The Winslow mail., 1920-12-31
GIVE THESE BABIES A CHANCE
TO KNOW HAPPINESS, TUCSON
BY Francis Morrin in The Arizona
Daily Star. Tucson, Ariz.


About six years old he was
lie wore ragged red sweater. He
was capless.
Tears lurked just back of his big
brown eyes as he came shivering into
the matron's quarters of the Arizona
Children's Home late yesterday after
noon and huddled over the fire.
Outside, the wind was whistling
over the bare expanse known as the
playground, making little whirlwinds
of the thick dust.
Inside, three pitiful small stoves
were fighting valiantly, but futilely
against the encroaching chill of even
ing.
I'm SO cold," the youngster repeat
ed
We had been talking, Mrs. w. l.
Summers and /, about the children
and the Home Mrs. Summers is the
matrOn. With a small staff of assist
ants, she is trying gamely to keep the
thirty-seven children there comfort
able. But she admits the task is prac-
tically impossible of achievement.
1T isn't that don't love the young
sters,' she said. 1t isn't that L don't
love thee work"
But, oh, it's so hard to try to keep
them comfortable and happy in a
house where there are so few accom-
.modations."
Earlier l had driven up to the Home
at 43O West Fifth street 1t is an old
adobe. The yard, while large, is bare
Several youngsters were wandering
aimlessly about in the dust They
have no sand piles, no swings-nona
of the playthings that delight childish
hearts.
Mrs. Summers, a sweet-faced, mo-
theriy woman, met me at the door
with baby in her arms. She wei
coined into the dark, gloomy hall
Several children were playing there.
Mrs. Summers sighed as she told me
this hall must serve as a visitors re-
ception room, and also as a playroom
for the thirty-seven children. 1t is one
of the three roms which can be heated.
The sleeping rooms, upstairs, are
without heat. There are no clothes
closets Boxes and trunks clutter in
the corners. The rooms are poorly
furnished rugs are few. The floors
are cold, full of holes and Jagged
splinters.
In these barren rooms the children
dress and undress in the cold. The
housekeepers room has ont tiny win
dow. During the summer, because of
the shortage of space, she had four
babies slept there
The bathroom floor is bare and
splintered. Water for baths must be
carried in from the yard-and there
are thirty-seven children to bathe.
This, folks, in Tucson.
After careful, prolonged investiga-
CIOu, Iu0 uCoOu OudIuU6T VI COIl-
merce and the Arizona Daily Star
have co-operated to bring this prob
lem to your attention
For it's problem; and it's your
problem.
Tucson must raise $4,000 of the
$4,000 needed to erect a new Arizona
Children's Home. Ten members of the
Chamber of Commerce have volun-
teered to drop their business duties
and canvass the city. They started
yesterday.
1t is not reasonable they will reach
everyone. They may not reach YOU.
And that's why the Arizona Star is
giving you this opportunity to help
A subscription blank is printed be-
low. Fill out and mail it now. It's
up to you, Tucson. YOU MUST NOT
FAIL!
THE ARIZONA DAILY STAR,
Tucson, Arizona
Gentlemen Enclosed you will find
my check-money order-for the sum
of .-...,-.-..-........, to be credited to
my name in the Arizona Daily Stars |
fund for the Arizona Childrens home. |
Signed
Last week a gentleman handed the