Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-19
This Mother Has Adopted Ill Children
BY GRETCHEN SMITH.
ME doctor faced her patient, a
thin, neurotic woman lavishly
bundled in furs.

IN HE doctor 1aced ner patent, q
thin, neurotic woman lavishly
bundled in furs.
L why don't you adopt q
child?" she suggested.
From the bespectacled gray eyes
standing Of feminine frailities, only
acquired by one who has seen the pass
ing of 10 Winters, and has known the
sufferings and sorrows of innumerable
sick beds.
The patient started at the suggestion.
Adopt a child! I wouldn't think of
taking such a risk"
DR.. Lauretta Kress smiled and it was
kindly, tolerant smile.
DR.. KreSS, chief conSultant on the
staff of the Woman's Clinic, on Georgia
avenue, and wife Of DR.. D. H. Kress of
Washington Sanitariunl, has practiced
medicine for 40 years.
Never Regretted Risks.
The patient knew DR.. Kress, woman's
specialist, but she didn't know Lauretta
Kress, tie woman.
She was startled by the doctors next
statement.
You wouldn't risk adopting child?"
she said. Il have risked 1t IL times,
and have never regretted my risks!"
Eleven times?" the patient repeated.
And you seem SO calm and upper
turbed?"
Il am" DR.. Kress replied. Shall I
tell you the story?"
The patient nodded and settled in
her chair. She had called to tell her
troubles, but being mostly imaginary
ones, the result of too much intro
spection, they seemed to vanish before
the niptIIrac IF ri q Alo 70 dro
by the doctors story.
When DR.. Kress, my husband, and
were graduated from the University
of Michigan in 1894" DR.. Lauretta
Kress began, I'VE had been married 10
years, and had two little daughters,
Eva, 8, and Ora, 6. After our grad
uation we built home, and 1t seemed
to us, we had more room than we
needed So we decided to adopt an
other child"
Adopted Boy Christmas Eve.
Eve heard OF a fatherless little boy,
shortly before Christmas We adopted
him Christmas Eve, and sat him under
the tree Christmas morning with "a
little brother for Eva and Ora, from
Santa Claus" pinned on his little dress.
The girls were delighted with their
new brother, and We were all SO happy
to have him"
I'VE called him Paul, and when he
was about 2 years old we adopted two
young girls, Anna. IA, and Alice, IL.
They were such sweet little girls and
without home, and we thought they
would be happy addition to the family.
We consulted our own little daughters
first, telling them that bringing Anna
and Alice into the family would mean
sacrifices for them 1t would mean
fewer clothes and less OF everything.
Eva and Ora understood, only too
happy to share what they had with the
two other girls"
DR.. Kress paused moment, and a
as she thought Of that long ago be-
ginning OF a family now grown and
scattered over the country
girls" she continued. and soon after
little ones into the family-Sylvia and
Frank
Il heard OF Sylvia through q patient,
who said the little girl, living in the
northern part Of Michigan, was badly
in need of a home. l became so in
terested that I took the train to the
little girls home. Her mother was
working for small wages. hardly enough
to support herself. Sylvia was a pretty
little thing about 2i2. and the mother
consented to my taking her back to
Battle Creek with me. Sylvia had a
5-year-old brother. Frank. He had
been allowed to run on the streets and