Radio mirror (Nov 1936-Apr 1937)

RADIO .MIRROR intermediates — the elders; the foundlings and abandoned: the waifs of every racial creed and hue. They raised their eyes, as if singing to God. They poured out their hearts. It was like a prayer of music. They were singing what was meant to be a happy song, but the irony of its words shouted an overtone of heart-rending sorrow. Kate was fighting against it. Ted was fighting against it too. Yet, both knew it was too strong for them. The best the}' could do was maintain the outward semblance of self control. And neither dared look at the other. After Kate and Ted had applauded, the ice cream and cake was brought in. Kate sat down among the children. She talked to them; asked their names; poked fun at and laughed with them. Their fear melted, and the shadow of their repression was dispelled. Between times. Kate talked with the matron. She learned there were many applications for admission to the orphanage; that it cost a fixed amount for each child taken. And, although the institution was not overcrowded, its budget was now taxed to the limit. DART of the time. Kate Smith heard her ■ own voice like an echo, for the sound of that chorus of children lingered on. At times it filled the room again. And then, she became conscious of a singular development. Four of the baby children — their ages ranged between two and a half and three — kept edging closer to her. They followed her when she moved. One of them crawled into her lap. "What's your name?" Kate asked him. ''Tonio," he shyly said, lowering his black, Italian eyes. Kate took all four of the children in her arms — Billy. Bessie, Jane and Tonio. She gave them more cake and ice cream. Billy kissed her. Tonio held her hand. Jane and Bessie stared at her in adoration. They were too young to talk much, so Kate talked to them. Finally, she arose to go. The quartette of babies clung still closer. Emphatically, they wanted to go too. Emotions which had been tugging all afternoon at Kate's heart were pulled taut. Standing in the doorway, looking at the room full of children, at the four who were clinging to the sleeves of her coat, she knew she was going to cry. Quickly she bent over these four whose real names can never be revealed. She kissed each one. She tried not to think of them staying on after she had gone. It was easy for her to step in. entertain, talk to them. She could leave, go back to her apartment, to her comforts when she was through. Something happened to Kate Smith in that moment. She reached for the door. Before she could touch it she had stepped quickly back into the room. Quietly she called to the matron. She had made up her mind. There was only one thing to do. Kate Smith was going to adopt the four orphans — Billy, Bessie, Jane and Tonio. It couldn't be the usual kind of adoption nor an actual one. Only too well Kate knew the tragedy of stage parenthood. Living the life she did. she couldn't offer them a home. But she could do something else. She could pay for their stay at this orphanage, watch over them until they were old enough to leave. Take care of them after that. Help them start out in life. And best of all, this would mean that the orphanage could take in four more homeless waifs. She spoke to the matron. "If I pay for these four, does that mean that you will take four more in, four who couldn't get in otherwise?" The matron nodded her head. Kate drew a deep breath. "That's what we'll do then," she said. "We'll send the first check to you tomorrow." She called Ted Collins to her side, explaining what she had decided, almost apologetically, afraid that Ted might disapprove. But Ted put his hand around her shoulder, and smiled. "Swell. Kate," he said. "You're doing a wonderful thing." CHE rode away from the orphanage in a ^ warm glow. It was a quiet ride, in which few words were spoken. Her thoughts were unquiet — confused. Yet it is even doubtful if she fully realized all she had done. Provided security for four newbabies by sponsoring four — helping eight in all — yes. That she knew. But there was a big transcendent thing — a superb thing which, perhaps, did not occur to her. In that homeward taxi ride, it was happening, upon that happiest birthday of all. Putting it simply, she had linked her own with all the world's gentle hearts. The mystery of mercy, its blessedness, rode with her. It was no trifling sum, even to an affluent radio star, the amount Kate Smith had set aside for the maintenance of Tonio, Billy, Bessie and Jane. The next day. Ted Collins mailed the first check and arranged that future payments be made at periodic intervals. Months passed. Kate had never been so happy. When she had to leave New York for a personal appearance tour, she always left with the happy knowledge that she had four tiny people anxiously waiting for her return. 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