Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-09-23
Oklahoma Millionaire Creates
New Form of PhilanthrOphy.
Charles Page of Tulsa Adopted All the
Children in n Bankrupt Orphans
Homc-Now Tides Women Over
Hard Places.


innate knowledge of the troubles and
earliest recolections was that of seeing
his widowed mother bending YEARLY
over washtub in the effort to rub
out of the board sparse living for her
self and her seven children. He tried
10 help her shoulder her burdens and
worked hard to help her take care of
the children. But hard as he could
work. the struggle was a heavy one
and 1t deeply impressed into his bewlld-
cred child mind n resentment against the
conditions that could impose this bur-
den upon his mother. The first resolve
he ever made was that when he grew
up he would take care of all the widows.
His mother worked herself into her
grave and left him with the family
cares. He did what he could find TO do
and later. when the family was old
enough to care for itself. he set out to
seek a fortune. Three times he made
one and three times it slipped through
his grasp. Then fate one day led him
to the oil fields in Oklahoma and point
ed out the way
The result of his planning is one of
the most unique institutions in the coun-
try. It is town for widows. 1t almost
built itself overnight 1t sprang from
the conviction of Mr.. Page that a widow
only wanted a chance to work for her
children and to keep them together. 1t
Is in no sense charity, every mother
must work out her own salvation-but
Mr.. Page stands by her while she Is
working.
SOON HAD TULSA OVERLOOKING.
He is q multi-mllionaire now: but
never too busy to hear the plea Of a
widow At first he found work for
them in Tulsa. He found jobs for
dozens of them. Any widow who ap-
pealed for work at the Page offices and
who indicated a disposition to raise her
family in the fear of God and without
Sinking her responsibilities found a
friend in Mr.. Page The time came
when the town was full of widows.
Guess I'll have to build a town for
them" said Mr.. Page.
A few miles out of Tulsa he had al
ready established an Orphans Home.
He had taken it over bodily from q
bankrupt institution in the town from
which the children We're about to be
turned out. Mr.. Page heard of it and
went down and legally adopted all the
children. He has none Of his own, but
every homeless child is entitled to his
love and protection.
His method Of taking care OF them Is
q characteristic one. He had a friend
in Tulsa. an officer in the Salvation
Army, Captain Breeding.
II want you to take these little kids
out on my farm and make a home for
them" he said to Captain Breeding
you need the outdoor life yourself
Put 'em in some big tents until we can
run up some buildings. / cannot stand
by and see them turned out in the cold. II
CAPTAIN PUTS ON OVERALLS.
The captain protested on the ground
that he had mission he dared not neg
lect
God has called you to a greater mis-
sion" said Mr.. Page. Here are a lot
of children to be trained into useful
citizens. There can be no greater work
in the world"
Captain Breeding took off the uniform
Of the army and put on the blue overall
uniform of the farmer and went out or
the farm. 1t was a new sort Of Orphans
Home. There were no uniforms, no SCI
rules. They were just Daddy Pages
children" to be brought up as large
family, in a sensible way. Practica
teachers were brought there and Tho
children looked upon themselves as es
pecially lucky to be the proteges of Mr.
Page.
Near the farm he built his town fo
the widows. He calls it Sand Springs
1t Is in picturesque spot, with low
tree-crowned hills rising all about 1t
He built street car line to carry thu
widows and orphans to and from Tulst
and not a one Of them pays fare. Th'
conductors know them all and any child
who swings aboard the car and says TN
one OF Daddy Pages boys" is not ques
toned.
INVITED FACTORIES TO COME.
Just outside the city he built the fam
Gus Widows Row" There are dozen!
of small two and three-rOomed cottage!
for the widows who choose to live there
under the trees. in the fresh country
air. Gas. fuel. and rent were furnished
free. A downtown district was bull
up and factories invited to come. tina
the widows might have plenty of work
First canning factory came. Thu
widows might raise the vegetables AM
Sell them to the factory, or they nigh
go to work in the factory at the can
ming. a day nursery was established a
the Widows Row to care for the babies
while their mothers were at work
There is a kindergarten for the children
old enough, and only widowed mothers
were engaged to look after them
There must be plenty Of love and affec
ton for the children, Mr.. Page believes
He likes grandmothcrs, too. and ther
are four or five OF them at the colony
They putter around all day, do tn
simple mending, and rock the babies T.
sleep, just as any grandmother woul
do
Followed three glass factories to San
Springs. smelter, a car factory.
washing factory, two or thre
laundries, the electric light plant
broom factory, an army Logging factor,
a stove foundry, and banks, store.
restaurants, hotes-al the accompan
ments Of thriving city-and all to pre-
vide work for the widows and the
children.
KEEPS A RESIDENT PHYSICIAN.
A resident physician lives there. an
Mr.. Page employs him part Of the da
10 make regular rounds to see that II
babies are kept well. Eyes, ears nos'
and threats are carefully looked afte
If there are any serious operative cas'
they are sent to hospital at Tuls
where Mr.. Page maintains several Slo-'
week rooms for his large family II the