Evening star., 1937-06-06
TW0B0YSSTART
PO0LFUNDDR|VE
Johnnie Sa|tzer, 8; Freddie
Wilson, 7, Collect ST After
a Futile Walk.

Johnnie Saltzer, an 8-year-old
Georgetown boy, and his pal Freddie
Wilson, one year younger, heard about
plans to open the Y. w. c. A. SWIM
ming pool at GA E street, but they
didn't get their facts straight. They
thought the pool was already open
and ready for business.
So early yesterday morning Johnnie
and Freddie got out their bathing
trunks and walked all the way from
their homes, near the Francis Scott
Key Bridge, to take a swim in the
E street pool. There they leaJ ned
the sad news. Not open yet, the Bool
will not be operated until the gener-
ous-hearted folks of Washington send
In $500 to The Evening Star, the
money to be turned over to the Coun-
Gil Of Social Agencies.
"Shucks," Johnnie said to Freddie
LETS 60 out and collect some of
that money"
Johnnie and Freddie then started
little campaign of their own. All
day long on the streets of Washington
they collected pennies from their pals.
BY early afternoon they had scraped
together ST.. This they promptly
turned over to the cashier of The
Evening Star 1t swelled the fund to
$40. the first s25 being contributed by
sponsors of Opportunity House.
Cans Helps Fund.
One of the first in with check was
Isaac Cans, who sent SIS because, as
he wrote, Il just couldn't resist doing
something for all those boys and girls
Of downtown Washington who need
swimming pool this hot weather" Mr.
Cans had seen the picture of three
disconsolate youths looking at the
empty swimming pool in the basement
Of the E street Y. w. c. A.
II Mr.. Cans had seen Johnnie
saltzer and Freddie Wilson yester-
day morning his heart would have
gone out to them, too, for they we're
broken-hearted when they heard the
sad news at the Y. w. c. A.-that the
pool is closed
Wen get that pool open if it's
the last thing We do" Johnnie said.
as he turned in the dollar he and
Freddie had collected-mostly in pen
nies
An anonymous contribution of IS
and two others for 81 each helped
swell the fund started by Johnnie
and Freddie Pearl S. Bensinger gave
dollar and Mary J. Hughes con-
tributed So
You wait till We get going" John
ME and Freddie told the cashier at
The Star. That's only the begin
ming"
A Campaign Is Launched.
They set sail back toward George
town and from the way they walked
1t looked as if they meant business.
Anyway, they promised to be back
tomorrow or Tuesday with more
money-and they probably will make
good
You see, these fellows want a SWIM
ming pool more than they want any,
thing in the world. While there is
plenty Of water up around George
town, Johnnies parents have forbid
den him the freedom of the river.
50 have the parents OF Freddie.
They're afraid we might get
drowned in the river" Johnnie told
. Star reporter. But you can't
get drowned in pool, because they
have swimming instructor there.
I'VE don't need any swimming in
etructor," Freddie said-and it de-
veloped that he and his pal Johnnie
have been swimming since they were
able to walk
Only trouble is they haven't any
place to swin-and won't have until
the people of Washington come across
with that $500 needed to open the
Y. W. c. A. pool-to be run under
auspices of the Council of Social
Agencies.