The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1908-12-17
The Red Cross Stamp.
A SYMBOL of Good Wishes, with Help to
Fight tuberculosis.

A Symbol of Good Wishes, with Help to
Fight tuberculosis.
Tn 1904. in Denmark, the government
issued Christmas stamps with the
Kings head and the word Jul the
same as. our "Yule" on it. It was no
good for postage, only as a sucker,
for Christmas letters, posi- caros ana
packages. The proceeds from 1t were
to 90 toward building tuberculosis hos
pital for little children. 1t succeeded be-
yond all expectation, four million being
sold at an oere, or half cent apiece
Denmark has continued 1t since TO NAM
tain tuberculosis work, and the sale in
the native land of Hans CHRISTIAN Ander-
sen has doubled each year.
America needs such a stamp, but her
postoffice officials cannot issue or handle
# under the present postal laws; and a
special act of Congress would be neces-
sary. Jacob Riis, himself Dane,
wrote an eloquent article published in
the Outlook of July 6, 1907, urging gov
eminent action in the matter, but there
were too many difficulties in the way.
1t seemed hopeless to try, but at this
junction the Red Cross which exists for
lust such emergencies, took it up.
The Red Cross is great national
organization, with branches in each
State, formed to act in times OF crisis
and to render aid in war, pestllence and
famine. tuberculosis, the great White
Plague. is the most terrible pestilence in
the known world, claiming one death out
of eyerv seven. The Red Cross has
taken up tuberculosis work, therefore,
as part of its ''peace activity, The
present time is one of crisis in the war
against consumption. Each State needs
education and awakening in the subject
and money for the work. The Red Cross
therefore, with the approval OF the pos
tai authorities, took up the Christmas
stamp last Christmas, and tried it in one
State. Delaware, netting nearly 81, 600.
With this money the Delaware Red
Cross first brought an educational anti
tuberculosis exhibit to Delaware, which
was visited by twenty thousand people IN
ten days. The clubs, oranges, city
boards, teachers, clergymen, labor
unions, State officials, were all specially
invited on special days, and the whole
State was walked up. A nurse was sent
to the sanitarium, and free dlspensary
supplied with milk and eggs, drugs, and
a visiting nurse for the consumptlve
poor, and this has gone on all the year.
One thousand dollars has been set aside
as nucleus toward building hospital.
Delaware is now decidedly interested in
tuberculosis work, and all this was done
in eighteen days by a penny stamp.
The American National Red Cross, this
year, has decided to issue the Christmas
stamp in every State. A beautiful stamp
has been especially designed by Howard
Pyle, a famous artist. 1t bears
4L cLo11 ,,,d q, s.Ndorrv Christmas
sale at the Red Cross headquarters,
Washington, D. c., and in each State,
and it probably can also be obtained
from local dealers in almost every town
1t will be sold in sheets like an ordinary
stamp, and also in small books, 9 for 10
cents, "a for 25 cents, 4S for 50 cents,
like the government stamps.
The Christmas stamp is no good for
postage 1t will not carry any kind OF
mail, but any kind of mail will carry 1t.
Each one who uses this holiday stamp
will help to ''stamp out the White
Plague" 1t has been printed this time
by the million to supply the demand, SO
any quantity can be ordered, but cash
must be sent with each order, this rule
having been followed last year with sue
cess. Nobody makes any profit on the
Christmas stamp but it was found last
Christmas that every one was glad TO
help it along on these terms. For an
order of one stamp or thousand the
price is the same, except in the little
books, which add the cost of the binding,
Just as the government does. The pro-
ceeds in each State go toward tubercu-
losis work in that State.
During the run of the stamp last year
Jacob Riis wrote a congratulatory letter
to the Delaware Red Cross, and Govern
or Stuart of Pennsylvania, secretary
Root and secretary Taft, all telegrapheo
their approval and good wishes. This
year the stamp goes forward to Wldel
usefulness. Its value will be two-fold
1t educates and arouses. 1t gives each
one chance to contribute, if only g
penny, to the war against the White
Plague, and provides fund for needed
work. If little Delaware made it succeed,
any other State, north or south, can DO SO.
The National Red Cross brings the Christ
mas stamp to the whole nation this year.
If each American man, woman and chic
buys but one, sixty-fve millions Will be
sold, and tuberculosis work from Name
to California will be reinforced and urgee
forward When Denmark has succeed
ed, can America fail?
AS announced in the Journal last
week these stamps can be had in Belfast
at the store of M. P. Woodcock & Son,
Main street.
Soothes itching skin. Heals cuts or burns