Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-12-11
CHORDS AND
DLSCORDS

der to serious subject.
It's an appeal in behalf of the kid
dies-the boys and girls who are going
to have a cherries Christmas unless
you and your neighbors assume little
responsibility.
! We've all been children, and we've
all known the thrills of look at a
prettily lighted Christmas tree as we
rose from our downy couch to get an
early peek at the gifts that Santa
Claus brought during the night while
we were asleep.
! We were never disappointed. That's
possibly the reason that some of us
refuse to permit ourselves to believe
that there are really little folks who
may waken on the coming Christmas
morning to find that their dreams had
been in vain. We grow up, get along,
and forget that there is suffering in
the world.
What we occasionally need is a jolt
"a jar to draw our attention to our
selfishness. Few of us do as much as
we are able or should do to alleviate
the poverty that is all about us.
We put our binders on and dash
ahead with our hands in our heavy
overcoats, hurry home, enjoy good
meal, fall back in an easy chair and
read till we are called to Sunderland.
The winds whistle without and over
the city there are babies shfvering
with cold that whips through the
cracks of shacks as they cuddle close
to their mothers breasts.
little significance other than a holt
day. OF course there are the usual
gifts for the members of the family
and a few friends. That is all.
Four years ago The Argus saw the
need of some agency looking after the
children of the poor of the city. 1t was
no easy task to so cover the ground
that no child would be neglected. To
have allowed a single one to lose faith
in Santa Claus would have caused the
sponsors of the enterprise to have felt
that all of their labors had been in
vain.
Each year The Argus Santa Claus |
Fund has grown in usefulness. Today |
it is an established institution. Last |
Christmas 500 children received gifts |
and goodies through the activities of
the fund.
Lot of little tots, you'll agree, and |
doubtless you will wonder how it was
possible. Organization and system is
the answer. Good women come for
ward every year and give their time
and efforts to aiding in the labors at
taching to the details of The Argus
Santa Claus Fund. They put in some
h,tc1 ht,f |
more than repaid for their efforts
when they see the results. So would
you had your the opportunity to visit
the poverty-stricken homes of the city Il
and know that you aided in diffusing
sunshine within those gloomy walls.
Organized charity sees to it that
the poor have fuel, food and clothing.
But charity has not money to spend
on toys and candies. This is the void
that is filled by The Argus Santa
Claus Fund
For weeks before Christmas a COM
mittee quietly goes about the city and
conditions in homes where
there are children who have been re-;
ported as likely to be neglected at the
yuletide season. There is no publicity
If the father is unable to provide
gifts. that is not the fault of his chill
1ren. He may be good man. but il
hard luck. Then there are instances
where the father is worthless. Neither
IS that the fault of the child.
Here is one of scores of letters .hat
nave been received by The Argus:
Dear Santa Claus have no papa 9
Mother washes, but she burned her i
hands and can't work now. All l want .
5 big orange and a doll.
JULIA"
You will spend more for round of u
,igars than it would take to make lit S
lie Julia happy. You are not unwill- v
ng to take care of her and others sit t
lated as she, but, you say, you do not b
NOW how to go about it. o
You're the man whose ear we want
o get tonight. In every issue of The Il
Argus there is printed coupon. II you $
rant to feel the real spirit of doing c
for others at Christmas clip n
ut that coupon, fill in the number of II
title folks you wish to act Santa Claus fl
D and mail it to The Argus. In due d
inc the number asked, with their h
ames, ages and addresses will be for +,
'arded to you. Then 1t is up to you, 81
rother. You have assumed a sacred c
uty, and you must not fail to fulfill it. e,
On the other hand, if you do not al
are to bother with the task of person IN
lily looking after some poor children. h
ull your check book right now and
ail a check to The Argus Santa Claus
und committee. 1t need not be a sc
rye amount. Make it five if you feel ia
Die. If not that amount, a dollar will re
3 thankfully received. and you'll
aiken Christmas morning with the f..
fought that you have sent joy to at So
asst one childish heart that otherwise ar
light have suffered establishment ne
A dollar is not much to the average tn
an. Then think of the world of joy ali
Will bring to some household where W
lf-nlnfhan 4, !