The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1909-12-01
RED CROSS STAMPS ON MANY LETTERS

RtD CRUSS STAMPS UN MANY Ii tRS
The sale of Red Cross stamps for the
beuetit of tuberculosis victims coutir-
ues stronger than ever this year
Many persons purchasing gifts and
even articles to be sent to their own
homes request the placing of Red
Cross stamp upon the parcel. and
hundreds of the little pastors were
disposed of, to the delight of
those having the matter i'll charge.
1t was very noticeable this week
that much mail also bore the little
| stamps, aud it is expected that this
practice will be continued aud will
grow, others taking it up.
Rev. DR. Nathan Stern, vice rresi-
dent of the Trenton Association FOR
the Relief aud Prevention of Tubercu-
losis, cemmends the Red Cross
stamps i'll these words:
with much pleasure | have learn
ed that the local association recon-
meuds the use of the Red Cross
Christmas stamps To further its own
work, and, hv the funds collected. to
assist the visiting nurse The object
in view is certainly laudable one
aud deserves all possible support. |
| myself would do all i'll my power to
see returns resulting therefrom. The
religious Significance of the season
should not obscure our view to the
distressing needs which the crusade
contemplated desires to meet. There
heartily endorse your project aud
would recommend to the kind eonsid-
GRAFTON of all Trentonians, my people
Included, very respectful attitude
toward the use of the Red Cross
Christmas stamps when sending greet
ings to their friends, aud hearty en-
dorsement thereof.
The Red Cross Christmas stamp,
doubtless the most prominent factor
III the holiday activities of the United
States today, traces its ancestry back
to Boston, where stamps or stiekers"
were first sold in this country to raise
money for pbllanthropic purposes.
la 1869 the United States sanitary
commission conducted n great fair or
bazaar aud used the money raised to
care for sick aud wounded soldiers III
the evil war. Some resoui ceful per
son conceived the idea OF selling
special stamps as Que means of swell
lug the proceeds of the bazaar. From
Boston the idea sIl cad to many other
cities III the east 1t was not long
uutil the stamps Mere used for 40
many purposes that the pubic lost in-
,erest ia them, aud the idea was soon
forgotten.
The Red Cross stamp had its origin
III the fall of 1907, when it was issued
10 raise money for the mutt tubercu
Iosls work. The stamp was first tried
III an experimental way by the Della
ware state branch of the American
Red Cross, the seal being confined to
Delaware aud Philadelphia. Inst
year the American Red Cross decided
to nationalI2e the Christmas stamp,
aud Howard Pyle. a prominent artist,
contributed the design. State branch.
es of the Red Cross became general
agents of the little red and green
stamps with their message of good
will. With much misgiving an order
for million stamps was placed. But
the Idea caught on and spread like II
"prairie fire" The Red Cross offices
IN Washington were deluged with or
dets from over the conntry \ see
ond million stamps was ordered An
other printer aud third was put To
work. The American Red Cross was
furry smothered under the demand
aud the printers were swamped EX=
aspernting delays occurred aud good
people all over the land lost their
tempers because they could mol get
Christmas stamps, ana because the
Red Cross had not the foresight to
prepare for the avalanche.
Bat there will not he any DELAYS
this year. for the Red Cross made It's
first order 90, 600. 900 stamps. This
has been increased 10 40, 900, 900, and
1t IL prepared to turn out mnny mil
lions more on short notice.