New-York tribune., 1876-10-27
LETTERS From THE PEOPLE.
FAMINE IN sERYIA.
AN APPEAL BY AN AMERICAN WOMAN TO ANLih-
CANS FOR AID FOR THE sERVIANs-A TERRIBLY
DESTRUCTIVE WAR.


AN APPEAL BY AN AMERICAN WOMAN TO ANERI-
CANS FOR AID FOR THE sERvIANs-A TERRIBLY
DESTRUCTIVE WAR.
To me EdftOr Of Thc TrtbuHc.
SIR: The small Principality Of Scfyia has
sustained FOR several months war with turkey ana mas
not been able 10 do without enormous sacrifice Inc
aim that she has wished TO attain entirely in ac
cord with the progress Of civilization, ana consequently
the help of the Christian and civilized nations has not
been wanting Money and the objects necessary for the
relief of the wounded have been received IL sufficient
quantities That which will be wanting 10 cover all de-
maEds will bc aid for the great number Of families who
Will find themselves during the Winter, ana VINO even AZ
this moment are, without means OF subsistence
The Government, upon entering into war, called 10
arms all the aIle-bodicd men-12O OOOO-out Of popula
tiou of 300 600 The labor Of the harvest, and of ag
culture i'm general has been coudcd 10 old men, women
and children; scarcely tmee-fourhs Of the products OF
the earth have they been able TO reap From the Desn
ming of The war not only 1Ias the Government eVeu con-
ributons ID money but IN products Of every nature so
that al, that was i'm reserve has vanished Even if no
other event had Unexpectedly 20 augment the dis
tress and number those I'm want and misery 1t would
have been impossible provide sustcuancc for the peo
pie or TO sow the Autumn crop. These evils were more
or to be predicted but what contributes above all TO
increase in great measure the distress and famine FOR
the coming Winter that about the fourth part Of the
country has been invaded and occupied during period
moro or less prolonged by an enemy who has sown
destruction aud ruin the most complec We most fertile
districts Of the Prucpaty OF scrya have been rayaecd
in such manner that not house remains intact, not
one tree or vine standing.
The villages have been abandoned, the women, the
children and The ufim wander without guide aud with
out means the highways and in the woods, while the
ab.e-bOded men serving i'm the army and the Winter
season approaching viii find them cVp0sed 10 cold and
hunger without being able 10 ne relieved by their i'm
poyerished cOnpatriots in an eGcacIous manner The
official computation Of the number Of these roohess
people approaches 2JOOOO. Ii Is 10 such scene OF
desolation and distress that l wish to call the
attention OF my compatrots; and it is 10 ask
them 10 and these distant members Of he great
society of Christians that J. the only American here
appeal to the hearts Of The American people, throush the
columns Of yOur Journal 10 generously come forward
and aid the starving Ny idea - To establish here in
Belgrade an economical kitchen, and 20 >upruuiend Pt
s0H0iIy the Distribution soup. meat and Tread; ana
have sufficient funds viii add articles ui c"tulng
ask yOU receive any gifts. ana 10 forward iIy lo '
In TIE form OF draft, either on London ol Pans l
REGISTERED letter As received J VIII n'ru"N l-
edge the same and the amount and TIE name oi iAe
donor shall published both lu tc SINau ana amer
lean papers VIII send you account oi the manner
IN wmch the money is employed, and the good results
tlcIrIrOm. / remain, Sir, Uuf, respectfully,
Countess MlI.I JoANSIsI H6c Hurrinrtonl
Ioliqn Consulate Eci0r0de. sept. 27, 1876.
rrhe Countess Joauniui will be remembered by
old Wa,hingtouiaus as Miss Map Harrington,
daughter Of Mr. Chascs Assistant Secretary of the
Treasury during the war. There can b. no doubt
that she will minister with fidelity and zeal 50 faT
as she may be enabled, 10 the wants of these suffer
ing peope.-Ld.l