Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-12
MOTHERS AIDING
UTAH ST. POOR
CHANCE FOR GOOD INVEST
MENT IN HAPPINESS
PHILANTHRoPIsTs MAY COME TO
THE RESCUE
Sef-Sacrifcng Members of Child
Study Circles Doing All In
Their Power to Improve
Conditions

attention; more than 500 little
ones crowded into single school
with but four grades: a district of
humble homes where food often is
scarce-this is the situation with which
the Mothers congress is struggling in
the Utah street school section located
in the old river bed and cut by East
First street.
1t is the opportunity for one or more
of the many wealthy philanthropists
of Los Angeles to make a splendid in
vestment in happiness. To brighten
the lives of this little army Of strug-
Cling humanity does not demand a for
tune. A moderate fund will work
wonders there.
A host of self-sacrificing members of
the congress already are devoting their
time to the personal work necessary.
a corps Of teachers, efficient and be
loved of their focks and those who
trust their young charges to the edu-
Gators, are working wonders.
Is Worthy Cause
But the lack of facilities handicaps
all these worthy efforts.
The school is located in the Russian
colony. Many of the women work
out, and having no knowledge of the
school regulations send their babies to
the class room along with little
brothers and sisters. The latter are
known as little fathers and mothers"
When Principal Alice Cushing first
was confronted with this perplexing
situation she was rather bewildered.
In every room were cooling babies,
babbling infants and crying little Ones,
In the circumstances the progress of
education was effectively blocked at
Utah street.
10, 1Na1
home with explanations Miss Cushing,
who is something more than an edu-
Gator, gathered the flock of babies and
took them to her small office. There
she attended them throughout school
hours, day after day and month after
month, feeding, amusing and putting
to bed her tots, as the occasion de-
manded But facilities were few. Some
slept in boxes, some in brothers go
cart and others on the floor. But
Miss Cushing labored on undiscour-
aged, realizing the helplessness of the
mothers who toiled and the impor-
tance of an education for the juvenile
newcomers to the land of the free.
Babies Strong Appeal
During a visit to the Utah Parent
Teacher association meeting Mrs. e.
b. Mapel, state chairman of the home
economies committee, Mothers con-
gress, noted the strenuous condition
of affairs and the great burden upon
Miss Cushing, self-imposed, and was
greatly moved to observe the needs of
the babies. Her committee including
Mrs. H. Trowbridge, Mrs. H. O. Boyd,
Mrs. ]. e. Williams and Mrs. j. Il.
Harris, lost no time in taking actlon.
AS a result the Utah school nursery
was opened. A nurse was engaged VINO
spoke the Russian language. A room
was taken at the front portion of the
crowded school building and two trun-
die beds, toys and playthlngs were
put in. -.
But this is the limit to date. From
twenty to forty babies are sent to the
Utah school in care of the little fathers
and little mothers. All are crowded
into a little room fourteen feet square.
They are cared for splendidly but many
are forced to sleep on the hoor ana
proper ventilation is impossible.
New Nursery Needed
A bungalow for the needy infants
has been promised, but there is no
space on the school grounds for the
structure. The owner of the adjoln-
inp nroperty has offered it for a low
valuation, but it is extremely doubtful
if the municipal educational fund can
hear the expense for two years or more
AS the property needed Is splend1dly
located in growing Industrial ana
manufacturing district 1t would prove
a handsome paying investment for any
business man who might purchase the
land and loan the use for the nursery
bungalow. The rise in value would
more than repay for such philan-
thropical act. -,,,,
The property is needed for additional
purposes. Upon the present site are
two buildings and three bungalows.
Fourteen teachers are required 10
handle the scholars, although there are
but four grades represented.
one of the city Fairgrounds is sup
nosed to exist upon this site, but 1t is
confined to a very narrow stretcIl'
which does not accommodate one-tenth
of the scholars. There are hundreds
of children playing in the dusty streets
of the district who deserve petter
'' Children Are Worthy
Therefore Miss Cushing and the
home economics committee are making
every effort possible to secure the ad-
Ioining property for a playground as
well as 81 nursery bungalow.
at can testify that the scholars OF
this school are as we'll behaved and
Industrious as any in the city," said
Mrs. Mapel after the principal nau ,
nraised the worthiness of her big
fock. But Los Angeles owes them
something more than crowded quar-
+ers These dear babies must be cared
for Their parents are worthy, hard
Working people and often go hungry
nut they are keeping their children
clean and sending them to school. = !
hope that citizens will give financial
aid to this deserving cause"
Mrs. Mapel and her committee have
labored faithfully to bring relief to
the babies Of the Utah nursery. They
deserve the utmost credit for the work
already accomplished.
- x.,AArM NNIn n UnrE