The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-29
TO HALE
Topeka School Children Write
to Safety Commissioner
OF the AtchisOn, Topeka g.
Santa Fe Railroad.
ARE NEEDING HIS LECTURES
Teachers Note a Marked Effect
on Their Conduct.
He Has Talked to Thousands
of Topeka Children.

Dear Mr.. Hale: The other day a
little boy was standing up on the in
cline going down to the street and an
other boy came up behind him and
gave him a shove. He ran down to the
street and fell on his face as a street
car was coming along. He stopped
rolling about six inches away from the
car wheels and 1 think that is too
close for comfort Yours truly,
~. MAURICE MONTGOMERY,
"Potwin School
This is a sample of hundreds of let
tiers received by Isaiah Hale, safety
commissioner of the Santa Fe, as a
result of a weeks lectures on safety
First before the Topeka school chill
dren. Beginning with April s and
ending April 25 Hale made nearly
forty talks in the schools of Topeka.
Everywhere his talks have made the
deepest impression among the school
children, and he has received hundreds
of letters from the children.
At Lincoln school a dramatic Incl
dent occurred. Hale related to the
children an incident that happened on
their own playground, of boy throw
ing a mud ball at a playmate and
missing and hitting a little fellow in
the eye.
And" Hale told the children, that
innocently thrown ball may have Sc
verely injured the boys eye"
A little girl raised her hand and
waved it to attract Hale's notice. He
stopped and inquired: what is it ?"
Please, Mr.. Hale. He was operated
on yesterday and he lost his eye.
1T wasn't necessary for me to say
anything more,' said Hale.
New Feeling Aroused.
There is a decided change on the
playground" o. P. NJ. McClintock,
principal of Clay school, said TODAY,
since Hale has made his talks. The
boys are careful on the playground
and away. There is a new feeling of
consideration"
1T is possible that definite safety
course may be introduced in the schools
next year." H. B. Wilson, superin-
tendent of schools said today 1.-The
A. B. c. motto, Always Be Careful
should be placed in every school"
Following are some samples of the
hundreds of letters written by the chill
dren to Hale:
Gladys Swearingen, Clay school:
Il think it is splendid idea for you
/ to go through the country making
these good talks. 1t has impressed on
my mind good many things 1 never
thought of before and 1 hope it will
arm from carelessness in roller skating
that is why my writing is not good, as
1 have to write with my left hand"
Arlo Stewart, Clay school:
4 think your talk did me much
good for 1 drive over railroad tracks
/ several times a week. 1 often pass in
front of switch engine but 1 never
stopped to think of Safety First. 1
hope your talk impresses some one
else as it did me-"
Geo. E. Hampstead Clay school:
AS father is an engineer for the A,
T. & S. F. Railway company, 1 was
very much interested in your talk on
Safety. L have heard him say before
leaving home that his motto is A B c.
meaning Always Be Careful
Since We heard your talk, we have a
/ feeling of Safety through our bones
| When we see stories in papers, they
/ don't impress us as those that are told
as actual facts. They don't seem to
/ be so true"
/ Walter Tatge, Potwin school:
Il think it will teach all of us to be
more careful about crossing the
streets, railroad tracks, playing in the
streets or throwing anything which
would cause injury IN any way
Helen Jordan. Potwin school:
My father is a travelling salesman,
and Sunday evening when we tell him
goodbye, we never stop to think that
it might be the last goodbye we would
ever say to him; we never know or
stop to think what might happen to
going to do better in watching for
Safety First"
Helen Handa, Lowman Hill school:
Il wish to thank you for giving us
Illustrations about why it is necessary
to keep off the railroad tracks, and
playing in the streets. 1 wish to as
sure you that you will never find me
walking on the tracks or playing in
the Streets
Beulah Lewis, Potwin school:
Il will try to be more careful.
have two little brothers. The one that
is wandered off two blocks and a
half. When we found him he was
sitting near a street car track and
could have been hit
Fred Williams. Potwin school:
Il will tell my parents what you
said and will try to keep everybody
out of the streets. Last year I was
in New York city and as 1 was at our
hotel, 1 saw a boy step out in front
of an auto. A few days after, saw in
the paper that he was dead
NnW HHF'H Hn H0RRY