Evening star., 1924-08-03
MISSING CHILDREN
FINALLY LOCATED
Parents of 125 Youngsters
Have Fears Laid at Rest
by Treatment.
YES, IT'S CAMP GOOD WILL
Two Weeks Outing Gives Lucky
Ones Pounds of New Flesh
and Ideals, Too.
YES, IT'S CAMP GOOD WILL

One hundred and twenty-five Wash
ington children ranging in age from
months to - years are miss
ing from some three-score homes in
various parts of the city.
Nearly a hundred disappeared on
one day, last Wednesday. and in
nearly every case the youngsters were
taken away by strange, though kind
faced men. who carried them to wait
ing automobiles right before the eyes
of their mothers and whisked them
away.
Ransom could not have been the
object in any of the cases, as, pecu
larly enough. every one of the homes
where one, two or three children are
missing is far from being in easy
circumstances.
Parents Are Satisfied.
The parents of the children are
glad their offspring are gone.
They are not concerned about try
ing to get them back, because
They have received assurances that
the youngsters will be returned to
them unharmed two weeks hence.
Heading out Sixteenth street the
rendezvous for so many children
would he the Businesses of Rock
Greek Park. drive of perhaps
three-quarters of mile brought the
reporter suddenly upon his quarry.
There they were, lunches of them
rumpnE around and having the time
of their lives. There We're the kind
faced strangers. also. on d tree lead
ing into the grove was sign. 1t
read: Camp Good Will
Delightful Contrast.
Two
der that tree or rolling in that cool
looking sand pile, refreshing ones
self at d jackinthe- box drinking
fountain and laughing with mis-
chievous boys was delightful
In the midst of this diversion there
sounded that palate tickling note OF
the bugle. the call to mess. The chill
dren eagerly trouped in and took
their places at the long. clean tables
and benches. Piled high the
dishes We're vegetables of various
kinds, beef. bread. rolls and soup In
the offing. ready to be served, were
countless dishes Of appetizing. tan
tHlizing bread pudding. with trim
nings. When Supt William r. Men
CERT saw the newspaper mans tongue
hanging out as he looked dazedly at
that pudding he did the only thing
gentleman could do--invited the
stranger to dinner.
The happy throng of hungry urchins
did not pitch right in and start SHOW
cling in the food. as might have been
expected. They stood respectfully
until the last seat was occupied
bowed their heads and then recited in
unison a prayer of anksgiving
which went about as follows:
Thanks Given in Rhyme.
For peace and for plenty,
For freedom and rest;
For joy in the land
From the east To the west.
For the dear starry flag.
With its red. white and b.ue.s
We thahk thee. dear Father.
With hearts kind and true.
These verses were composed by a
former superintendent
While the dinner was disappearing
the reporter garnered few facts about
Camp Good VIII from the head nurse,
Miss Winifred Osborne Any one can
see that Miss Osborne loves her work
although it has it's disadvantages. How
would YOU like. for example, to be
aroused from "A nice sound sumber
about o'clock in the morning by the
lusty cries of a e-year-old who is spend
ing his first night away from home and
mamma, and on taking the frightened
infant in your arms to rock him back TO
sleep find that his crying has reused the
camp?
These instances occur frequently at
the beginning of the tWo-weel< term, and
when they do the slopes of Rock Creek
echo with the boo-noos. vows, yawps
and Wah-wahS OF frightened ~roung
'uns' bowling for their mammas. .a.he
days pass, however, the children r.
entirely over this initial feeling of shy
ness and lonesomeness at night. and by
the time their two weeks are up it
usually requires more than the clarion
notes of George. the bugler, to arouse
them at the start of day. Sis am.
Once I'D, they are ready for q full day