The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-12-22

The foregoing has been written by
Agnes Repplier to explain the Red
Cross Christmas stamp. The stamp is
attracting much attention and prov
ing an effective means of arousing in
terest in anti-tuberculosis work and
providing means to carry it on.
The advent of the American Red
Cross to the field was welcomed by the
National Association for the Study
and Prevention of tuberculosis At
ter consultation, the Red Cross de-
cided last January to concentrate it's
efforts at first upon establishing tu-
berculosis day camps, which are places
in or near cities where tuberculosis
patients may find the conditions es-
Sential to improvements and cure
rest, air, light, and proper food.
The first Red Cross day camp in
America was opened in Schenectady
on June 20, and was conducted three
months ii cooperation with the mum
icipal tuberculosis dispensary and the
local charities. The District Of Col
nmbia Red Cross soon after opened
another camp. Camps will be opened
next Spring in several other cities.
The largest Red Cross Day Camp of
all, however, is in New York, and was
opened on December l. 1t is on the
roof of the Vanderbilt Clinic, which is
the dispensary of the College of Ply
sicians and Surgeons, the medical de-
partment OF Columbia University.
The clinic equipped the roof and fur
nished physicians. The expense Of
nursing and feeding the forty patients
is being met by the New York County
Red Cross.
Eventually there will be accommo-
dation there for more than 100 pa
tients, and the camp will become a
night camp as well. Other camps will
be opened by the county committee as
soon as receipts warrant. 1t is hoped
by the Red Cross authorities that the
sale of the Christmas stamps will be
sosuccessful that camps may be opened
In every district Of the city.
The use of stamp to raise money
for philanthropic work dates back to
the Sanitary Fair, held in Boston in
1862. NoUhing more was heard Of it
until 1904, when the Portuguese Red
Cross adopted the idea, and it spread
rapidly all over Europe. Probably the
most flattering success has been in
Denmark, where the Government, sell
ing the stamp through its Post Offices,
has raised enough to build and main.
tain a large hospital for tuberculosis
children.
Twenty thousand dollars, was raised
the first year, and double that every
year since. Jacob A. Riis, himself a
Dane, read of this, and through The
Outlook" in 1907 appealed to our Gov
eminent to take action. There were,
of course, too many difficulties in the
way of governmental action. However,
the Red Cross, almost governmental
organization, stood ready. 1t gave
the stamp a trial last year in Delaware
and Pennsylvania, and did so well that
this year it took it up nationally and
in earnest. The new design was ex-
ecnted by Howard Pyle. Millions of
stamps have been printed. Nobody
makes any profit on it, and practically
every cent goes into the fight against
tuberculosis.
Where the Red Cross lis not under
taking work of its own it is helping
other tuberculosis work.
jacob A. Riis says;
/" Every one who sees this stamp on
a letter or postcard wants to know
what it means. And when people
want to know the fight is won. 1t is
because they do not know a few amaz-
ingly simple things that people die of
tuberculosis.
These stamps are for sale at EN-
mell's.