Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-01

To relieve suffering of awful magnitude
and uncomfortable distress the New Year
will see the purses of rich and poor
opened and emptied to provide financial
help for Italy, where 100000 people have
been swallowed up in one of the greatest
commissions of nature known to man, and
where a whole nation is in need of prac-
teal sympathy.
Churches, fraternal organizations, So
cieties and individuals are sending money
by mail and cable. In addition to con-
tributions from dwellers in Washington,
kilograms from other cities show whole
fortunes being rushed to Italy, where
the king and queen and Count Faverna,
president of the Italian Red Cross, are
personally supervising the work of saw
ing what shreds of life remain in the
earthquake country, burying the dead
and combating that frightfui spectcr of
pestilence that stalks aboard.
Money Sent and to Be Sent.
Miss Mabel Boardman, who gave up
most of her New Year day to the Red
Cross Society, as she has given UP every
other day since the first cable dispatches
from Europe announced the disaster, said
today that she had cabled to the italian
Red Cross Society yesterday $4,000.
A telegram from New York Informed
her that yesterday $4,000 had been sent
from there. From Chicago $1,000 has
already been sent by mail and tomorrow
100000 more will be sent from Wash
ington.
1T is most encouraging, said Miss
Boardman today, TO see the manner IN
which the people of the country are re-
spondins to the call. The contributions
are exceeding our expectations.
To-day | received 30 cents accompanied
by note which Indicated that the con-
tributor is almost illteratc, and that 30
whoever sent this particular donation
No name was attached
In fact, have received several anony-
nous contributions. | would like to have
unuSTSlOOu that We HUGH lItitl "
know who send this money. No amount
is too small for us TO handle, and none
need be ashamed of making small con-
tributions in his own name.
So great is the amount coming in that
officials of the society contemplate send
ing Ernest p Bickel, one of the directors,
10 Italy to take charge of the American
Red Cross work.
MI Bickel is now in Michigan look
ing after the distribution OF the fire re-
lief fund there, and had intended going
on TO California.
1t is more probable that within the
next few days ne viii recalled and
sent direct to Italy.
The Protestant churches of Chicago
have announced through the Red Cross,
that the entire contributions on New
Year day aud the Sunday following will
be forwarded 10 Italy.
Catholics Asked to Give.
TO ali bishops OF the Roman Catholic
Church. in the United States Archbishop
talconio, apostolic delegate, yesterday
sent out an appeal asking financial aid
from their respective dioceses. He tX-
pressed confidence that the contributions
ould be liberal and would aid materially
in relieving sufferers, shelterless and nun
gry amid the ruins left by earthquake,
tidal wave and fire.
AS the most practical way Tor the clergy
and laity of the Episcopal diocese of
Washington to extend aid. Rev. DR.. Ran
dolph H. Mckim, president OF the stand
ing committee of TIE diocese has suS-
gested in an op n letter that collections
be taken in Washington churches OF the
denomination al once and that The con
tr;hutions he sent to the Washington
branch of the American Red Cross to DC
forwarded by them 10 the Italian Red
Cross
Dr NcKirn to the diocese, .'have been
visited by a calamity of appalling mag
nitude.- which must move every human
heart to profoundest pity. Scores Of
thousands of the inhabitants are dead o.
wounded, and gaunt starvation and des-
titution have followed in the wake OF
the earthquake and the tidal wave.
"ChriSteudom is aghaSt at the awful