Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-02-18
FAMILIES SEEK
IN THIS COUNTRY
Hundreds Fled, Fearing That
Germans Might Make Them
Serve In kaiSer's Army.

hospitality we had appealed for the
care OF the grandfather. decided. on
seeing the rest of the family. 10 take
them all into their employ-the father
as useful man. the mother ms seam
stress and the grandfather as gardener
Another family father. mother and
child of eight years-was placed with
people in the country. The daughters
Of the family had been educated IN
Belgium and were therefore able TO
speak to the refugees i'm French and
also I'm their own Flemish tongue.
Skilled Workers From Cities.
Thus far the refugees have been
mostly from the cities. especially from
Antwerp and its environs. Butchers.
shoemakers. pharmacists. diamond cut
ters and chauffeurs have come to us.
They. of course. do not expect neces-
sarily TO follow their trade here. One
Of them took position in Pennsylva-
MIA rs second butler. and a few days
ago we received letter from him in
which he was profise in his thanks for
our help in procuring for him the
means OF subsistence.
MANY people ask us why so many
Belgian men come here when 1t might
seem that they ought TO be at the from
4, with the Belgian army. In making ON
their bureau registration we Of course
ascertain their military status. Almost
Invariably we discover that they hold
government papers showing their hon
orable discharge release or excuse
from military service. Quite mum
: ber also. who never were called to
the army found ii impossible while in
Belgium 10 join the Belgian army on
| account of the German occupation u;
that country. and a considerable num
Der OF men not liable to their own
Belgium i'm fear OF beim. called upon
/ by the Germans 10 assist IN the op
CREATIONS OF the German army
TO show the adaptahilily Of these
people may be cited the case Of Il Bel
gian who had worked for Scvpra years
in Belgium in tobacco factory lie
Is now making a success a~ a hHkrr
The Belgian refugees who have come
10 us are neat intelligent. clean mind
ed and serious people courteous ano
full Of gratitude 10 the American na
tion. So far we have nothing but III.
best OF reports from the people VIII,
have employed the refugees we hav.
recommended to them. and every mai
brings letters written in Flemish az
French TO tell of considerate treatment
from their employers
Belgian Bureau Permanent
The Belgian bureau, the Offices of
which the Belgian relief fund is using
is n permanent institution whose husi
ness it is to look after the Brglans
who come Ia this country The bureau
helped 5000 BegianS during the Inst
twelve months If there is any diff
Guilty regarding BelgianS M Ellis is
land the director of the bureau. the
Rev. ]. f. Stilleman>. who Is also pres
ident of'the Belgian Relief fund goes
over or sends one of his assistants II
is remarkable To note the change that
comes over the refugee when he catch
es sigh. of M. rAbbe.
so far we have put al refugees i'm
way to earn their living and In many
cases have procured them real friends
Positions taken by the refugees range
all the way from window washers to
professorships. The great call is for
single women as general housework.
ers, but of these we have had few.
The few single women that have come
over have not been domeStics; they
have been teachers or saleswomen.
This class. however, probably will be
the next TO arrive. At present we are
seeking positions for the men. Any
kind OF work they will do. Many PEG.
pie also ask for farmers. but SO far we
have had very few "