Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-18
BOYS LEAD THE WAY
In RAISING FUNDS
FOR THE RED CROSS
Austin NJ, Purves, Jr., and
His Brother Dale Expect to
Raise $500 and Have
Made a Splendid Start.

Two boys, members OF a prominent
Chestnut Hill family, one 70, the other
10 years old have collected S75 for the
Red Cross Society and will swell the
sum to $3.50 when promised checks come
In. Both have been following the strug-
gle in Europe daily. They read of the
carnage, the misery and the suffering
of soldiers and their families They
saw pictureS<or poor women with little
boys clutching to their skirts and car
rying babes. Then they decided to
work on their own hook" as one of
them expressed it, to help the soldiers,
the mothers and the boys in Europe.
The persevering boys who got such
results are Austin M. Purves, Jr., and
his brother, Dale Benson Purves. They
are sons of Austin M. Purves, vice
president of the Pennsylvania Salt
Company.
They are businesslike In their man.
ner, and one is convinced of their sim
cerity when they tell in boyish way
how much the money is needed. The
mother of the boys has been promi-
ncntly connected with the Pennsylvania
Association Opposed to Woman Suf-
frage. It is in the name of this organi-
cation that the youngsters are making
their collections. But it Is not because
of the prominence of their parents thnt
they have succeeded.
Tile boys got the money on their merits
Ono man who subscribed said: why, they
gave me an argument in plain language
that / couldn't refuse. One of the young
sters started to write my name down
while 1 was talking to him. l simply
couldn't have asked him to erase 1t even
IL I didn't want to contribute. The little
collectors have only been collecting since
Tuesday and they say that they won't
stop until they get at least $500.
BOY DESCRIBES METHOD.
When asked to outline the method they
follow in the collection of funds, Austin.
who seems to be the spokesman of the
two, replied
1--WE usually go to house. and. after
ringing the bell. ask for the lady of the
house. When she comes we ask her to
contribute to the Women's Relief Com
mittee of tho Pennsylvania Association
Opposed to Woman Suffrage, and then we
tell her that the money is for the Red
Cross, and that it is to so to Europe to
help take Care of all the men who have
been hurt in the war"
And do they usually give you some
thing?"
"Oh yes! We have been pretty lucky
so far, they almost always give some
thing. even II it's only a quarter"
"And you get large sums?"
"Yes. we set as much as $40 some
times"
"And after you have got contribution
from one house you go on to the next
and"
"Oh, no we don't-not until we have
given them IA receipt for the money" and
the younger boy produced receipt book
i'm which all the contributions were neatly
registered.
When asked if they had any regular
hours for making collections the older
boy replied:
I'VE usually 20 out in the mornings
and get all we can, and then wait until
late in the afternoon when the people
are coming out from the city before try
ing 1t again"
Yes, that's the trouble" Dale ex-
planned, $50 many people are not at home
during the day, you know"
That this lad is keen observer is
shown by a remark which he made a
moment later:
1.-THE people who are very rich don't
give us so much" he volunteered; "it's
the people who haven't got very much
themselves that want to help most of
all"
PLAN EXTENSIVE CAMPAIGN
When asked to outline their plans for
the future. Austin replied:
I'VE are Just collecting In Chestnut
Hill now but later we are going down
on Chestnut street and collect in all the
big Office buildings. OF course, we
do more than two of them a
day, but we could probably get lots OF
money
Mrs. Purvcs, however, seemed very
doubtful about this phase of the young
When asked how long they expected
to continue their efforts, It was said that |
the length of the war would determine
that point although, as Dale put it:
"Of course, we won't be able to do
very much after next Tuesday because |
our school, the Germantown Friends
to keep right on and do just as much |
as we can"
Austin maintains an attitude OF strict |
neutrality on the war In Europe, but |
his brother stoutly maintains that he |
is "for the Germans. but not for the |
KAISER"
That the children have really done Won |
lerful work in connection with the Red |
Cross is a fact denied by none. and il |
they continue to be as successful in the |
future as they have been this week their
are certain to figure proml-
leutly among the funds to be turned |
over to the Red Cross Society.
nN.H .a,AIA-N HHnS