership list will show the names
of many of the best familles OF Soutn-
ern California. Since January l, 1915
the society has raised $11S6 through the
aid of whist parties. musicales and
voluntary contributions and the sale
of the Sunshine Year Book"
This book was compiled by COM
mittee of members OF the society con-
sisting of Miss Lulu Crawford. chair
man; Mrs. Mcleod, Mrs. L. III. button
and Miss Jessie M. Flint. The book
consists of quotations of "sunshiny
nature, one for each day in the year
SO great was the demand for this book
that the first edition, which consisted of
1000 copies, was sold within three
weeks after it left the press. At a
meeting of the society last Thursday 1t
was voted to have ESQ printed immedi-
ately to supply orders. BY october
the book will be revised and new and
larger edition issued.
Donations by Society
During the past year the society has
made substantial donations to the
Bethlehem institute, the SalVatlOn
Army. the Blind Babies Home and the
Kittie Smith home for crippled chill
Sdren.
one of the principle features of, the
work of the society is the loaning of
invalid chairs to those who otherwise
would be confined indoors. Under no
consideration will these chairs be
rented. The society now has fourteen
of these chairs and is making many
hearts glad by donating them to the
use of the needy.
The able president of the club gives
her services gratis to the organization.
as do all the other officers of the So
ciety.
Miss Lulu Crawford is chairman of
the yearbook committee and has as
her assistants Mrs. Mcleod, Mrs. l.. H.
Dutton and Miss Jessie M. Flint. The
wheel chair committee is composed of
Mrs. w. H. Sutch. Mrs. Mcleod and
Miss Maud Allen.
Other committees are as follows:
eception--Mesdames Emma Gill
lingham w. x. Morehouse. Leon T.
Shelter, Harry A. Massey, Sales,
Thomas Pascoe, H. Wing, M. c. Hards.
Grace Reese.
overwhelmingly McGonegal.
M. Emo, ]. r. Tucker, J. G. Howard HI.
X. Wheeler, E. B. Crowder, Spencer
Brown, McCraisland, John Fowler. w.
g. Macarthur.
Vfsiting-M Charles o. Haw-
ley, Pullar John Morton, II. Hauser, r.
+, Perry, j Farnham, w. e. Pritchard,
Elmer Gardner, A. de b. Mitchell. II. M.
Tack. James Fox and Paul Ridley.
misunderstanding II. b. Mckinney,