The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-23

was II seemed 70 me during the month
worked there In the height OF the In
fuenza epidemic. was that no one ever
came to see them. Some are foundlings
of course, but many have relatives only
the relatives are too poor to come. or
have lots OF other children. One little
boys cousin came while was there, and
brought a banana for a present But
In all that month 1 saw only three
visitors for the children"
The influenza, which brought grief TO
so many, did good turn for those
lonely little patients on Blackwell'e ISL
and since II took Miss Bull to them.
She volunteered to serve as a nurses
aid. and was assigned TO ward OF thirty
children. Perhaps because she Is an
artist and sensitive to impressions, she
used to brood over those unchildlike
children, doomed 10 long days Of pain
and inactivity; could not forget their
strange abnormal ways; and, probably
becuse she had been trained as
teacher OF children in art and manual
training, became convinced that these
abnormalities were largely the result
Of their empty lives. And so she
hastenod to the toyshop.
Response Beyond Her Dream.
But I hadn't very much money" she
told the reporter. "and SO wrote that
letter to THE SUN. But never dreamed
what response there would be. I
hoped there would. perhaps. DO twenty
or thirty packages Of toys Instead
lookv'
The Santa lady opened the four
drawers Of a largo chest they were
packed solidIy with dolls OF all degrees.
She threw open the doors OF a closet. It
contained nothing but stacks of chill
dren's books with colored pictures. An
other closet was crammed with games
and dolls and mechanical toys and n
magic lantern. A most orderly person
IL the Santa lady, but she must have
spent lots OF time sorting and arrang-
ing those gifts.
"Oh, I'm giving most OF my time to
IT," she laughed. my own work is go
ing to the dogs" Miss Bull is an H.
illustrator for a magazine. II have more
than fifty letters a day, come inclosing
money. some with packages OF toys,
books very carefully. It takes a stem
ographer and myself most of the time,
but II District Attorney Swami should
raid my apartment he'd find everything
all accounted for"
II Is an actual fact that the postman
who delivers letters and packages to
the Santa lady has had to get little
motor cycle since she started In the
business. She also has the volunteer
services OF tho Lexington Express Com
pany, which without charge takes the
boxes OF toys to the Third avenue loft
che has hired. and also to the dock for
shipment to the island
"Such a nice expressman comes"
ID,,tN 49,
staggering out with heavy boxes OF
toys. and says that It's a privilege to
do it--that he has no toys to give. and
Is glad to help this way"
Quaint Letters Are Sent.
Very quaint are some OF the letters
that come from children who send toys.
One small boy who signs his name
Andrew" writes that he sends the
"paper sunshine fairy" that has made
him happy. and also some toys that
belonged to my little sister who went
to heaven" Some of the letters are
printed In funny crooked characters.
Then there are letters from bank presi-
dents. heads OF toy shops. women's
clubs, public schools, private schools
the Ethical Culture School. and from
private individuals all over the land.
One man wrote that no wanted to
help "the little clubtooted lad who had
only q black button to play with" II
will be remembered that Miss Bull in her
letter said tho only plaything in this
ward where she worked was this black
button.
"And the gray walls were SO cold and
dismal" she said. Gray walls and
nothing on them but fiyspecks. The
walls are being painted now. warm
colonial yellow. and hope other
changes will come.
THE Commissioner OF Charities, Mr.
Coler, is very kind and aids me In doing
what I can. I take over flowers every
week that I buy with the money people
send, and intend TO set in touch with
one OF tho organizations that send
flowers to hospitals. I'm going to take
some soldhsh-pets wouldn't be sanitary
but the children can have goldfish.
Miss Robinson of Teachers College
n helping, and she Is wonderful with
children, and we have lot of plans
We have purchased victrola and sent
1t over. and the Universal Film Company
has suggested getting the movie COM
panies together and giving shows fol
the children from time to time.
1.-THE Boy Scouts arc interested now
and last week a company OF them went
over to play with the children. Wher
they came back they said, Why, II isn't
so bad--the kids were all on the foo,
Tlaying with Uncle Sam ct was a
walking Uncle Sam that Miss Heller