Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-13
CAMDEN GIRL PROBATION OFFICER
TEACHES PATRIOTISM TO CHARGES
Miss Mildred Cole Says
Badges Help Children and
Parents to Be Good

yard of red, white and blue ribbon.
seven pins spool of thread and a woman.
That combination has started something
in Camden
The woman is pretty and unassuming, but
she admits that from that yard of ribbon
and spool of thread has developed a mes
sage which has gone into nearly 1000 homes
in Camden-the message of patriotism and
loyalty to the flag.
How can serve my country? What can
I do to keep alive the spirit of loyalty?"
Those questions and others fitted through
the mind of Miss Mildred Cole. assistant
probation officer Of Camden County, after
Congress declared state of war.
She noticed that while the lawyers and
doctors all talked war and urged men to
stand by the flag, they somehow forgot, in
the rush of business to display the colors
on the lapels Of their coats. They are all
patriotic" she said, 'but--like men-they
forget the little details"
That day she purchased the yard of rib
bon and spool of cotton From it she made
seven little bows and they were pinned on
the coat lapels of the county officials in
the courthouse.
wouldn't mind If I had one of those
myself" remarked a lawyer as the last of
the bows was being pinned on an officials
coat
I'm just out of ribbon" was the re-
sponse. but I shall buy some more this
afternoon, and you shall have one"
Let me buy the ribbon, then" suggested
the lawyer. How much does it cost?"
When told that it was only ~ cents a
yard the lawyer donated enough for two
yards and asked an additional bow for "A
friend.
Since that time Miss Cole has made more
| than 1000 of the little bows and the de-
mand is becoming so great that she can
| not keep up with it.
| But the bows have not all been going to
! the lawyers and business men who visit the
| Court House every day. They have been
| going by divers routes DOWN into the tene-
| ment and slum districts of the city.
| Whenever a "probatoner," be said per-
| son man. woman or child, reports to Miss
| Cole under previous court instruction that
person receives a bow before leaving the
| presence of assistant probation officer.
| And usually there rings in that persons
| ears the parting admoniton:
| Can you violate your parole while thhse
| colors are on your coat and while your
country needs your loyalty?"
The effect has been magical. according
| to Miss Cole. Youngsters who have been
| hard to manage have been reporting
promptly, and many have. returned for a
| bow for father or mother. one little fell
| low has been so earnest in his desire to do
right that he has written two postal cards
| to Miss Cole, declaring that I'm still
| patriotic"
| But always the effect is the same: The
| colors are carried into the highways and
| byways and the spirit of loyalty is encour-
| aged in homes where anything but peace
| and happiness regned In the past.
| II think the love of country makes bet
ter husbapds and wives and children" said
| Miss Cole. "They are encouraged to be
| loyal to their flag, and when that spirit
once dominates in CRISIS like this. hus-
| band and wife suddenly discover that they
| should lay aside their domestic differences
as well, and they generally do to their own
| and the communitys advantage. This Is
| only one side Of the idea.
II wanted to see our young men helping
out and wanted to encourage enlistments
We all ought to do our little part. and II
these little bows of mine will encourage