The National tribune., 1909-02-25

flying hither and yon, carrying to the
hearts of thousands intellectual enjoy
ment, comfort, peace or perhaps suS-
gestion which may develop into great
universal movement for the good of
mankind. A number of years ago Kate
Douglas Wiggin. the authoress of Tim
othy's Quest" The Birds Christmas
Carol" etc, wrote a little story called
Marin Liza 1t was the story OF q
poor, half-witted child, the faithful
nurse of two remarkably healthy, op-
streperous male infants, twins. This
child nurse attracted the attention and
won the sympathy and interest of an
enthusiastic and charming kindergarten
teacher, and thru her loving and per-
sistent efforts the feeble brain OF the
child was aroused. stimulated, strength
ened and developed to such an extent
as metamorphosed entirely the outlook
upon life of the little unfortunate, and
strengthened her hitherto nerVe]ess
hand for the battle before her. In this
simple and touching narrative, and
apropos of some way of helping these
afflicted little ones, Mrs. Wiggin told
the story of the beautiful idea of
great, tender-hearted, child-loving Ger
man pastor, and from this description,
told so exquisitely by Mrs. Wiggin. has
resulted what promises to be one OF the
most beautiful and practical philan-
quote that part of the story of Marin
Liza which relates to this idea: THAT
was a beautiful thought of Pastor Won
Bodelschwingh's of the Colony of Mercy
in Germany. He had home for adults
and children of ailing mind and body,
and when he wanted a new house for
the little ones and there was no money
to build or equip it, he asked every
parent in Germany for thank-offering
to the Lord of one penny for each well
child. Within short fortnight 100000
pennies flowed in-400,000 thanksgiv-
ings for the children strong and well.
The good pastors wish was realized,
and his Baby Castle an accomplished
fact. Not only did the 400, 900 pennies
come, but the appeal for them stimu-
lated a new sense of gratitude among
all the parents who responded SO that
there came pretty, touching messages
from all sides, such as: -Four pennies
for four living children for a child
in heaven, two;' six pennies for happy
home 'one penny for the child We
hever had;' five pennies for a good
wife etc" The foregoing passage from
Mrs. Wiggin's book read, by philan-
thropic woman in Germantown, Pa,
some months ago. went to her heart
and suggested the employment of this
thark-offering idea to raise fund for
the endowment of a free bed for chill
dren in the local hospital She wrote
and asked Mrs. Virgins consent to its
use, which, of course, was joyfully
granted, and the movement was start
ed On Feb. Mrs. Wiggin was asked
to the final meeting of the organized
movement to receive the contributions
which were to be brought in on that
occasion. She gladly accepted the in
vitation. carrying with her IL auto
graphed copies of Marin Liza" which.
Were auctioned off for s125. and which
she donated to the fund. The occasion
was most interesting. Mrs Wiggin read
selections from Marin Liza and made
beautiful, most touching little speech,
after which she received the donations.
These amounted to $2,100, all in small
sums of pennies, and from all kinds. Of
people-street cleaners, peddlers, rail-
way porters. street car conductors, small
tradesmen, etc. Several ladies in the
audience from different parts of the
country rose, and said they should start
similar movements when they returned
to their homes. Surely no method of
raising money for any ctildren's charity
could make SO popular an appeal as
this. What could bring home more
forcibly to the mother or father heart
the incafculable blessing of a strong
healthy child? What could so fill the
breast with thankfulness to the Creator
for this great blessing or quicken the
sypmathy for those unfortunate little
ones upon whom disease has set his
dreadful mark and blighting influence? :?
Where could the mother or father be
found in any part of this broad land
too poor to give penny for each well.
strong child given them by God? =? Surely
such could not be found anywhere Add
ing one to one a hundreds soon hit.
and II is easy to see that even in quite
small places very considerable sum
could be raised in this way The idea
Is not only very beautiful and touching
but is remarkably sensible and practi
cal, and will doubtless become very
generally adopted all over the country
Two letters recently published and
Claiming to have been written by Mrs
Lincoln, wife of the great War Presi-
dent, to fashionable New York mil
liner,will appeal specially to the weak
er Sex" The letters are very amusing
to woman, and show that Mrs Lin
COIN certainly knew what she was talk
ing about when it was a question of a
new bonnett. she gives in her letters
the minutest direction as to inst how
she wants it trimmed, and lust what
she wants on II, and no one can ques-
ton her taste The letters throw quite
q side light on her character. and prove
Eer TO have been woman who thorolv
appreciated her position as First Lady
of the Land, and one who knew we'll
what was expected Of her in the way of
a bonnet While not for an instant en-
tertaining a thought of anything but a
very rich bonnet-she is constantly
impressing this fact upon her milliner-
She prudently looks out for next years
fashions, and instructs Nine HAMS 10
have the sides turned in for alteration
another Winter" She also writes her
mllllner that the war tax having dimin-
ished Mr.. LincoIn's salary bv $500 a
year, she cannot and will not paw more
than S25 for the bonnet, which she
considers IAN immense sum-" ard that
she will send to Philadelphia for it IL
Nine. HAMS will not make it for that
amount. As Mrs. Lincoln was to fur
nish the velvet for the bonnet, some
she had left from q cloak and very
rich, S25 was certainly big price
for those days, when So bought a very
pretty bonnet, indeed. We are not told
whether the New York milliner made
the bonnet or not but here are the di-
rections Mrs. Lincoln gave, and what
woman can say that she hadn't perfect
taste? IL was to be made of very rich"
black velvet, of stylish shape. with a
very rich" genuine black ostrich feath-
er extending over the front, and some
very rich" white, very white, flowers
with black velvet leaves and surround
ed with sprays of black at one side of
the front, and at the other side bows
OF black velvet ribbon edged with
white. The face trimming was to be
full and very rich" Mrs. Lincoln put
great stress on tho CIV