Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-10-27
Dollar Christmas Fund for Homeless
BeIgianS.


In view Of the countless appeals both
national and local which have been made
10 American sympathy in behalf of the
victims of the war one can only plead the
unreasonable extent and pathos Of the
Belgian tragedy to warrant the addition of
still another to the list. And the poignant
sorrow of the situation j. not lessened BY
the thought that the sum total of all the
funds collected here and in Europe can
only in "A very small part-so vast and in
creasing l. the need-aSsunge the suffer
ings of Belgium's unhappy people while no
money contribution whatever can atone
for the loss Of Louvain and a score of fair
Belgian cities lately radiant with the splen-
dor and glory of centuries.
The Dollar Christmas Fund in behalf Of
which | appeal a. treasurer l. a cause
which should find a warm response in the
hearts Of all Americans doubly blessed in
their isolation and detachment from the
vortex of horrors and hloodshed and agony
of the battlctields in Europe. Ii j. an ef-
Tort organized with the approval and sup
port of some of our most respected and
representative citizens to capitalize a por-
tion of our Christmas bounty and rood will
m behalf of the most afflicted and desti-
fnte of Bclgium's stricken. population, the
committee including Prof. Henry Fairfield
Osborn, Melville r.. Stone, Colonel George
I. Harvey. George It. Wilson and DIR. w.
i. llornaday. No matter how numerous
and insistent the appeals for aid. Ameri-
cans. ] feel sure, will not refuse To sub
scribe 10 a fund which will help during
the Christmas season to spread q ray of
sunshine over the homeless refugees of a
storm tossed country. This Dollar Christ
mas Il appeals to one and all irrespcc-
tive OF creed or race and more cspccially
10 those who have not yet contributed to
any existing fund. Ii is in complete SYM
pathy with every other appeal in behalf
OF Belgian refugees and differs from other
appeals only in the sense that the total
sum received will be forwarded a. n spec
nal contribution from the peopIe of this
country To the destitute people Of Belgium.
a an expression of sympathy with sorrow
from one people to another and "A tangible
proof that Christmas good will even in
these days of strife and bloodshed has not
disappeared from the earth.
Ii Is estimated that close upon two mil
hon people with breaking hearts have fled
from their country leaving shattered homes
and hopes behind. The flight of the in
%noccnt, the Unfortunate. the women and
children, the aged and helpless, from their
fatherland presents one of the most agon-
izing and appalling pictures of human
misery in the annals of history ancient or
modern. Tens of thousands have already
found n home IN England, other thousands
are in Holland and still other unnuinbcrcd
thousands are wandering in France. The
record of misery compiled from imperfect
statistical information is still far from
complete, but il may be said with absolute
truth that despite all governmental assist
ance and private charity in Europe there
are still many thousands of families in
actual want. And the number tends rather
10 increase than diminish. 1t is for these
distressed ones we make special appeal Ia
one and all to send q dollar-more If Won
ean-as a special Christmas gift from
America. Such a gift will surely be re-
mcmbered by the bencficiaries long after
the war has ceased and no mans Thanks