Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-23
MADE IN AMERICA"
TOYS TO GLADDEN.
YOUTH OF EUROPE
Plan Underway to Send a
Santa Claus Ship to War
torn Countries From Every
Nook and Corner of This
Country.

1t is row highly probable that shortly
before Christmas Santa Claus Ship"
loaded t. the water line with toys con-
trbuted by children from every nook
and corne. of America, rich and poor
alike, will leave these shores fof
Europe, there to unload the dazzling
cargo and offer 1t as a Joyous Christ
mas gift to the children of the war
torn countries of that continent It is
said that most of the toys will bear
the trade mark made and contributed
In America"
The success of this enterprise has
been practically assured through the
efforts of Miss Olive May Wilson, "the
Santa Claus Girl" of Jenkintown, who
for number of years has supplied poor
children with Christmas gifts and who
desires to extend her work this year
not only on national but international
scope. She has the support of some of
the most widely known and most DOW
erful men in the United States, in
cluding the President of the United
States, who. in an interview granted
her some time ago, expressed his desire
to cooperate with Miss Wilson in evcry
way Miss Wilson has just returned
from Washington. where she laid her
plan before number OF Senators, Rep
resentatives and department heads and
leaves this week for a tour of New
England, where she will address numer-
Gus social organizations and child wei:
fare societies on behalf of her work.
U. S. EMPLOYEES TO HELP.
When Commissioner OF Immigration
Caminetti heard Of her plan to have Gov
ernment employees contribute Christmas
gifts to the destitute and orphaned chill
oreh OF Europe's war devastated coun- |
tries he issued a circular. addressed to the |
employees OF his department throughout |
the United States, in which he suggested |
that they contribute gifts for the "Santa |
Claus ship" Other departments have al
ready followed suit.
In the meanwhile, Miss Wilson Is bus,,
with preliminary work. Since her nroh-
lem this year is both of n national and
international scope she will be Obliged !
to perform double duty. First OF all
she has her thousands of little friends
who remember her from previous years
to take care of. They are already in
hundreds of letters received by Miss Wi
soh' clamorlng for their Christmas gifts
Then, she has to think OF the thousand
OF little ones on the other side of the sea
whose hearts will yearn In vain this wear
Ior d little Christmas gife. And To ada |
70 the magnitude of her problem. Miss
sod wilson mas received within the past year
soVo requests for drums alone. Some oI |
Ihese requests have come from outside ~ !
the United States and from such reneot
points as Rio Janeiro, other BraziIian !
cities and Newfoundland
But Miss Wilson does not desDair Sba
has mustered together all the couraa,e
ana all the sympathy of her is years and
mas settled down TO work to carry ba,
plans to success In January of tbis 80
MISS wilson visited Washington for the
purpose OF obtaining from the C;ovarn
nent ranking privilege, something on
ne order OF the one enjoyed by Senators
'nu REPRESENTATIVES for the purpose of
sending TO folks at home Speeches tbs,,
never delivered. e'
DENIED FRANKING PRIVILEGE
Miss Wilson wanted a franking privtI.ga
men would permit her tn send her gifts
~ mail and parcel post without ohsras
IN TINS matter she saw the President
secretary Bryan, Admiral Dewey Vic
resident Marshall, Representative Under
wood and other prominent men. Isst
week Miss Wilson took another trim to
Washington and conferred with Post
master General Burleson on the franking
privilege. Mr.. Burleson said that he was
thoroughly in sympathy with her plan
md would help her In every way but |
hat he could not grant her the frankinp
privilege, as II would be impossible for |
he Government to diminish its revenue
I the present time In view OF the hnan-
ial Inconvenience already brought about
y the war. This, however, has bv NO |
neans dampened Miss Wilson's enthusi-
SIN or diminished her hopes. She he IN
er work to win, and judging by the wav !
he has gone at 1t she cannot help but
rim. 4
So, that 1t Is with great Joy that the 1
hlldren OF Europe may contemplate the
ay when far out on the horizon there J
iii rise a ship, loaded not with guns I
nd ammunition, but with beautiful TOYS
I all descriptions. carrying a flag upon {
'hieh Will be inscribed: From the chill I
ren ,d America to their little brethren !,
! EuleOe.'