The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-27
GREAT NEED OF RELIEF.
Awful Extent of the Suffering by
Famine in Endia

Clarence r. Norment, Treasurer of the
Washington Committee of One Hundred on
India Famine Relief, has received the
following letter from L. T. Chamberlain,
Executive Chairman of the New York Com
mittee of One Hundred:
My Dear Sir: Not wholly easy is it 10
express to you, and to your committee, the
satisfaction with which the New York
committee, has received the remittance of
$2,456-41 The gift shows the generosity
of the citizens of Washington, and proves
the wise efficiency of the Washington com.
mittee.
tThe gift is not only generous, but also
timely. | have been not a little anxious
lest the Impression should come to prevail
that the acuteness Of the distress was over
so that relief gifts were no longer urgently
needed. The following cabegram received
August % from our Americo-Indian Relief
Committee in Bombay. by the hand OF
United States Consul, William T. Fee, re-
yeals the existing situation.
Examine distress is appalling Thousands
will die of starvation, unless rescued Mon
ey is needed to buy both food and blankets.
The suffering from lack of clothing is ter
rible- Cholera still active. Tine condition
OF destitute women and deserted children
specially pitiable. Many boys and girls are
in heartrending need FEE, Consul.
al he favorable rains. falling on desti-
tute. shelterless millions. have actually
intensified the immediate suffering.
Nor can there be any essential better
ment in the situation, III I'll after India 6
harvests of 1ieXt October and November.
The prospect for those harvests is far
from satisfactory. The wasted, emaciated
peasant farmers, their oxen being dead,
have not been able properly to prepare
the soil In many instances. they have
not been able 10 procure the proper seed
in proper quantity. That necessitates
crops far below the average. | have no
doubt that. even after next Noyembe
the situation viii be intensely dstressful.
Plainly the Washington Committee is right
in resolving to continue its relief work.
| Generous gifts will surely be required for
months to come. 1t Will still be sheer star
walton. with the added sufferings of ex-
posture and lack OF clothing.
"On the other hand. the facilities for
relief are not lessened. In the actual
famine district. it still is true that from
TO ) cents a daY will save a life, and
that cents day will provide food, cloth
ing, and shelter. The 81. 456. Al. with other
gifts amounting to nearly $40. 600, will be
cabled to India Friday, August 81, without
expense. eve cable regularly once 4
week. Four days thereafter, the gift MAJ
ACN'
for $4,000 hungry persons. including not d
few famished children. or buying 1853
blankets for the almost naked. OF en-
abling nearly 1000 impoverished peasant
farmers to reseed their fields
The British Government is providing
for six millions daily. and the benevolent
people of Great Britain and her dependsn-
cies are providing each day for half mill
lion more, yet there remain great numbers
in mortal peril To feed and shelter the
otherwise unrescued. is Americas oppor-
tunity. I trust she Will not stay her boun-
tiful hand
Indeed 1 beg to add a word respecting
the thousands upon thousands of orphaned
and deserted children. for il is evident that
their condition viii require special atten-
ton. even after the horrors Of death by
starvation and exposure have passed.
Those children, if their rescue is to be a
blessing and not a curse, must have more
than a provision fer their lowest physical
necessities They must be helped By some
means. into the path toward good chaTac-
/ ter and real usefulness. II has occurred
! 10 me that possibly some simple form OF
/ industrial schools might be provided, and
| l am diligently seeking from India, and
( also from the British Government in Lon
/ don, the full facts. When the information
/ is procured it viii be laid before the
/ Washington committee