The Washington times., 1913-12-16
CH|LDREN'S FAIR
HELPS BLIND GIRL
Three Little Residents of South
Washington Show Real
Christmas Spirit.
By JULIA MURDOCH.

No more beautiful eXemplification oi
the Spug idea could he imagined than
the one conceived by three little South
Washington girls, Alta Beard. Catherine
Talbert, and Evangeline Sullivan. who
have turned their backs on all the
greed. all the sham of Christmas giving,
and given their time and effort where
there is real need and real suffering.
These litrie girls could not sense wnat
ii means TO sit in darkness, waiting,
waiting, forever for the light that viii
never come, but they had thought a
little of what the pinch of poverty
meant, and they decided that they
would do what they could. in their small
way, to help out the little blind girl.
Evelyn, for whom The Times collected
an educational fund last summer.
Readers of this paper viii remember
the case of the little five-year-old blind
girl for whom the Washington branch
of the International Sunshine Society
made an appeal through the columns OF
The Times last August In less than a
month a sum sufficient to send the little
girl TO an educational institution for the
blind in New Jersey, was collected, and
the child was sent to the school early
in September
Read Pitiful Story.
The thought of how they could help
this little afflicted child came to the
three young girls last August when
most people were much more concerned
in finding a way to keep cool, than in
what they were going to do at Christ
mas time.
These three girls had read Evelyn's
p,tifuI story n The Times; had read
h,fw the child was cooped up in one
room. in the hottest and most unat-
tractve part of the city. They read
thst the child was slowly dying from
lack of fresh air and exercise and the
surshine that was shut out of her sight
forever, and they decided that they
would do something for her.
Here is where We can do some good,
:he three girls said to each other, and
they Immediately began to lay the plans
which later developed into the Spug
idea. In their leisure vacation minutes,
Eyangeiine, Alta and Catherine were
the most Industrious little girls anyr
one ever saw, and after While they
mad completed number of pieces of
fancy work, which, later in the season
they placed on sale, realizing from the
sale of them the sum of $2o-20 whicn
they brought to The Times office and
VI hich Is going to be sent to the New
jersey institution where Little Evelyn
is learning how 10 use her hands and
mas, indeed. not only to the little blind
girl, but TO her mother, who cannot af-
ford to give her only child Christmas
present. and for the three little girls in
South Washington, who have learned
the biggest lesson of all-that it is more
blessed TO give than to receive, and
have demonstrated its truth in a most
useful and practical way.
Are Campfire Girls.
Catherine Talbert, who lives at 1854 c
street southwest. and Evangeline Sui
livan, who lives across the street, at
1851 c street, are members of Ingleside
Camp, Campfire Girls. Miss Alta Beard
lives at 209 Linworth place southwest.
Little Evelyn, who was sent to the
institution for the blind last autumn
with the money that was raised largely
through the efforts of The Times. is.
according to Mrs. Ella S. knight, presi-
dent of the Sunshine Society in this
city, one of the brightest children in the
school
Though only five years Of age, she has
learned to dress herself and take care
of her own clothes. and sings sweetly a
number of little kindergarten songs.
She is said by her teachers to be an
bright and attractive child,
and as soon as her age will permit the
little girl will be placed under instrUc-
ton with q view of making her self
supporting In later life.