Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-20
Trial in One State.

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 postal authorities. took up the
Christmas stamp last Christmas and tried
it in one state.
This was the little state of Delaware
very small, very conservative. not given
to enthuSiaSmS, and having only a few
shacks in woodland meadow near Will
mington as a tuberculosis hospital. The
state as whole was ignorant and unin-
terested on the subject, yet the stamp.
printed and put on the market only eight
cen days before Christmas, amazed ev
cry one by it's sensational record.
Fifty thousand had been printed to sell
at one cent apiece They went in week,
and then the stamp got into Philadel-
phia, where the Pennsylvania Red Cross
welcomed 1T and backed it, and the press
gave it splendid aid. The Delaware
schools sold 1t, the women's clubs in Della
columns to it. the department stores,
banks, drug stores and hotels sold It,
1T was sold in the corridors of the
Wilmington Federal building. by permits
sion from the government. though not the
post Office itself. The presses in the last
few days before Christmas ran night and
day to supply the demand. People used
the stamps on packages and letters, and
business firms on their correspondence.
Nearly 100000 were sold. and nearly
So, 600 cleared from this small unobtru
sive penny stamp
Made Possible by Stamp.
with this money the Delaware Red
Cross first brought an educational anti
tuberculosis exhibit to Delaware, which
was visited by 10000 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 sanitarum.
and free dispensary supplied with milk
and eggs drugs and a visiting nurse for
the consumptive poor, and this has gone
on all year. One thousand dollars has
been set aside nucleus toward build
ing a hospital Delaware is now decided
| ly interested in tuberculosis work, and all
this was done in eighteen days, by a pen
ny stamp.
1.-The American National Red Cross this
year has decided to issue the Christmas
stamp In every state. A beautiful stamp
Pyle, the famous artist. 1t bears a
wreath Of holly. and Merry Christmas
and Happy New Year
1T will be 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 in a few days. 1t will be
sold in sheets. like an ordinary stamp,
and also i'm small books 8 for 10 cents
~ for % cents, 4S for 80 cents, like the
government stamps.
"The Christmas stamp is not good for
postage 1t will not carry any kind of
mail. but any kind of mail will carry it.
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.
No Profit on Stamp.
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 a 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 and the District go
toward tuberculosis work in that state
or the District.
During the run of the stamp last year
Jacob Ris wrote a congratulatory letter
to the Delaware Red Cross. and Gov
Stuart of Pennsylvania, Secretary Root
and eX-Secretary Taft all telegraphed
their approval and good wishes.
This year the stamp goes forward to
wider usefulness Its value will be
twofold. 1t educates and arouses. 1t
gives each one a chance to contribute,
if only a penny. to the war against the
needed work.
IF little Delaware made II succeed.