Evening star., 1914-12-27

GUM regularly imported 100000 tons
Of cereals alone every month. Three
thousand tons Of salt are required
monthly. Some places had no salt what
Of the food. quite apart from its prims
cost. absorbs about . million dollars
month. (Happily the finance of the
transport had already been arranged
for some months to come.l Such
figures speak a language which would
render eloquence contemplate.
Organization That VIII Help.
Now there is one channel. and only
one channel. by which relief can reach
the Belgians In their own country. 1t
is the Commission for Relief In Bel
giun." and 1t comprises the American,
Spanish and Belgian commissions. Its
chief offices are at g. London Wall
buildings, London. England. and II
Broadway. New York. This commission
has due and full authority from all the
governments concerned, including the
German government. It has taken over
the marvellous organization created IN
Americans. and its chief energy is still.
of course. American. Its functions are
the reception. transportation and dis
trtbutton OF foodstuffs. All its workers
are voluntary. Its huge shipping busi-
prominent and generous frms OF ship
pers- It co-operates with all organi-
cations In America and elsewhere.
Asks for Foodstufs.
1t does not ask for money, though 1t
does not refuse money. It asks for
foodstuffs. It delivers every pound OF
food from no matter where. without
cost to the contributors What II wants
Is cereals. wheats. -four. shelled corn.
beans. peas. bacon. ham: and It special
ly wants these articles because they.
and no others. travel we'll
It suggests, as the most practical and
economical method Of help. that all
spend their funds in buying foodstuffs
on the spot, each in Its own locality,
and should then dispatch tho food
stuffs.
It reminds farmers and all citizens
everywhere that from their crops and
Of something or a hundredwefght or two
of something else. It points out that a
powerful committee of women in the
United States is successfully uniting
all American women's organizations to
the end of assisting the commission
other countries. For. although the
United States, from its size, its wealth
and its traditions. must be the main
pillar of support, the commission
counts on the eager aid Of all coun-
tries, in the several degrees Of their
power.
Suffering, Yet Innocent.
The commission will finally succeed
in the tremendous work which 1t has
undertaken, II one condition is fulfilled
That condition is that the charitable
throughout the civilized world shall
personally and Intimately realize In
their own hearts the immensity and
the urgency Of Belgium's need. sur
passing all the needs of history.
The commission does not merely de-
mand enormous help; 1t demands enor-
nous help all the time. In spite of all
the marvels Of goodness which have al
ready been achieved. and for which
Belgians are inexpressibly grateful
the commission still has to demand
enormous help all the time.
1t cannot succeed unless an unending
procession Of great ships Of food con-
tinue to cross the seas for months and
months to come.
Long Endeavor Needed.
The kind heart which leaps just once
to kind act and then forgets will do
less than its duty. The kind heart
must brace itself to a long winter OF
constant, indefatigable endeavor. 1t
must exist permanently in state OF
active well-doing: or failure will re-
suit.
For myself, have a profound faith
in human nature, and I do not doubt
that the benevolence of mankind will
prove equal even to the terrific strain
Of this unique hour.
The cause to be served cannot hut
consolidate all creeds. parties. politics
and sects. 1t Is one cause today about
which the whole human race must pas
sionately agree. 1t is a cause to stir
the noble impulse Of generosity in the
meanest soul For the Belgian people
are innocent, and the Belgian people
are suffering as none ever suffered be-
fore.
(Copyhght.)