Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-22
JEWS, SOBBING,
GIVE $65O,0OO TO
AID WAR VICTIMS
Poor Women Wall at Recital of
Persecution and Toss
Their Cheap Jewelry
on Stage
SOME YIELD CARFARE

NEW YORK, Dec 22-stlrred to n
! frenzy Of generosity by appeals for money
for Jewish war and persecution sufferers
| in Russia, $500 persons-the richest and
| poorest Jews in this city-contributed more
than s6500 900 last night in Carnegie Hall
at a meeting held by the American Jewish
Relief Committee.
The scene was one that Carnegie Hall
has never seen edualed. Poor women,
wailing at the recital OF Jewish perse-
cution by war-enraged soldery, ran down
to the edge of the platform and, praying
open-eyed, tossed their cheap jewelry and
all their slim monetary possessions on
the stage. Many persons from the East
Side gave their carfat, with full hearts.
At times the scenes resembled n riot
so anxious were contributors to get to
the PLATFORM Basket after basket, over
lowing with envelopes containing pledges
of donations, were hurried down the aisles
through the shouting, praying throng.
The appeal for money came late in the
evening. Several speeches. outlining the
plight of the --.ar-stricken Jews In Rus
sia, had been made by Bishop David II.
Greer. Louis Marshall and John II. Fin
ley, state Commissioner OF Education.
Then Mr.. Marshall who presided an
nounced that J. l.. Magnes, 356 I'd avenue
a vice president of the reliefe associa-
ton, would read n report.
Mr.. Magnes read eyewitnesses' ac-
counts OF the mlstreatment of Jews. tell
inS how whole communities had been
ordered to leave their homes and get out
of the city. His tale of the misery this
brought to old men and women and small
children soon provoked sobbing and audi
bic praying and, when he exclaimed,
''Wil anybody contribute money to help
these suffercrs?" n man rushed down the
aisle and cmptIed his pockets on the
platform.
In a few seconds a rush to the plat
form began and, amid wild crying and
praying, men and women stripped them
selves of money and trinkets Of all kinds.
-Four gentlemen have just contributed
100000 each" Mr.. Magnes shouted and
In the next minute cries came from all
around the house. offering sums of from
$50 to 5000. These persons were told to
fill out blanks. place them in envelopes
and hand them TO ushers. Though the
names were not given out 1t was said the
four big contributors were Jacob II
Schif, Nathan Straus, "the Guggen-
helms" and julius Rosenwald, head of
Sears, RocbuclS &c Co.
Let this be night when the Jews
Of this city will show the world that
they know how to give"' Mr.. Magnes
shouted. Let 1t be said OF the Jews
that they do not devote themselves wholly !
10 piling up money!"
Amid a roar of applause Mr.. Magnes
hen announced that Louis Marshall had |
given $4,000. Justice Irving Lehman |
50OO the Business Mems League $4,000. |
Jacob Werthelm $4,000. Samuel Inter |
nyer 10000, and he reeled off name |
lfter name, each being greeted with riot
us handclapplng and shouting.
JACOB H. SCHIFF APPLAUDS.
Mr.. Schiff became so excited that he
pranE from his chair and picked up the
~ hot tn
rom overturned baskets. When Mr.
.IaGnes declared that one man from the
Bronx had given up his return carfare.
.lr. Schlff clapped his hands
The employees of the Hebrew Imml-
rant Shelterng Aid Society gave $50
nd one poor woman promised 81 n week
Ten men in Philadelphia gave $40, 900:
even In Pittsburgh. $4,000, and groups
n Portland, Ore. $4,000. Cincinnati,
900 and Indianapolis. $4,000.