Norwich bulletin., 1915-10-14
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Dollar Christmas Fund for BeIsians- Second Year's Appeal.

Mir. Editor: Twelve months ago made an appeal to Americans in be- half of the Dollar Christmas fund for Belgians-one of the many efforts made here and in Europe to avert the threatened starvation of a nation. The response was prompt and generous. Not alone the rich contributed, but even many of the very poor, with the happy result that we were able to send to Belgium a Christmas ship laden not only with Christmas good wishes but with food and clothing. Those were the days when every shipload meant lives saved. Some of our best friends were newspapers, and even little chill dren in Sunday schools gave freely of their penny banks in behalf of other children less happy than themselves.
 To the American commission for re- lief in Belgium-the saviors of Bel gfum, to quote Cardinal Mercier-has been left the vital task of solving the food problem, and though the future of Belgium in 1918 is beyond prophecy. and must apparently depend to a larger extent than ever upon American help, one may feel reasonably assured that the prospect of famine-for this year, at least-has been definitely removed. One- third of soldiers ration-enough at least to keep body and soul together -is now served daily to all necessitous persons in Belgium.
 The task now undertaken by the Dollar Christmas Fund is to collect money for shoes. boots and clothes which are most urgently needed and for which special money must be pro- vided. The necessity is appalling be- cause at the present time there are roughly 3,500,000 destitute people in Belgium. and the number increases as the winter approaches. The Belgians are unable to buy shoes, boots and l them aGelr-ne-rannv Of hn former wealthy are now in the daily | bread line.
 This year. as last, our fund has the warm approval and valued co-opera- ton of committee of representative citizens. including Col. George Harvey. Dr. William T.. Hornaday, Victor F. | Lawson, Adolph s. Ochs Prof Henry Fairfield Osborn, William c. Reick, Melville E. Stone, Oscar S. straus, George T. Wilson. All our workers will be expended by the American con- mission for relief in Belgium. No bet | ter guarantee can be given that every penny subscribed will be wisely spent
 Percy Bullen of 66 Broadway, New
 York, has again undertaken the office of secretary.
 l There are ominous reports today ot greater hardships in store for Belgium greater strain upon endurance already
 So desperately taxed. Stimulated by
 1A1S hAON4CGEcf lG CGTLdlniY OuI
 privilege and, may not add, our duty
 to appeal to Americans doubly blessed
 in their peaceful isolation and detach-
 ment from the vortex of horrors and
 bloodshed and agony of the battlefle1dl
 of Europe to help those who are tot
 poor to help themselves7
 This year, as last, our Dollar Christ. mas Fund Is In complete sympath,
 with every other appeal In behalf oa
 Belgian destitute and differs from
 other appeals only in the sense that the total sum received win be forward.
 ed as . special Christmas contribution from the people of this country to tn, { destitute people of Belgium, an ex prcEslcn of sympathy with sorrow iron one people to another and e tangibl, s proof that Christmas goodwill even il