The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-06-06
FIRST ROOM BUYS
RED GROSS BUTTON
Pupils In George Washington School
Give up Ice Cream Cones and
Party TO GET Coveted
Badges.
SAVE MONEY FOR IT
NickIes and Pennies Were Turned
over to Headquarters Yesterday
and Honor Is Theirs
Now.

Parties and ice cream cones ioi
'freshments are two of the lnallen-
able privileges of childhood. YET
parties and ice cream cones faded
into the background in the minds Oh
the first room pupils of the George
Washington school. after thelr
teacher Miss Fannie Martin, told
them about the Keokuk Red cross
chapter And yesterday afternoon
the first room became the proud
possessor Of one of the Red Cross
pins, and some soldier is going to
be made well with the pennies and
nickels which ordinarily would have
purchased ice cream cones for the
party.
The little boys and girls of the
first room listened with interest,"
when Miss Martin spoke of the Red
Cross work what was being done.
Someone in the class wanted to
know if they couldn't get badge
some way. The suggestion was
made that If there was no annual
party at the close of school, and no
ice cream cones-because what
would a party be without ice cream
there might be Red Cross badge
forthcoming.
The idea met with instant ap-
prevail. Patriotism did you say was
waning-well, revise your ideas OF
young America and do it now. Re-
ligiousiy, pennies went into the Red
Cross fund. jealousy it was guard
ed as it grew, and yesterday it
totalled a dollar. Now dollar
means that you get a membership
in Keokuk chapter Red Cross and
the right to wear button. Fifty
cents of that dollar goes to making
some American soldier or sailor
comfortable, or to take care of him
when he is wounded. That dollar
also meant mountains of good. cold,
sweet, tasty ice cream. But ice
cream was weighed in the balance
and found wanting.
COMMITTEES Visits Headquarters.
t1g A committee of I've was selected
BY the room to visit headquarters
and apply for a membership. The
following letter written by the pupils
Of the first room was entrusted to
the committee, along with the nickels
and pennies. The committee arrived
at headquarters. Secretary Fulton
was absent, but Miss Wahrer, office
secretary, was there, and she took
charge OF the young folks. Here is
the letter that was handed her all
sealed in an envelope bearing bow
Of red, white and blue ribbon.
Red Cross Society:
We the children of the first
room, George Washington school,
wish to join this society, so en-
closed find one dollar for the
same.
Keokuk, June 5, 1917.
A Proud Moment.
The money was counted and Out
from the box where such treasures
are kept came one Of those. shiny
buttons, with the pretty red cross or
it's face. There was a gasp of de
light from the committee as the but
ton was handed over. Reverently
hands closed over It, One boy sug
gested it was too bad someone
couldn't wear it, and it was imme
diately pinned on his shirt front
For block he walked, proud a:
Punch, wearing the first rooms but
ton. At the corner he stopped. HI
plucked the button from its resting
place, and gave it to the little cir
next in line. She wore 1t for a block
and then passed 1t on.
The first room now has a Ret
Cross button all its own. The frs
room has done its bit for the Ameri
can Red Cross.