New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-31
ARMENIA'S BOYS AND GIRLS
ONLY FIVE THOUSAND OF FORTY-FIVE
THOUSAND MASSACRE ORPHANS
ARE CARED FOR
THE REST ARE STARVING BEGGARs WHOM EVEN
Mos1lrM FAMILIES CANNOT HELP BIT
PrrY-Mss1oN WORK.

The National Armenian Relief Association is now
devotinF It's efforts. through its Relief Committee,
Of which George P. Knapp IL secretary. TO rescuing
and training some Of the fifty thousand Armenian
children left destitute orphans by the massacres.
OF these five thousand have been rescued through
funds sent from America and Europe. and IN
der The care Of American missionaries who were
on the ground and Of workers who have since
gone from Europe.
OF the remaining forty-fve thousand are
eking out an existence among the impoverished
Armenians. In summer they receive slice or two
OF bread a day for herding cattle. standing under
the blistering sun. clad in rags which emphasize
their nakedness. In the long winters Of the Ar
menian highlands they must hide their shlverng
forms IN the dark corners Of stables when not
forced TO beg bread from door 70 door.
Now is the time" says Mr.. Knapp. ito rescue
as many children as possible before they have
dropped out by the way or have become Migrants
or criminals or been absorbed in Mosem families
Only 81 year provides child with care and train
ing in one Of the orphan homes"
Miss Ely writes from Bits. Turkey: Not long
ago one afternoon. the early twilight was falling
on answering a knock at the door l found little
boy. perhaps nine years Of age. The waning light
was insufficient for me at once 10 distinguish his
features. so / asked: Where do you come from?
Whose boy are YOU? After slight hesitation-a
silence long enough 10 make his reply very i'm
pressive-came the answer. sweetly given: Yours.
Yes. lacking his natural protectors, ne mao louhu
g home with us where he was sheltered from the
chilling clouds OF want and sorrow
a tiny boy. whose father had been killed before
his eyes whose home had been looted. then burned
10 the ground: whose mother had been driven in
sane with the shock and agony OF II all, and who.
after wandering the streets for days with his poor
mother. only kept from starvation by the charity
Of those almost as destitute himself was at
last taken 10 the orphan asylum at Bardezog Here
the poor emaciated body tendery washed and
clothed in the homespun garments made by the VII
layers for the orphans. But for many nights he
could sleep. living over and over again the
dreadful scenes Of the nassacres. while at almost
every meal when the children gathered about the
long white wooden tables where at least was
bread In abundance and occasionally stew OF
meat and vegetables he would burst into an
agony Of weeping. crying out: oh 10 think that !
have enough TO eat and home while my poor
mother Wanders alone without bread"
As 10 the needs Of this orphanage with its eighty
six boys Dr Robert Chambers writes: "Our funds
are low We compelled 10 decrease our num-
bers while az the same time We have 10 steel our
hearts against the most piteous appeals. Can't
your society help u.s."
From the orphanage al Van comes the report that
the misery al about the town is terrible. Mum hers
are dying % cold and hunger. and the Government
IS totally inert. Many women from the surround
been forced into the town by the pressure Of want.
Every day they rap al the doors follow the
Yasserby with outStretched hand. Some In des-
peration have become Nahometans. others have
resisted. One such woman out by night and
travelled barefoot the snow 10 bring her little
gin 20 the orphansge.
To provide for just such cases is the work of the
National Armenian Relief Committee.