The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-12-08

joined the ranks of Good Fellows
today. It was known that the
Scouts we're mastering and could
be expected to arrive any hour.
Information Of the enlistment of
the scouts was contained in a
letter from a member of one of
the strongest troops in the city.
Scouts Letter.
1t read:
mr.. Good Fellow Editor:
Would you please send me the
names of four families as soon as
possible. / am a Boy Scout, and
a number of my troop want to take
baskets around together. I would
like the people to be in the north
west section of the city near our
meeting place"
The letter bore the signature of
a member of troop well known
for its participation whenever Boy
Scout services are in demand.
Other troops, it is understood, are
organizing Good Fellow units and
preparing to do their bit in carry
where, but for the Good Fellows,
Christmas would be a day of gloom.
The action of the Boy Scouts in
participating in Good Fellows actiy-
itics is in perfect keeping with the
creed to which they subscribe. 1t
also presents an illustration o. what
other societies can do by forming
Good Fellow units within their
ranks and sending them forth on
Christmas missions. The Washing
ton Times has always been Il
strong advocate OF the Boy Scout
movement and the action taken by
members Of the troop referred to
indicates it to be one of the ac-
Invites worthy of the widest pub
lie support.
Many pathetic appeals reached
The Good Fellow Editor today. De-
serted mothers in increasing num-
bers are asking that their little
families be remembered on Christ
mas Day.
One mother writes that she and
her little baby need not only cloth
Ing but fuel. She has been sick
a 'most continually since her hus-
band left her months ago with her
eaby girl to support.
Another mother writes asking for
fuel, telling Of how she and her
little daughter are cooking on an
Oil stove. which gives out little
heat" and which they can only af-
FORD to burn while preparing their
scanty meals.
Demand for Blankets.
Among the appeals are many ask
ing for clothing for children while
the demand for blankets is stead
lily increasing. They all express the
same attitude, declaring that worn
clothes will be acceptable. One
mother with a family of seven.
writes she is barefooted and can
not go out while. but three of her
children have shoes.
OF course the barefooted children
are not going to school. She asks
that shoes be provided for them.
Another mother tells the pathetic
story of her little family of children
praying Santa Claus each night not
to forget them this Christmas.
And then she confesses that unless
some Good Fellow comes to her as
sistance there is not the remotest
chance of the prayers being an
swered. and she breads to face the
disappointed little brood on Christ
mas morn.
These are illustrations. picked at
random. from among the hundreds
of letters received at the Washington
Times Goodfellow Exchange. They
do MOI represent the most pathetic
appeals made, but reflect in gen
eral the situation Good Fellows are
facing.
No doubt exists but the demand
for Good Fellows this year is greater
than year ago. Fortunately they
are responding in increasing num-
bers. The appeals made to them are
being listened to by them, and with
each incoming mail comes opportu-
mites to assign some of them.
The number of individual GOOD
Fellows also is increasing. This is
a sure sign that scores of men and
women are preparing to take part in
the activity. They should do so at
once. Christmas is approaching, and
some time will be required in investi-
eating the cases given them to lean
the needs existing and how best TO
meet them.
One of the gratifying results is
seen in the action of Sunday school
classes. Members of these classes
are working together to carry out
The Good Fellow movement. They
constitute units which can do an eff
fective work in the Good Fellow earn
paign planned to carry Merry
Christmas into hundreds of Wash
1ngton homes where Straitened
circumstances exist