The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-05-24
AT
u. OF w. ADOPTS
5-YEAR-OLD BOY
BY D'LOSS SUTHERLAND

BY D'LOSS SUTHERLAND
Clarence Eckberg born sometime in April
five years ago. Clarence the seventh child to
rive III the hungry Eckberg home and the father of
the brood did not have the strength to the family
through. He left, and with his leaving the children
were scattered throughout the land at different chill
dren and foundlngs' homes.
That was five years ago, and it is not known il
Clarences original mother is alive today. But he is
not worrying for he has % mothers, fathers and
brothers all at once
He has been adopted by the Sigma M fraternity
at the University of Washington.
The members of the organization feeling that the
fraternity really had ideals that meant more than
the frothy, rah rah noisy life generally accredited to
university fraternity decided to give homeless
wait home and the faculty demonstration that
body.
The "hunch'' was first given birth by the appeal
of Belgian relief leaders to the American homes Of
plenty when it was urged that the homeless children
OF Belgium be adopted The more the collegers
thought the bigger the "hunch' grew.
One fair haired student made trip to the Acker-
man Chldren's home on Mercer Island last week
and together with Mrs. Vera Jones Edwards, head
of the home, lined up the kids and gave them mill
tary inspection
He began weakening, until long near the end Of
the line closecropped, mud-spattered little boy
smiled up at him between two rosy cheeks which
showed through the coat of Crime.
''Heine" said he guessed he'd take this one.
Altef tne necessary IOl1ndlltleS were dismissed,
Clarence and his father and mother left with all
OF the kids biography incased in Heine 81 mind. 1t
consisted of about 10 words
At the chapter house, the boy Immediately ''fel''
for his new surroundings. He put to bed while
his white linen suit was secured in the bath tub
Another in the house washed his ears and a third,
after he was dressed, took him to a downtown store
where he strutted up in new suit shoes, stock
ings, and other things worn by boys.
He was in a dream during his first meal. Seated
between two husky youths, who were appointed as
his body guard, Clarence was seen only from his
head up But that is where the food is handled and
that was all that needed to be seen.
He learned "Bow Down to Washington" the col
lege song, the first day.
Strawberries graced the table that first dinner.
Clarence ate four berries at time and smiled appre-
catively between gups.
At dusk the kid smiled sleepy smile at his %
fathers and informed them that he had been accus-
toned to retiring at o'clock. About II helped him
into his nightgOwn and laid him in his own bed in
the corner of large air room.
AS THE LIGHTS WERE TURNED OUT, A
PLAINTIVE, BOYISH TREBLE BEGAN, CHOW
/ LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP" AND BIG "SI''
NOBLE, FOUR YEARS A FOOTBALL ROUGH
NECK AND THE NOISIEST BRUTE IN EXIST
ENCE LOOKED THOUGHTFUL FOR THE
FIRST TIME IN HIS LIFE
OTHERS SAID THEY SHOULD BE VERY
CAREFUL.
THEY ALL ADMITTED THEY WOULD.
PLEDGES WERE MADE THAT "SON''
WOULD BE GIVEN A PROPER "BRINGING
up"
Prof Edmund S. Meany, Washington venerable
historian and member of the fraternity on learn
ing of the adoption said at is the greatest thing
have evar heard When an institution is started the