The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-18
Interesting Story of a 1ubercu-
 IoSiS Campaign
EFFECTIVE ADVERTISING
Quaint Old Poem Pointing the Value of Preventive Social Work Rather Than Aims After 1t Is
 Too Late. e
BY ARTHUR p. KELLOGG.

Baltimore, August 7.-(Special.)-By a combination of the most advanced meth ods employed in outdoor advertising, cir cular letters, and a follow-up system by telephone, that Maryland Association for the Prevention and Relief of Tubereu- losls has raised years budget of s10,- 600 in twenty-three days and set all Bal timore talking of it's work and of the most ready means by which laymen may help to prevent consumption. Not long ago a new finance committee of the association decided to increase itS budget from s6000 to s10,OO0 for the ensu- ing year Only one of the members of the committee was accustomed to the financing of social organizations. His suggestion was a circular letter to every person listed in the telephone directory to be followed by a telephone call. Another member suggested that a "psychological impulse" was needed to ip- terest the whole city in the work of the association and into this niche was fit ted the old poem of The Fence or The Ambulance It runs like this;
 The Fence or the Ambulance. Twas a dangerous cliff, as they freely
 confessed, Though to walk near it's crest was so
 pleasant But over it's terrible edge there had slip
 ped
 A duke and fell many a peasant So the people said something would have
 to be done, But their projects did not at all tally, Some said Put a fence round the edge
 of the cliff'' Some An ambulance down in the valley But the cry for the ambulance carried
 the day, For 1t spread through the neighboring
 city; A fence may be useful or not. it is But each heart was brim full of pity For those who slipped over that danger
 our cliff And the dwellers In highway and valley Gave pound or save pence, not to put up
 fence, But an ambulance down ig the valley. For the cliff ls all right if you're care
 ful.' they said, And if folks even slip or are dropping It isn't the slipping that hurts them so
 much As the shock down below when they're
 stopping" Then an old sage remarked It's marvel
 to me That people give far more attention To repairing results than to stopping the
 cause, When they'd much better aim at proven
 tion. Let us stop al It's source all this mis-
 chief" cried he, Come, neghbors and friends, let us rally If the cliff we will fence we might al-
 most dispense With the ambulance down in the valry.' "Oh, he's a fanatic" the others re-
 joined "Dlspense with the ambulance? Never! But no! We'll protect them forever; Aren't we picking folks up just as fast
 as they fall? And shall this man dictate to us? Shall
 he?
 Why should people of sense stop to put
 up q fence While their ambulance works in the val
 ley" But a sensible few who were practical
 too, Will not bear with such nonsense much
 longer They believe that prevention is better
 than cure And their party will soon be the stronger Encourage them, then with your purse
 voice and pen. And (whie other philanthropists dally) They will scorn all pretense and put up
 stout fence On the cliff that hangs over the valley. For three weeks every street car In Baltimore carried on it's front platform T large poster reading;
 WILL YOU HELP BUILD THE FENCE?