Salvation Army Major Keeps
Pot Boiling for a Half Century
CHICAGO WJ-—An overburdened
Christinas shopper halted at State
and Washington streets beside a
Salvation Army kettle managed
to juggle her bundles, open her
loose change into the kettle.
“God bless you, Major,’' she said,
as to an old friend.
A Familiar Face
As a matter of fact, Major John
Darius Clark, 87, now in his 52nd
year of watching an Army kettle,
was an old friend. Although he re
tired 22 years ago, every Christ
mas season finds him busy at his
State Street station.
In his half century of this work,
he figures he has collected $50,
000.
The brunt of the cold work of
tending kettles is done by young
Army men and women. Many a
younger man has wondered how
the Major endures the job.
“Young man,” he tells them,
I’ll have you know it takes 87
years to make a man like me.”
A .Family Affair
Major Clark joined the Army
in New York at the age of 15. He
married another Army worker,
who died long ago; their five sons
are active officers in the Army.
The first Christmas kettle was
used by the Army in 1894 on the
West Coast where it was intro
duced by Capt. Joseph McFee, a
former seaman. Given the job of
raising funds for a soup kitchen
to feed out-of-work longshoremen,
he happened to see a cauldron su
spended in a ship chandler’s store
and got the kettle idea. “Keep the
pot boiling” was his slogan, and it
has boiled ever since.
When the kettle was first seen
in Chicago in 1905, Major (then
Adjutant) Clark was beside it with
a bell. He’s been ringing it ever
since.
Widow Spreads
Joy from a
Wheel Chair
GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP>
—Mary Waters knows what to do
with old Christmas cards—she
makes them into new ones that
are used by thousands of soldiers
and sailors.
Last year she provided service
men with 8,600 cards and envel
opes to send to loved ones.
Her basic material comes to her
free in the form of bales of used
cards forwarded by people who
have heard in one way or another
about her work. For the writing
paper from which she cuts out
the envelopes, for the glue and
for incidentals, she pays about
$45 saved from the small pension
she receives as the widow of a
Spanish American war veteran.
Each card she treats individual
ly, erasing any writing on it or
pasting a cutout figure over the
signature. The cards with their
envelopes are distributed by the
Red Cross to men in hospitals at
Portland and elsewhere.
Mrs. Waters began her self
assigned task during World War
II when her son Leon, serving in
the Marine corps, had to go to a
hospital at Oakland. She sent him
some made over cards to cheer
him up. Since then she never has
turned out few'er than 2,000 cards
a year.
Confined to a wheel chair now
with a hip ailment, she still man
ages to find more time each year
for her chore. She lives with her
son Delroy, who keeps the log
. house .that was built originally in
tHTe woods'near Grants Pass by
her late husband.
“GOD BLESS YOU, MAJOR": Major John Darius Clark, 78, has
been tending a Salvation Army kettle for a half century of
Christmas seasons on Chicago's State Street
Decorate with Popcorn for Holidays
You can do wonderful things with popcorn at Christmas time.
For an old fashioned tree decoration* string popcorn m long
strands. Before doing so, let it stand until it loses its crispness so it
will be less likely to break.
Popcorn balls are a favorite hi many homes. To make two dozen
balls, pop enough corn to make four quarts, leaving it unsalted.
Then make a taffy glaze by combining a cup of unsulphured mo
lasses, a cup of sugar, and a tablespoonful of butter in a sauce pan.
Stir over a low flame until the sugar dissolves. Then cook over
medium heat until the syrup* dropped in very cold water, separates
into hard but not brittle threads. Pour over popped corn, stirring to
coat each kernel. When cold enough to handle, shape into balls with
lightly buttered hands.
A popcorn snowman is a chewy favor for a children’s party.
Form three sizes of ballsand stack them before the syrup hardens.
Make the eyes, nose and mouth out of bits of gum drop.
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