The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-23
TAG-DAY WORKERS
BREAK RECO RO
Total Collections Exceed $4,000,
With Twenty Boxes Still
to Be Counted.
MANAGERS ARE ASTOUNDED
Thought Rain Would Ruin An
nual Event, but 1t Proved
Great Help.

With twenty out of tho ninety nine
boxes to be heard from, the COUNTIES
, last night showed total OF S3.oil
collected yesterday by Tag Day man
ayers, which puts the record far above
that of last year. The figures simply
astounded Il brave band of noble wo-
men who worked part OF the day in
than $1,000, but the cause appealed to
the public. ana the response was gen
erous and substantial
While the rain up to the middle OF
the afternoon was calculated to mar
1 the success OF the undertaking, the
| sunshine brought golden harvest,
due largely to the fact that nearly
everybody feared failure. resulting in
bigger contributions near the close OF
the day. In 1911 the total collected
was S2.62?.o5. The boxes not yet count
ed will swell the returns by several
hundred dollars.
Turned Flood Of Money.
Church Hin came to The front with
a larger sum than ever before, which
materially aided in establishing a new
high record despite the most unfav-
orable weather conditions. But above
all the great work being done by the
Instructive Visiting Nurses Associa
ton appealed so strongly TO the pco-
pie of Richmond that they were de-
And while the rain threatened ruin.
the bright sunshine turned a flood OF
money toward mite-baXes in every part
OF town.
Only when the heavy rain gave way
to Il steady drizZle early in the af-
ternoon did things h-Ein 20 brighten
for the nurses. Up to that time CON
tributions hal been exceedingly scat
tering. The sidewalks were prac;ic-
ally deserted, and customers at the
shops where stations We're located were
few.
With the first peep OF the afternoon
sun through the scattering clouds tho
pent-up multitudes began to crowd the
side walks and the miSe boxes RATED
nlerrily with the tribute OF the pass
ersby. Practically -fourths OF the
contri buttons were received between
the hours cf . ana O'clock in the az
ternoon Ny the end OF the day fuzzy
tNvo-tnirls OF the people met on side
walk. street car aul elevator wore the
blue cross. white tag bearing witness
that the owner had paid visit TO the
mite-boX.
The manner in which the soliciting
was conducted, as well rs the faithful
ness wtth Naich tie women lahorcd n
| the face of discouragIns circumstances,
were the subject OF much favorable
comment. Wrapped in lonS raincoats
and protected by umbrellas. the aides
braved the driving rain to hold ont
the little tag of charity TO the way
farer. only to be rebuffed III many
cases ny individuals too lnten. upon
! reaching their destination 10 pause
even for a deed of charity. Large
numbers however. met the appeal all
the more generously for the discomfort
attendant upor even a short stop in the
rain.
All CImsscs Heir.
| Charity knows no creed or color, and
the TAGS swung from the button and
lapel OF every class # people that
make up the life Of the city. AmonG
the first philantropists We're the news
boys. who cheerfully gave up the earn
| ngs Of an hour tor one of the blue
crosses. The infection caught. and
within the space Of few hours, every
! young news merchant was decorated
with the insignia Of charity. either by
right of purchase or through prevail
ing upon pedestrians to part with
theirs.
Among the grown-ups there were
| almost as many women tag weares as
men Although campaigns of this
kind are usually planned to make ap-
peal to the dormant charity OF the
male. thewomen Shoppers and theatre
, goers were frequent contributors TO
the mitc-boxes. Among the men seen
on the streets few indeed appeared
without the tag attached TO button or
lapel Laborers returning home from
their tasks stopped to deposit their
mites, and bank officials halted their
motors TO help along the good work
with crisp greenbacks. All were re-
warded with the simple tag as a sign
that the wearcr had siven according
TO his means.