Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-27
NATIONAL IN SCOPE
MIS-. J. A. EnsIoW Heads the
D. A. R. Charity Department.
FACES A DIFFICULT TASK
Must Select All Officers and Plan
Work for Retirement of
Juveniles.

ouVCUl1GS.
Achievements in humanitarian work
among destitute children of Washington
by Daughter of the Revolution. Mrs.
Joseph Aauila Enslow. which caused
the president general. Mrs Scott, to
create the post of national charity off,
Ger. appointing Mrs. Enslow to establish
national : charity department, have
opened great opportunity for social
work all over the nation.
Mrs. Enslow has the ia SIX before her of
selecting corps Of assistants from the
Daughters of the American Revolution,
appointing state charity officers in every
jurisdiction. She also will initiate the
work for lettering the condition of juve-
niles by mapping out a method of pro-
cedure and defining the activities that
shall have the attention Of the depart
ment Of charity
Naturally. in outlining procedure, she
will suggest at the outset the pursuit Of
methods which with her have proved so
eminently successful in the National
Capital, where she already has become
known as ':the angel of the Juvenile
Court"
Faces Dtmcult Task.
In the choice Of sympathetic and COM
petent-potentially or through experience
workers in the cause. Mrs Enslow's
difficulties. it is explained, are great at
the outset. Material will not be wanting,
and there are many good and charitably
inclined women who would be willing to
give all or most of their time in the
cause OF humanity. But Mrs. Enslow's
experiences have taught her that special
qualifications are required, and she pro-
poses to gather to her assistance, as far
as possible. those who can appeal to the
good will Of the poor, without exciting
luminosity or sense Of indignity.
There are many women Of the type
which Mrs. Enslow seeks to gather about
her. Yet the Wilderness Of her field Of
operations. including the whole of the
United States, makes 1t impossible for her
to know the material from which she
must select her state charity officers. She
will proceed slowly, consulting with state
regents and others qualified to advise her
regarding her work and the candidates
who would aid her.
Mrs Enslow, for many years devotfng
herself to the cause of suffering women
and needy children, came from New York
about four years ago, and transferred her
labors to the National Capital. A wom-
an of means, she has given much Of her
own money to this humanity, and nearly
all of her time.
Methods Approved by Court.
Identifying herself with. Constitution
Chapter, D. A. R., of which she later be-
came registrar. she was appointed a
member Of the committee for work In
the Juvenile Court, Of the District Of Co.
lumbia Society. Mrs. Enslow was al
most daily at the Juvenile Court, watch
inc h4 Cns- hafn <k4 ov.1 Lr{v,
ing aid where needed and acceptable. Her
individual work was Of SO noteworthy a
character and brought so much credit
to the Daughters of the American Revo-
luton. that the state regent. Mrs. Mary
Lockwood, thought fit to create the post
of state special charity officer as fitting
recognition for Mrs. Enslow.
Mrs. Enslow's methods especially ap-
pealed to Judge De Lacy Of the Juvenile
Court. The probation officers also dis
characteristic that made her friends
among those whom she would help. and
gave her entry into the home of self
respecting poor where other charity
ing. They called her services in daily
requisition and relied upon her in all del
icate situations.
She Instituted among young girls in the
southwest section what was named ''rhe
Toothbrush Brigade" in the interest OF
habits of personal cleanliness. The
young folks, many of whom had never
before used toothbrush and some Of
them entirely unacquainted with its APP
pearance or purpose, were instructed in
what 1t was for and in its benefits. This
organization became popular and gained
recruits steadily
Arbitrated Family Rows.
Carrying toys and flowers to children
in hospitals was one Of the regular du-
ties that Mrs. Enslow imposed upon her
self. She became arbiter in many fam
lily Misunderstanding, mentor of men
and women who had departed from the
ways of well doing. snatched many q
brand from the burning, set girls be-
yond the reach of temptations to be self
respecting and self-supporting and found
employment for many in need of oppor-
tunity to earn daily bread.
In the southwest section the police,
who know better than any other people
prevail to Mrs. Enslow and her work.
They watched over her comings and go
ings, making sure that no harm came to
her in the many perils she braved on
her excursions for good. Then they made
up a purse and presented her with a
great bunch of American beauty roses.
urging her to continue her work among
the poor of that neighborhood.
MIS-. EnSloW also is vice president of
the Thomas Wells Society, Children of
the American Revolution. To this soci-
ETY. vas awarded the cup for deeds of
kindness to other children awarded by
the honorary president of the national
society. She also is an active member
Of the Children's Council Of Washington,
d. c.
Mrs. Enslow's enthusiasm has grown
with her success. She conceived, with
out aspirations for her own selection to
establish 1t. that the Daughters of the
American Revolution might well take up
the work among destitute children and
suffering women, with power to become a
great humanitarian impulse all over the
United States.
Will Move to New York.
This thought she embodied in her re-
port on her work to the District OF CO.
lumbia society. Mrs. Lockwood, state
regent, converted to the idea for which
she had been sponsor. carried it to the
president general. Mrs. Scott who also
became an immediate proselyte.
Unexpectedly. Mrs. Scott took occasion
on the closing day of the congress to
read Mrs. Enslow's report on her work
in Washington. There was great APP
plause. Mrs. Enslow was given an ova-
ton and her work Endorsed. Mrs Scott
then announced the creation of the Office
of national charity officer and the APP
pOintment to the post of Mrs. EnsloW,