1903, we started on the main line of the Pennsylvania R. R., about 
eight miles out from Philadelphia, the Haverford Branch of the 
Philadelphia Flower, Fruit and Ice Mission, the old plan was adhered 
to as entirely satisfactory. Through the kindness of the Pennsyl- 
vania R. R. we are allowed the free use of a small express office at the 
station for our work. There every Wednesday morning during the 
summer, from eight to half past nine, contributions are received of 
flowers, fruit, vegetables or money. Notices to that effect are posted 
at all the neighboring stations. 
A special committee is in charge each week and we are particularly 
fortunate in having a number of young girls who are untiring in their 
attention to the work of the Mission. They tie the bunches and place 
them in tanks of water before packing them in hampers. This we feel 
to be quite important and we also urge that our contributors pick their 
flowers over night, leaving them in water in some cool place to 
"harden." 
The hampers, generally five in number, are shipped on an early 
train and delivered by an express company to the rooms of the Phila- 
delphia Flower, Fruit and Ice Mission in the Parish Building of the 
Episcopal Church of St. Luke's and the Epiphany in order that the 
Visiting Nurse Society, District Visitors, etc., may distribute the 
flowers, while quite fresh, among the various hospitals, homes and 
private cases all over the city. 
From Haverford station alone we send to town each season from 
eight to ten thousand bouquets and quantities of fruit and vegetables. 
No salaries are paid, no rent for the room; our expenses are kept 
down to about fifty cents a week for clearing up the room, the occa- 
sional purchase of a new hamper and the printing of our short report. 
This enables us to use aU money contributed for the purchase of ice 
and occasionally milk, which is distributed where most needed in the 
crowded sections of the city. We are assured that the three or four 
hundred dollars, which we donate each summer to the purchase of 
five cent ice tickets, brings great relief to the sick poor. All deserving 
cases are reported to the Mission and investigated through social 
service workers, who are untiring in their work of love. 
Another station on the main line, Overbrook, caught inspiration 
from us and is doing a splendid work and from other stations and 
suburbs come hampers of flowers, fruit and vegetables to the central 
distributing mission. 
It must not be overlooked that this short sketch tells only my own 
experiences during the past forty years with Flower Mission work. 
There are many Missions all over the country doing similar work, and 
