The Washington herald., 1913-08-24
CAMP GOOD WILL
Seen YEARS AGO
Resting Place for Children
and Mothers Predicted
in Old Report.
U. S. OFFICER PLEASED
Miss Julia Lathrop, of Children's Bu-
reau, Comments Favorably
on Work.
u. S. OFFICER PLEASED

Ten years ago the annual report of the
Associated Charities contained the fol-
lowing:
Another beginning OF new work con-
sisted in the establishment OF an outing
camp for a club OF young boys from one
Of the social settlements of Washington.
The summer outings committee contrib
uted $45; for this purpose the United
States Army authorities loaned the tents
and set them up. In trying this new
plan of summer outings, the committee
thought the experiment might possibly
lead in time to the establishment OF a
Camp Good VIII in the outskirts OF
Washington, where children and mothers
might be taken to spend an entire day
or week at a time"
Maybe the committee then, many men,
bers OF which are still identified with it,
did not have much idea that it was lay
ing the foundation for one iof the most
practical philanthropies the liberal citi-
zens Of Washington ever undertook to
maintain, though the statement that "the
experiment might possibly lead in time, !"
&c, with the application of a little i'm
agination. leads one to believe the COM
mittee was sanguine enough. but that il
feared the public might regard the prof.
ect as too ambitious and visionary; hence
the somewhat timid reference to the fu-
ture.
All the committee could have antici-
pated and more has been realized in the
Camp Good VIII of today. From IAN
entire day or week. the outing period
has grown TO two weeks for each per-
son, and next year it may be longer.
1t is not improbable that even that one
days outing eXerted an influence upon
the boy or girl who participated in it,
when the glare of the narrow street, the
shut-in house. the noisome odor. and the
torrid heat of midsummer's sun were ex-
changed for the great out of doors. At
least one instance has occurred this sum-
mer TO show that all this has a lasting
effect. Within the past few days a
woman, now in much better circum-
stances than several years ago, made
contribution of SC, which takes mother
and child for one week at the camp.
You may remember" she said, that
five years ago, when things were not so
well with me, that you gave me and my
baby a rest at Camp Good VIII. My it
seemed the best thing Of my life, almost.
I wish I could do a hundred times more
in return
Federal Official Pleased.
The boy and girl OF today is going to
feel the result OF two whole weeks of
baCk-to-nature much more than the one
who got great joy out Of even one day
ten years ago. In addition to all that
nature can provide to gladden. the life of
the child from the city. and what gen.
erous people have supplied for the
physical need, there are lessons in pune
tuality. courtesy, and unselfshness
Wedged in between
These little wedges are almost imper-
ceptible, but they gradually pry loose
those vexatious habits that often result
from over-crowded homes. insufficient
food, irregular hours, lack Of discipline,
and a lot Of other things for which no
one is responsible in particular, but
everybody is responsible for in general
A child, who on one day makes faces"
at you or indulges in some other ugly
form Of Juvenile imitation, can be Silent
" influenced to forget these obnoxious
traits in a fortnight. has surely respond
ed to the environment of normal life
the kind which prevails at Camp Good
Will.
What a magnificent place and busi-
ness YOU have here" said Miss Julia
Lathrop, Of the Children's Bureau. when
visiting the camp last week. What
fine spirit Of Rnstudied cooperation!
These little lolhs anu 'le 'iitiS' ~
are really conspicuous for their genu-
inely happy appearance. This baby hos
pital ought to be open all the year
round | did not know what a great en-
terprise you were carrying on here in
these camps, and II must be that thou
sands of folks in the city are no better
informed"
Tomorrow is Navy Yard Day again.
and the preparations are ,under way for
unusual entertainment.
The committee hopes that contributors
who have not yet "Come to the front
will not forget to do so before the end
of the season. There is not nearly so
much danger of the committee closing
its work with an awkwardly large bal
ance as there is of its having not quite
enough. 1t would much prefer to take
the former hazard.