Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-01-22


pleasure in behalf of the Maine Divts-
ion Of the International Sunshine So
ciety to wish you Happy New Year.
AS the sun shines over us, giving
light, heat and comfort to all, so this
society seeks to spread rays Of sun
shine and gladness into many lonely
hearts: both rich and poor, shut-in
and out from many pleasures of life
and needing all the good cheer we can
give them.
We are neither literary or a char
table society. / think we may be
called phiIanthropic, although we do
not seek for name, otherwise than
the spreading of good cheer.
No more philanthropic women are
found than in the Maine Federation
of Women's Clubs, continually broad
ening their work and at the same time
bringing the different departments into
direct lines, where they are most eff
fective.
Since this society became Interna-
tional in 1900, it's growth has been
steady and uninterrupted, not only in
our own State but in every other
state, territory and province, many
know what it is to receive a ray of
sunshine from 1t.
large part of the work is done by
mail and parcel post, being the only
bright spot in many lives. The time
has gone by when last years maya
zine or an outgrown garment is kept
in hiding for germs.
Doing something for somebody and
doing it quick is growing upon US,
and If one is looking for that some
thing" the opportunity will not be far
to find.
The lonely woman on the corner OF
your street. The sufferer from rheu-
| matism, or otherwise, the friendless
young man or woman. the crippled
children, and the blind babies need
every one of us to watch out.
Birthdays and holidays are just the
time for a postal card Put it in an
envelope with stamp so it may be
passed on. AS we think more of our
| neighbor we will think less of self and
begin to know and see why we are
our brothers keeper.
| A woman of refinement and culture.
wife of a minister in the far west,
found in the accustomed missionary
barrel" book of choice poems. which
| touched her heart and brought tears
! to her eyes.
Another in a lonely country, where
| the children had not seen or heard of
a Christmas tree. sent miles to find
tree. The only one to he found was
an ash tree. which good woman
| trimmed with eelored paper, and from
| her own scanty means made little gifts
| for 16 children.
Do you need to ask what can do
| to join this society, when the only fee
| Is a good deed, and a voluntary gift?
am most happy to bring you greet
| ing from the Sunshine Society and to
! tell YOU that our color is yellow and
white; our flower, the coreopsis.
Our motto:
Have you had a kindness shown?
| Pass it or;
Twas not given for you alone,
| Pass it on;
| Let it travel down the years,
| Let it wipe another's tears,
| Till in Heaven the deed appears.
| Pass 1t on.
Miss Gertrude L. Macdonald.
/
cipal of the Maine State School
for Girls at Hallowell, addressed the
Maine Federation of Women's Clubs
at the mid winter meeting, Augusta
Wednesday, on the subject. "Eu-
genics," and her paper was listened
to with keen interest.
Quoting Sir Francis Cation, who
coined the word, Miss Macdonald
said that eugenics is "the science
which deals with all influences that
| improve the Unborn qualities Of
| race" AS the Greek derivation
shows, it means the science of right
| breeding.
Continuing she said that more
than 200 years ago William Penn
! wrote, Men are commonly more
careful of the breed of their horses
and dogs than of their children
and she argued that the same state
| ment is practically true today.
Whether there is need of eugenic
propaganda can best be answered by
the fact that we now are supporting
half a million insane, feeble minded
epileptic, blind and deaf. 10000
prisoners. and 100000 paupers at a
cost of over one hundred million dol
lars per year." said the speaker
If a few ounces of prevention
had been applied even few genera
| tons ago, there would never have
| been the need of the pounds of cure
we are obliged to apply now and
sometimes it seems almost hopeless
! ly."
Miss Macdonald then spoke of
the marvellous laws of inheritance.
which were discovered by priest
named Mendel in the year 1869 and
of the opposition, at first, to his dis
covery. Contrary to the belief which
many had, eugenics does not antago-
nize any humanitarian or Christian
effort. Eugenics is simply the modern
science to improve the human race
by getting rid of defects.
With this word eugenics. another
word, euthenics, has come into use
said Miss Macdonald. This means
being we'll brought up or as we
commonly hear it. environment. Eu-
genics and euthenics are what Gal
ton use to call. nature and nuture.
Numerous are the discussions as to