Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-12
CHILDREN OF THE POOR
FIND HEALTH IN CAMP
Summer Rest Conducted by Saliva
ton Army Carries on Largo
Work.
SIXTY CHILDREN PROVIDED Fols
Every Child Has Story OF Poverty
and Ncglect-Nlany Are Poorly
Nourished and Enfcebled I'm Mind
and Body.

Names. as such. have little signif-
cameo unless the name recalls a men
tai picture OF some one or something
that the name stands for in the scheme
OF things. Imagine wide open space
graciously shaded by many trees where
there are swings and hammocks and
benches galore for the delight OF lit
tie children. a. deep, cold well with Il
pump, and creek not far away where
small boys and girls may wade. and
perchance. swim a little, but at any
rate. get cool hot day-that is
tho Salvation Army Fresh Air Camp ut
Drewrys Bluff, eight miles gu, on the
Petersburg Pike. near Stop 81. and
ten minutes walk from the Atlantic
Coast Line Railroad station.
AT the camp are several frame build
ings boarded part of the way up then
carefully screened. with awnings add
ed to keep out the rain, few tents.
and longer building used as a kitchen
and dining room. The site for the camp
was given by Mrs. Mary S. Banner,
who lives nearby. and who is the
secretary OF the Richmond orEaniza-
ton OF the Salvation Army Mrs. DAN
ner Is deeply interested in the summer
camp. and has done much for the chill
dren who are sent out there each sum-
mer during the thirteen weeks that the
camp is kept open.
BLESSING TO HUNDREDS
OF LITTLE CHILDREN
For years the camp has been a fea-
ture OF the Salvation Army's notable
work among the poor of the city of
Richmond. 1t has been blessing to
hundreds of little underfed. uncared-
To- NIi
ments and slums Of the city who are
picked up by the workers of the army,
by the visiting nurses in their rounds
by the management of the Belle Bryan
day nurseries. and by other social
workers In charge OF the camp is
Captain Zollcrs. who is young man
who never gets tired. never gets i'm
patient. and who is mother. father, at
tendant physician. guide, counselor
and friend to the children under his
supervision.
Wednesday was gala day at the
camp. On rough deal tables were
piles of sandwiches, watermelon and
cantaloupe, pies. cakes. bananas. a big
tub of lemonade and another OF ice
cream. close at hand. BY the tables
filed long line of children, ninety
eight in all. with number Of mothers
and fathers and other relatives and
visitors and to each was given plate
heaped up with good things which
they sat down picnic fashion on the
ground and ate. and II they were still
untitled they came back for more a
happier lot OF children one seldom
sees. with the older ones looking after
the littlest ones and everybody having
a good time.
Lending helping hand and efficient
ly directing affairs were Commandment
Elmer Johnson and Mrs. Johnson, who
also has the title OF commandant, En-
sign James and her daughter. who are
from the Far Western field. and
number OF the workers from the local
organization. and Captain Zollers. OF
course. who was seemingly everywhere
at once and always exceedingly busy
at something that needed very much
to be done
FIFTY TO SIXTY CHILDREN
At CAMP AT ONE TINE
Plentifully served and courteously
treated was the representative of the
press. who had been taken out to the
camp in car by Commandant John
son. Of the Richmond headquarters of
the Salvation Army. to see at trsthand
what the army was doing in this line
Of work. From the commandment one
learns that there are from fifty to
sixty children at the camp all the time.
There is no time limit to their stay,
but rather is the length Of their stay
governed by the physical condition OF
the children
Naturally. there are many pitiable
cases at the camp. A sturdy little chap
of perhaps five years old, one of four
children to be deserted by their father.
stood upon a table and sang Tip
perary" for the visitors, and there was
another little boy whose mother is
feeble minded and partly paralyzed.
She lives in the bottom near Oregon
Hill. girl of nineteen, and besides
this little fellow. she has another child.
an infant born few days ago. The
mother is unprotected both by her
feeble-mindedness and by the fact that
her mother. an old woman. the sole
support Of the girl and her father.
cripple. is of necessity away all day
at work.
EVERY CHILD HAS STORY
OF POVERTY AND NEGLECT
Almost every child at the camp has
story. for these children of poverty,
OF neglect and Of environments ILL
suited to their development. poorly
nourished and often both enfeebled in
mind as we'll as body.
There are mothers, also, at the camp.
women whose lives are spent in hard
toll. and who are sick and unable to
work. who come to the camp and rest
perhaps for the first time in their lives.
Simple, wholesome food is plentifully
supplied at the camp. well-cooked and
clearly served.
"And they certainly do eat" said