The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-07-19
HYSTERIA IN Relief GIVING.
Remarkable
San frnscO-Opea
Leather Shoes and Childrns fner Quanulies-Some
Especial Correspondence of the Evening POst)


San Franclsco.-An overhauling of
the gifts of the charitable to the
stricken people of San Francisco that
has just been made in the Durant
School demonstrates that sudden i'm
pulses OF generosity are often hyster-
ical. In some cases 1t would seem
that these impulses had caused al
most temporary insanity; especially
in the case of the young woman of
Peoria, ILL.,, who sent the refugees an
ermine-trimmed opera cloak in
which she left a diamond sunburst.
Many of the boxes that have re-
Gently been opened show that the
senders we're either folk who did
not stop at reason, or that they del
egated the sending of the gifts to ig-
norant, If not half-witted, servants.
More crush opera hats than will be
worn in San Francisco for many
months to come have been found in
the cases of gifts recently opened.
There are also several score of even
ing dress suits of various patterns.
One box contained three varieties of
evening clothing, half a dozen pairs
of patent leather shoes, and three
opera hats. There are among the
gifts a number of Inverness coats,
quantities of dress waistcoats, and
dress shirts in which the studs re-
mained. AS these relief supplies of
clothing came by the carload and
choked the schoolhouse storerooms
and warehouses where they were sent
for distribution. there has been con-
siderable delay in getting at the con-
tents.
At first the army officers in charge
of the distribution of clothing opened
only the cases that had been sent by
clothing stores and manufacturers.
There were also liberal contributions
of shoes from retail and wholesale
houses AS these were easily han
died, and showed excellent judg-
ment in selection, they were dis
posed of first. Then came the sort
ing of individual contributions.
These were sent in every variety OF
package, some even in fine leather
! grips and handbags A great deal OF
/ children's clothing of very fine ma
| terial was received, but has not been,
and is not likely to be, distributed.
| A few children of the refugees clad
| in such garments would present
amazing contrasts with their neigh
! bors.
The same may be said Of several
tons of women's clothing. Much OF
it would be only suitable for wear
either at the opera, ball, or some
similar entertainment. Some OF tho
gowns that were evidently sent b.
wealthy women are of Paris i'm
portation, and have been very little
worn. There are boxes of silk stock
ings of every shade in the prism
There are even silk tights that were
undoubtedly sent by kind-hearted, Il
light-headed, chorus-girls. There
are also other bits of finery appro
prinate only for the stage.
In the matter of hats there is the
same magnificent disregard of the fit
ness Of things. Opera hats came
with and without opera cloaks. Mill
inery creations for street wear that
are fairly canopied with plumes were
iammed in boxes with odds and ends
of extravagant finery. There was
no stint of lace and handsome EN-
broidery, and many of the hysterical-
" generous are undoubtedly regret
ting their moment of blind impulse.
Givers Who Made Mistakes.
Many letters have come to the OIL
GERS Of the army in charge of the
relief work, calling attention to mis-
takes they made personally, or er'
rors of their servants, who packed
treasured garments and pieces of fin
cry in the boxes of gifts. AS there
are hardly any names of the giver'
on the boxes, however it Is not like
" that many Of these contributions
will ever be returned. Already
vain search has been made to locate
the diamond sunburst sent by the
young woman of Peoria. A variety
Of stick-pins and less valuable arti
cles of jewelry have been found II
these gift boxes. and they are beint
stored away in case their owners
might wish to journey to San Fran
cisco and reclaim them.
Many men who sent their line raj
ment for distribution among the deS