The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-12-24
BELGIAN RELIEF FUND
CONTINUES TO GROW
High School Helps Cause BY Giving
Play, Raises $57-Much Flour
Is Being Contributed.

To aid the relief work that Is being
promoted in Heppner for the suffer
ing Belgians, an entertainment was
given at the High School auditorium
on Tuesday evening under the aus.
pices of the Relief Committee and the
High School. Prof. Hoffman was
master Of ceremonies, and there was
a large attendance of our people, the
net receipts of the entertainment
amounting to $500. Many Of the
citizens Of our city who were unable
to attend, bought tickets and In this
manner helped to swell the receipts
and there was prompt and cheerful
response on the part Of those filling
places on the program.
Members of the High School pre-
sented part Of the program offered
at the literary entertainment given
a few weeks ago, and the playlet,
Rooms to Let" which took so we'll
on this former occasion lost none of
its effectiveness, even on that por-
tion Of the audience who saw 1t the
first time, and 1t appeared to be even
better on account Of its second ap-
pearance. The boys OF the High
School, forming the quartet, appear
ed on the program twice, and each
time were required to respond to
hearty encores. Other numbers con-
sisted of duet by Misses Marion
Long and Edith Thorley, piano solo,
Virginia Crawford, vocal solos, Miss
Margaret O'Rourke and Mrs. Lutte
Bonine. These numbers were all
we'll received and heartily applauded.
The other features were addresses
by Prof. Hoffman and Attorney G..
e. Woodson. These gentlemen spoke
on Belgium, giving historical facts
concerning that nation covering a
period OF some so years B. C. down
to the present date revealing how
this little country, composed of the
bravest Of the Gauls, has been the
:Cock Pit" of Europe, the scene Of
many of the greatest battles of the
worlds history and her country ov-
errun by the armies OF other nations
in wars not of her making; that since
her establishment as an Independent
state In the year 1899, she has been
a strictly neutral country, and her
neutrality was guaranteed at that
time by treaty entered into by
Great Britain, France, Prussia, Aus
tria and Russia. The little country
has prospered wonderfully since her
independence and has reached pop
ulation of approximately 5000, 900
people, confined in a space perhaps
one-third the size Of the State of
Oregon. They had built up great in
dustries, and were the 9th nation Of
the world in manufactures and COM
merce, as we'll as being largely en-
gagged In agricultural pursuits. This
great war has changed in few short
weeks this once prosperous people
to- a nation in absolute want and
more than three million and a half
Of her citizens, mostly women and
children, facing starvation.
The addresses were instructive as
we'll as entertaining and each speak
er closed by a strong appeal on be-
half of a suffering people, whose
present distressed condition should
arouse within our citizenship the
deepest sympathy and cause us t;
respond literally with practical and
substantial aid. No attempt was
made by either speaker to fix the re-
sponsibility for the present terrible
war in Europe, their thoughts being
only along the line that should appeal
to common humanity; the Belg!ans
are at present the greatest sufferers
because of the war. They have been
driven from their homes in countless
thousands, their fields, factories and
all lines Of industry destroyed and
what substance they may have had
stored for future use has been taken
from them by the invading army. II
they had money they could not buy.
for they are belligerent nation,
denied intercourse with the outside
world and their thousands are starv-
ing and dying Of cold and hunger.
No relief can reach them except from
this great neutral nation; no vessels
can take them help except those fly
ing from their masts the stars and
stripes. -a. t s....- .
The appeal of each speaker was
forceful and eloquent. and went
home to sympathetic hearts and will
produce the desired results.
The speakers urged prompt and
energetic action, making a general
appeal to all organizations of our
city and county to take up the work.
This first effort was on the part OF
our public school, and the request is
voiced that our city and country
schools, Sunday schools, churches,
lodges and other organizations all
join hands in the good work for in
this general cooperation all can have
a part and none be overlooked In
this supreme work Of charity.
The Relief Committee are very
grateful to all those who took part
in this entertainment, and to the
school board of Heppner for the use
of the building and their sincere