Norwich bulletin., 1916-01-12

tinstaad Uf bhlr6r'a bread at $z n week
 man had been put n jail; when earning but contributing nothing to the support of his family, his boys \ were in need and the trnarst officer reported that they were out of school because of lack of shoes and asked
 that the town supply theae. After some inquir1es we teaephoned to the fathers employer, who took up the I question with the tather-the next day mother for the bcyG clothing and again the responsibility was put on the right shoulders
 Many troubles of this nature have
 been adjusted simply bY . little lime haps lending money Is AH helpfal q kind of work as we have been able
 to do. We have lent for glasses, shoes
 etc., etc, re receiving in payment small ing the families name off the town
 book.
 l The association has had under it's supervision during these ten months treached through the Infantss Milk sta ton, nor those represented in the Girls society. It has been able to find
 employment for 4s persons. Both time
 and effort have been spent in this way with not any too satisfactory re-
 suits.
 The Town Work.
 l The association's work has many sides, but the one devoted to the l towns dependent families Is perhaps | the most important. The families are
 under the constant supervision of the
 association and their mental, moral
 and spiritual welfare receive the sec
 retary's heartfelt interest. $561.75 | worth of groceries have been received
 and dispensed since the work began | faNS
 on shoes. The secretary making each l purchase is to be sure the shoes are durable and practical; $61 has been spent for milk. All hospital cases are
 being investigated by the secretary,
 as we'll as other institutional cases. The lnfarts' Milk Station. The benefit of the milk station is l hard to estimate, as the committee Is
 interested not only in keeping babies that they may develop into healthy maturity. Children properly f1ourish- i ed stand a better chance of keeping | out of the jail and almshouse than rickety, lily nourished babies. The nurse found the mothers ready to learn and willing to be taught They learned l how to recognize symptoms and when | to call a doctor as we'll as how to feed and bathe the babe. Many of our | mothers wrapped the little ones in | l with feather ticks, but before the three l months work of the milk station was l over they had adopted American I methods. At first it was hard to make them understand the value of the weekly conferences, but the many help full suggestions which they carried home proved the value of these con ferences and the mothers were quick to spread the news.
 One hundred and sixty-nine babies | I'd seventy three were under the nurses constant supervision.
 | Dr. Simonds gave his time every Thursday afternoon when the babies were examined and referred to the family physician if necessary.
 The certified bottled milk was sold from the station at a price varying with the family income. It was cooled in ice and carried home In a large tin
 pail containing enough ice to last hundred and eighty-three quarts were
 sold during the three months. While we cannot estimate the far-reaching Iresults of the milk station. records show that the infant mortality for the
 three months was reduced half.
 Domestic Science Glasses.
 The sewing classes as well as cook ing classes are greatly appreciated by the girls who are gathering each Sat-
 urday afternoon in the Natchaug school kitchen to learn how to cream codf7sh, make rice pudding and pre- | pare the many simple foods that are
 nourishing and economical Twenty girls sew while the other twenty cook,
 and then reverse in order that each
 class may have one hour and half instruction. These are all girls who l would never reach the grades in which I cooking is taught in the public schools. We have been most fortunate in hav- Ing a Pratt institute graduate domestic science teacher in charge of the class es, as well as the assistance of mem bers of the normal school dmestic sci ence class. One girl said the other | day: T have been so anxious for
 Christmas and New Years to go, so ]
 could come to the cooking class. for you told me I could come them l Wholesome Recreation.
 It is because the children are so in
 need of wholesome recreation that we
 have spent time and energy in plan-
 ming for those with whom we come in
 daily contact. They have eagerly grasped every suggestion for a good time, whatever the price they paid tc
 earn it. All summer the children or
 Stone Row picked up papers and old cans trying to make the place clear
 in order that they might go on the picnics planned as a reward.
 II At the Christmas tree planned by
 the association three hundred girls
 and boys were given an orange, 2 stocking filled with popcorn and caf1d, and a toy or game or book. It was s joy to see their wide-eyed wonder a. the real Christmas tree and Santa 1T all his glory.
 , The Girls society, which has abou | seventy members, was started with ths idea of furnishing recreation for young girls.
 I The association at the present dat. has two hundred and six (206o sustain. ing members There are twenty eigh ! society memberships and forty -on, directors. The money your secretar, has received are as follows:
 Reimbursements from the town $11.Sl Received from infants milk sta
 Received from membership .... 181.0t |. Received from society ...... 4sa0'
 Received from donations ...... 6s3.2, s1.o15.s' , We are now drawing the associa. . E tionss year to a close. Taking the bes
 from the old year, we face the new