The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-03
INDIA'S FAMINE WANING
Many Thousands of Sufferers, How
ever. Are in Need of Relief.
Countless Numbers of Helpless
Orphans to he Provided For by
Charity Cuitivntors of the soil
Must he Assistcd-Suggesti for
the Prevention OF Future Distress.

ellison WiIIets. who has charge OF the
India famine relief work for the Chris
tisn Herald" published from the Bible
House in New York. has sent out a cir
cular showing that. although the famine in
India is waning. there are yet many hun
dreds of thousands of orphans, and even
millions of agriculturists in the stricken
areas. who are in urgent need of relief.
The circular follows:
~The famine is waning-what now? The
period of acute distress is passed, but what
about the millions and millions left help
less and homeless? The death rate has
perceptibly decreased. but what is to be-
come of the half-million orphans whose
mothers ant fathers have persisted, and
RHO are now stranded in a desolated land
ibhiIe they are yet only on the threshold
OF life?
II India has been sick unto death. If the
rains had not come this year the fatalities
could not have numbered less than twenty
millions. But with the rain and its prom
Use of plenty came relief. and the great
patient is now in the period Of GONZALES
cence. She needs still the closest atten-
ton of doctor called money, and of a
nurse called sympathy. America has been
both nurse and doctor: has given both
money and sympathy
Aid From, the Nations.
England has done the most for the dis
tressed. of c, urse, as by right she Should
for India is her own, her greatest posses
sion Germany has helped bit, and so have
Russia and Holland, and even Turkey;
but next TO England the most money, the
most help has come from the land of
Stars and Stripes. The American people
have given of their substance over a mil
lion; the Presbyterian board s50.00e. the
Boston committee twice as much more, the
Committee of One Hundred over 100000.
and the Christian Herald of New York
more than the amount contributed by all
of these added together. Now the Red
Cross Society invites subscriptions TO still
another fund rather belated at the last
moment when a crop is promised within
three months, but showing. first, that In
dia still needs help and, second, that there
is still confidence in the generosity of
Americans to give. give. give, despite all
that we have already given.
1t cannot be repeated too often that
the famine waning does not mean the
famine ended. Seven million people will
for half year TO come need the help of
civilization. II such help should fail them
even now they would die, because a normal
condition after so violent a shock is not
quickly restored.
More important than any other phase
of the aftermath of the famine is the spec
taele presented by the hundreds of thou
sands Of little children left without a re-
lation Of any kind TO look after them. 1t
is the experience of all students of famine
that more children than adults, proper
tionately survive the period o. woeful
scarcity. Hence the great multitudes of
orphans now wholly helpless in India is
accounted for. Hence the efforts of all
relief workers are now centred upon the
children, who are the hope Of the country.
What stun would the next generation
be made of il these children were net ca: Ell
for? What mental. physical, and moral
deterioration would be visible in the peo-
pie of India, If the lot OF little tots of to-
day, the brain and muscle OF the rear
future, were neglected? These children
these orphans. must be fed and clothed
and. above ell, educated in the ways Of
Christian living, il degene-acy is rot
10 be the lot of India. Neglect these
waits now. these innocent victims of fam
inc, and in a decade or two it viii be
noticed that India has refrigerated, III
stead of going forward.
"Au the agencies for collection of relief
funds in this country are planning TO care
for these helpless youngsters But the
plans in this direction, of all save one
agency, are i'll formed, clumsy in detail.
from lack Of experience. This single ex-
eeption is the agency known as the
Christian Herald Famine Relief Work
This agency has had previous experience
In caring for orphans. The other agencies
and committees lack the benefit Of such
expe.-l:~"-
Right after the last famine, DR.. Louis
Kopseh. owner Of the Christian Herald
established special orphan department
OF Re Famine Relief Work. Since then.
all through the three intervening yea s,
he has supported and educated thousands
OF orphans, saved thousands CT children
from a worthless career. helped them
toward a life Of usefulness as men and
women.
During thc three years DR.. Klopsch mas
sent TO India, promptly each quarter,
checks for many thousands of dollars for
the care of the wards Of the readers Of his
paper. The money for the purpose SIS
being all that is required tc support a fam
inc child for a whole year, has been sent
to him by friends of his paper. generous
hearted Americans all. and through him
sent to the missionaries in India. who
shelter ana educate the little ones.
Thus this philanthropist the leader OF
all charitable enterprises in foreign coun-
tries, has organized a system that takes
care of the greatest number of orphans
Tor the least money. Contributions are
,nvited. and earnestly solicited. from ell
Shose kind hearts are touched by the help
less story of the waits OF the great famine
Give what you can, if 1t is only a I-cent
stamp, and send it TO the Christian Her.
AID Bible House New York The mite
as well as the largest contribution will DO
promptly acknowledged in the pages OF
, ,fhis religious weekly.
Meanwhile. measures for assisting cul.
tiy3tors 10 resume their occupation and
for helping the larger occupants 10 employ
laborers are being adopted on a greater
scale than has ever before been contem-
plated. Already nearly $50. 0Oo, 900 have
been allotted for assistance in the purchase
Of cattle and seed and for subsistence while
agricultural operations are proceeding.
Advances Free of interest
These advances are made free Of in
terest; no recovery will be made for
twelve months after they are given out,
and in the cases in which recovery can
not be made without hardship. rernissions
will be granted. Many OF the poorer cul-
tiyators are being assisted from charit-
able funds. The dependents of cuitiva-
tors who have only the means of main
tanning themselves while cultiyatng will
receive gratuitous relief and such relief
will also be given 10 such cuItivators as
cannot obtain means of full subsisi ence
while engaged in agricultural operations
II is Believed that. by these efforts, almost
all who are in need of raI{ef will ba mo