Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-12-12
CHILDREN OF THE
POOR ASK ARGUS
FOR XMAS CHEER
Miss Dina Ramser Arrives Next
Week TO Take Charge of
Distribution Santa Fund.
CHECKS AUGMENT SUM
institute Cases Come to Attention of
Committee and to Them
VIII Go Gifts.

Mss Dina RamseT. chairman OF The
,rrus santa Claus committee will ar
- Tuesday from Chicago where she
IA gone with her mother TO spend the
inter. 90 take up the direction Of the
,o-k carried on through The Argus
Ssnta Claus Fund Miss Ramser fear
- hat circumstances would prevent
ts- from this year assuming the re-
feasibility OF the distribution Of the
f--d but affairs have so shaped them
elves that she can come TO the city
s.peciaIIy for this purpose. and will
Devote the entire time for the next
40 weeks 20 this end
Ms. C. T. DuCard. during the alb
once OF Miss Ramser. has taken the
responsibility OF the work on her
shoulders and has with her corps OF
ssIpers worked faithfully. untiTingly
md earnestly and has done such effic-
,snt work that the situation in the city
has been gotten into splendid condition
f7r the actual work that must neces-
sarilv come the week before Christ
mas. The city has been pretty thor
ouehly canvassed by this quiet body of
women and they have listed practi-
ezlly every worthy child in the city
and will remember him through the
Santa Claus fund Christmas day.
Funds Receive Boost.
The fund has received a number OF
Substantial boosts during the past
week. liberal checks having come from
prominent business men and firms who
are not willing thai the poor kiddies
Of the city shall go Christmasless. Ev-
sry dollar brings such a wealth OF
happiness TO the little tots that words
are not adequate to express.
Numerous applications have come TO
The Argus for the names OF children
20 whom the Good Fellows want TO
act as Santa Claus and provide with
toys and warm clothing. These appli-
cations will be filled out and returned
IN plenty Of time TO make all neces-
say preparations for their Christmas
Every name is carefully investigated
before f. il given out, that no IN
worthy family receives the help that
should 20 10 the needy ones. This
takes time. and if your APP
picatiOn IS not returned at
once. don't get impatient and think
tha- II Is being overlooked. for it Is
not It has been carefully filed away [
and will be filed out in its turn.
Incidents of Poverty.
The committee in its rounds OF the
poorer sections OF the city has found
case after case where there is real
dsstitution-stark poverty lurking ev-
srywhere. Here are two instances:
The mother has been i'll for a long
tine. but in spite Of this handicap has 7
taken in washing. working when an
other woman would have been receiv- I
ing the tender care OF her anxious /
family The oldest boy of L has been .
working AZ the arsenal and has been .
the main support OF the family Of six
other children He recently lost his
position and Is now without work The
other children range in age. Il, 10. S.
z. l. and four months. The house Il
Is . miserable hoveI. cold and draUgh-
y and the children have not enough 10
feed them. nor cIothe them. and surely {
they Will know no Christmas. II
In another family the mother was
today taken 10 the hospital for treat ,
ment for an ailment from which she
had long suffered The father was in
ilred sometime ago and is unable 70
work. The oldest girl is 10. the next
: two and three. and a small baby.
md twin boys S II years of age Here 4
gain is real suffering and need. q
Letters Come to Santa. 4
Every mail brings 10 The Argus let
srs from children addressed with I
childish faith 70 Santa Claus at the I
North Pole. Among the lot are let
.e-s from children Of well 10 do par
snts who have not lost their faith in
he good old saint. These Of course s
are referred back 20 the parents. But !
b. far the greatest number come from
children who are Of poor parents and