New-York tribune., 1903-04-23
FINNISH FAMINE FUND.
National Dances and FoLkSongs at
Benefit Entertainment.

-he Finnish fa1aIns sufferers VIII be the bene-
Scia-ies OF interesting entertainment given
this evening n Tarrnsny Hall under the auspices
q the Finnish Ala Committee. The entertainment
VII consist almost entirely ot Finnish music and
oEnces- and II the latter the performers. who are
native FInlanders. VIII appear in their national
costumes. which are extremely gay and picturesque
TIE women wear gowns OF black and scarlet The
skirt black. trimmed with & red dounce or rib
bons. and q black velvet bodice is laced in front
with scarlet The men wear black knee breeches.
with Eayiy striped stockings. and vests that
red n front and blue 81 the back The Finnish
dances are. for the part. gay the
TUNES Of the country. and these numbers are likely
20 prove the greatest attractions OF the programme
There VII dances the ''Koiy1ston Polka
peasants dance. and the '-FuTpuTt.' & somewhat
more dgnihed measure.
Professor 4 MontsEne Douner VIII preside. and
IRE opening number after tire overture VIII be the
finnish national anthem. "Vartland." Then there
~fu airs the Finnish national instrument the
fanteIe By George Hanala- and Song 10 the
EEnteie" by Finnish choir Finnish foiksongs will
se sung by the Finnish singing society. "Eumu,'
snc Ms. Henrietta Spfke-Seeiey VIII give some
Finnish Songs In English There Will also be
<ew noa-F1nnish numbers. including a ba-ytone
solo by J. PaRnanen q quartet by the Hayman
Singers anc a lecture with stereopticon views by
Harry De vin6t The entertainment Will close
with the .'Purpurf." and then the floor viii be
cleared for general dancing
This entertainment is the second given this win
4e- bv The Finnish AID Committee. and the whole
Finnish community has been putting forth Its Ut
most efforts In the cause The Of $3.50.
large amount considering the small numbers and
comparative poverty OF the Films Of the metropolis,
has been 20 the relief committee in Finland.
and the committee is anxious send much
ss possible and Is early as possible The worst OF
the famine Is over. Il is true. thanks 10 the
generous contributions % America. Russia and
other countries but the people now being deci-
mated by diseases following in the wake OF the
famine Many OF them utterly unable to work.
and in sixty thousand families eve-ything has been
SOLD for food. The cattle and even the birds have
died from sheer hunger The people therefore need
help 70 buy seeds and stock. and cannot be left to
themselves until their first crop is harvested in
September.
The Films have suffered much from famines. but
the present is said 70 be the worst within the
memory CT living man. Floods. fTosts and biights
have DESTROYED their crops and reduced 10000 peo-
pie in Sweden aAd Finland TO the verge Of starVa-
don
The character OF the Finnish people has added 10
ere srrnoa thy which their sUf5rings have excited
,N-o,,rho,,, Ch-szten5orn They are simple indus
t-ious and deeply religious and their suferlngs arc
due 70 no fault OF their own. An evil fate seems
% have pursued them. and through il al they have
displayed the utmost forttude and most pa'he'4c
resignation.
They have also done everything possible to help
themselves Relief committees have been organ
.zed throughout the whole Of the country. and me
women OF The upper classes nave gone aoou'
winter nursing the sick. often az great risk 70
themselves Much CT this work has been done
through the woa1en's Union. the leading FEMININE
organization OF the country, and the crisis mas
come as an awakening 10 the women oI me
country
Russia too is said 70 have done all in her power,
snd the car has ordered the institution OF Telle1
works such as railroad building and swamp drain
.-x When these are fairly under way the ols0'esS
,vf1 be greatly aIleviated; but governments move
sloz1v ana many Of the people are rs already
stated unable 10 work
The principal worker among the rims OF New
York Is Miss Marie A Matinke. the secretary ana
only woman member OF the flnnlsh he'ieI On"
-,fr+es Miss Mstirke, who occupies the central
-,,s.-to1 81 the group Of Finnish dancers Illus
trated has been indefaeatle, and much OF the sue
cess Of the work in NewYork IS due 70 her ehorts-
Matt Ilrtuuen Is the chairman OF the cornt1l9e'
and the other members are John Marnke' Rooer'
y7,-,ornaa Peter Palmer Abram Savoine. Victor
EaU and Abel ToiTonen.