Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-09-18
CONVICT'SDOLLkR
FOR SANTA'S SHIP
Prisoner at Joliet Sets Example
for Those Who Can Give
Toward 1t.
ONE WRITER IN COMPLAINT
Declares Those Who Can Best Afford
TO Aid Cause Never Respond
to Such Appeals.

The envelope wss big and ofTic-
iallockins. In the upper left
hand corner was printed in small
letters the words, ''IlIinois State
Penitentiary, Joliet, I'LL"
Inside there was penciI-writ-
ten letter and a one-dollar bill.
The letter read as follows:
Enclosed please find one dollar
and an abundance of Good viii
toward the Christmas ship fund.-
II was signed Thomas J. Bent,
Convict No. 1885,"
The item above came rom this
mornings Chicago Herald and is a
part OF the log OF the Christmas ship
that the Herald prints each day. The
newspaper asks it's public in a pream-
BILE to the letter. do you feel that you
cannot contribute to the cargo of the
Christmas ship?"
Surely never were the lines. stone
walls do not a prison make, nor iron
bars a cage" more typically true.
Here is Convict No. 1855 planning his
Christmas visit to Europe on a dollar
bill. Bon voyage! How narrow and
cramped in comparison is the misery
hoarder of dollars who dares not be
master OF his soul to the extent OF a
gift of one of them.
Writer is Bitter.
The Argus has received some letters
in reply to inquiries and yesterday
received one that had a bitter tone
throughout and it is hoped that the
act of the Joliet man will bring the
dew of solace. The correspondent
said:
Those that could best afford to send
the Christmas ship will be the hardest
to reach for their valuable time doing
nothing must not be infringed upon in
such a simple matter. Has it occurred
to you that about 40 percent of the
people don't think, don't work, their
idea of life one long sociable? Today
the newspapers are appealing to them
to devote a few hours for the better
ment of humanity, but the newspapers
will get the cold stare and the marble
heart. If l should go abegging for
this cause l would go to the workman's
home, where sorrows and hardshipS
enter more frequently than they
should. You will find girls working
for less than a dollar day. who know
what it is to want a gift along about
Christmas or stomach-ful of goodies,
and you will get something from
them, if not much. In the homes of
aristocrats there are countless golden
hours wasted, but It is the honest men
and women and children of the mid
die class that will come to the front |
and the ship will be a success"
All OF which is quite true, but it is /
rather with a feeling of pride that the /
of America may refer the |
Christmas ship to the great middle /
class The children of this land are I
going to get acquainted with the chill /
dren of Europe and through their gifts !
shall receive a greater gift-the gift of 1
one another.
Give Days Receipts.
II Movimento, an Italian daily news !
paper is carrying the message of the |
Christmas ship to 100000 Italians. A |
little boy. Samuel Gundling, simply |
swiped his fathers movie house and |
has laid it at the call of the Christmas |
ship for a days receipts and he also
wants a slide of the ship to be run
each day.
Oscar w. Brecher has an idea for
the sale of stamps similar to the Red
Cross bearing the slogan, Let there
be peace" and 10 be put on sale soon
so as not to interfere with Red Cross
work. Likely this good idea will be
put in execution. Letters to Europe
carrying such a stamp, If permitted,
would call attention to the attitude of
America with regard to war. Each
day brings new method to make of the
Christmas ships star of hope bea-
con light unto the ages to come. Let
each give his mite or more and cont
forget the worthy example of Con-