New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-17
PLEASE BREAK THE CHAIN."
MISS SCHENCKS EFFORT TO RAISE
MONEY ALL TOO SUCCESSFUL.
SHE is ALMOST UNABLE TO HANDLE THE IN
CREAsING QUANTITY OF LETTERS. AND
NO RELIEF SEEMS IN SIGHT

CREAsING QUANTITY OF LETTERS. AND
NO RELIEF SEEMS IN SIGHT
The endless chain OF letters started by Miss
Nathalie Schenck early in June in aid OF the Ice
Plant Auxiliary of the Red Cross as yet remains
unbroken. and from present appearances the let
ters will not begin to diminish in number for some
time to come. as each mail yesterday added its
quota.
Miss Schenck Is a young woman. about seventeen
years old. She is tho daughter OF Spottswood D.
Schenck. Of the late Rev. Or. Noah Hunt
Schcnck, rector OF st. Ann's-on-the- Heights. Her
mother was Miss Morgan, cousin Of Mrs. August
Belmont. Their town home is In Lexington-ave.
Manhattan. Miss Schenck is al present visiting
her maternal grandfather Matthew Morgan also
of Manhattan. at his summer home. the old Liv-
inCstone house. on the CARL estate, Babylon.
To a Tribune reporter who visited her yesterday
Miss Schenck said: Il suppose you would ike TO
SEQ where We work" and opened door to the
rear disclosing library. with chairs tables and
couches pushed aside and their places taken by
three large sugar barrels heaped high with assorted
letters. while large table in the middle or the
room stood a rough soap box filled with dimes.
Roleaus OF money on the centre OF the table were
ready to be put in bags and sent 10 the bank
IT'S tremendous piece OF work just 10 count
all this" said Miss Schenck. 1--WE used to send it
to the Queens County Bank just as it accumulated.
but this morning they told us VIC must deposit II
in bags. each containing $500. else they could not
handle such amount of small change turning
to the barrels Miss Schenck continued: Il
sure you can have no idea what effort II has
been 70 look al these. and upstairs the
floor there three sheets full OF them yet 10 be
opened. We have convenlences for holding
them so just dump them on sheets In an un-
used room. When our man goes for the mail to-
day he will bring in another wagon load. suppose
lie has 10 20 with big wagon In order to get all
the letters"
Miss Schenck then told OF the beginning of the
chain. and said. laughingy. And only think.
proposed this" Miss Katharine Levcrich of NO.
30 East Sixtieth-st Manhattan. secretary Of the
Red Cross asked Miss Schenck for a contribution
to aid in the work and said she wished there were
method by which certain amount would
come into the treasury monthly. so that tho So
ciety could have some idea Of what II might de-
pend AS help Miss Schenck, who was pres
ent. suggested this method. But had no idea II
would be so succt ssful We have sent IN more
than any except one person. by check We have
sent to Miss LeVcrich S33e. We nave $1,000 ~ the
hank besides the unknown quantity upstairs and
then. have sent SIS IN postage stamps alone We
tbnm a great 5",her until now as We have ar
ranged win New YORK nrm to take them"
first answers 10 her appeal were received and how
her grandfather observed that lac supposed before
they all came in she would get tired OF acknow!-
how true his remark would prove. for each OF ;hese
many thousands Of letters has had an immediate
are tired out with the efIort. Miss schenck has
been assisted by Miss Sylvia Strong. Miss Helen
Norton Miss Carl and the Misses Sammis. young
women who have been visiting IN town. The en-
voopcs have been cat by the maids. thcn laid On
the table the money taken OUT and the letters
passed on FOR acknowledgement This last depart
ment could keep three or four people busy II the
rush continues this week, assistants are 10 be
hired. Some OF the letters accompanying the cash
were so full Of kindness. though from perfect
strangers that Miss Schenck has saved them.
Other letters are surly and demand an immediate
reply AZ the writers say they have no knowledge
as 10 whether this chain is all hight or "A put-up
job, while some people have really gone oHt o.
their feelings by writing and not sending money
Mr.. Morgan came into the hall as The reporter
was leaving. and. picking UP a copy ~ Inc IT'D
Une. begged that this account b" hcnded. IN type
like the heading OF the PAPER Please Break the
Chain" and. after that. Impossible - Answer
Quest ions" for. he said. some people ask 20 many
questions tina, IL would take three clerks working
all dav 70 ansWtS them. one woman sent a tcle-
gram asking whether they wanted the chain broken
or not. 80, 8,
want the chain broken" was Miss Schencks last
, ,,,
this endless chain. The people there do not com.
plain any more than does Miss Schenck. but feel |
that IN this way they paying thc!r portion or |
war tax So expcditously have they handled oil |
this extra matter that the delivery has been IN no
caso hlndercd over five or scVcn minutes. Yet |
some people have complained OF even this delay