WAUPACA COUNTY POST

February 16, 1922

TWENTY-SIX ORPHANS LEAVE PORTAGE COUNTY FOR THEIR NATIVE LAND

Last Wednesday’s south bound Soo Line train No. 6, was boarded at Custer by 26 orphan boys ranging in age from six to thirteen years who since last April had been cared for at St. Clara’s orphanage, near Polonia post office, conducted by the Felician Sisterhood.

These children and several hundred others were brought from Siberia early last year and distributed among charitable institutions in various parts of this country. The expense of caring for them has been borne by the Polish National council, which organization has expended many thousands of dollars and seriously depleted its treasury.

The cost of living in this country is practically double that of several European countries, and for this reason and because of the fact that relatives of the boys have urged their return, about 350 youngsters sailed from New York on January 28. Besides the group from Polonia, others joined the party in Milwaukee and Chicago. Their destination is Posen, Poland, where they will enroll in a school supported by people of that country.

While the lads who had been cared fro at St. Clara’s since last spring are well satisfied with the kind treatment extended them by the sisters, by Rev. L.J. Pescinski and friends in other parts of the county many of them are happy in the knowledge that they will soon be near their own kin.

A special collection was taken up at Polonia last week and $40 contributed for the purchase of sweets and other incidentals for the boys on their long journey.

It is remembered that the Polonia orphans were brought to Stevens Point on two occasions last year and shown moving pictures at the local theatres. They were the recipients of many other kindnesses by local people. - Stevens Point Gazette.