Evening journal., 1922-11-04
SUNSHINE in
ACTIVE WORK
Has Accomplished Much
During IS years of
Life
HAD START IN
FOUNDLING'S HOME

The American people, as whole.
are noted for their generosity in
supporting the various worthy In
stitutions. People generally regard
it not only as duty, nut likewise a
pleasure to contribute to the sup
por of all organizations engaged in
making our country a better place
in which 10 live.
In the scheme OF charity and OPP
Grafton of charitable organizations.
the international Sunshine Society
plays no small part. II began more
than a quarter OF century ago in
the office OF newspaper woman In
New York. That woman was enter
talning several friends in her office
and enjoying a pleasant afternoon.
when someone entered carrying a
blind baby.
what can we do for this baby7"
was the question before this woman
and her friends. 1t was decided
that this child should be taken to
a home for the blind, Then II was
learned that in all New York. with
its great charities. there was no
place for this child inasmuch as
public institutions for the blind did
not take blind children under
years of age. There were numerous
places for homeless babies, crippled
babies, feeble-minded babies. hos
pitfalls for cats and dogs; homes for
cansries and parrots. but not one
institution willing TO assume the re-
spons'bility and care OF s-year-
old blind baby. A more extensive
investigation revealed the fact that
there were only two institutions In
the entire Unied Safes who would
take blind baby under 3 years OF
age. and both OF these were pri-
vate.
With this condition staring her in
the face. Cynthia MISSIONER Alden,
an international newspaper writer
decided that II hospitals for dogs
and cats could be operated success
fully. surely then there was place
in America for poor blind babies,
and thus this one woman began the
Sunshine Society.
Mrs. Alden and her friends secur-
ID fhree-room fiat at SO per week.
ook this blind baby there 10 live.
md that dingy little fiat became the
irst official headquarters OF the So
.iety. On investigation. Mrs. Alden
earned that New York city had
,ecn sending It's blind babies OF the
-ery poor to Randall's Island, the
county poorhouse. where they were
tut in with the feeble minded. and
where the care was not specialized.
ind adapted for treating little blind
,abies. She borrowed six OF these
blind babies from Rendalrs island.
and secured a graduate nurse. ac-
curtomed TO working among the
blind. who devoted her time and
energy without financial recon-
pense. with the result that a marvel
GUS change took place In the chill
dren.
Today there stands as monu-
Inent 10 Mrs. Alden's efforts a home
Tor blind children at Summit ~ j.,
together with several other similar
homes in New York city, and its
snvirons. where not only New York
blind babies are taken care OF. but
blind babies from every state as
'frAt- III pdo~tuEf II ~ OF interest
% note that Delaware has n baby
II Summit. blind baby Ellen.
The care OF blind babies is not
the only activity OF the organiza-
ion. Spreading sunshine and good
,heer, where the natural sun never
shines, is a blanket term that will |,
express the motive of this organ
zstfon. Wheel chairs for cripples.
20 that they may go out in the sun
'hine; crutches for the lame; food
Ind care for the poor; flowers for
he sick; shoes for the bare feet:
lelp for those who are not reached
" other organizations. and whose
ives are dark. whose homes are fill
ID with penury ana squallor-to
hese go the merry "Sunshiners
preading good cheer. acting the
food Samaritan. pouring oil into
he wounds OF those who lack the
pirit Of happiness that makes life
gorth living.