Evening journal., 1915-02-10
RECEIVES THANKS
FROM THE WAR ZONE
Mrs. Thomas W. Miller
Gets Letter Of Apprecia-
ton From France
FLANNEL AND BOOTS
FOR WOMEN NEEDED

An interesting letter and communi-
cation has been received by Mrs
Thomas W. Miller from Dinard,
France. which is in the midst Of
district ravaged by the throes Of war
They we're received by Mrs. Miller af-
ter she had responded to a general
letter which appeared in a magazine
from Mrs. Duryea at Dinard. France.
requesting contributions of money
and clothing to be used by Americans
who had associated themselves with
The work of relieving the thousands
of French, Belgians and non-combat-
ants who had flocked TO the border
land around Dinard.
A considerable amount of money
was raised by Mrs Miller in Whining.
ton and forwarded to Mrs Duryea a
few weeks ago. The following is the
reply received:
OEUVRE DES BELGES.
Dinard, Jan. 6. 1915.
My Dear Mrs. Miller Your sympa-
thetic letter of November % just re-
ceived. How kind. Your splendid
gift for my poor here will alleviate
much distress. and as the suffering is
appalling, know that. without red
tape. it goes instantly into clothing
for those who face winter here in
summer rags.
Ny work. begun alone in Septem-
her. grew beyond me when splendid
American generosity came pouring
across the ocean in response to my
frfr frrrf ror Cd mn
the result and We are now getting a
grip on different situation. The r.
RS have given free passes; the S.
SIS free carriage; the customs free
entrance and the 10000 Belgians and
10000 soldiers in this district are be-
ginning to realize that compassion Is
a practical sentiment in America.
! beg you to beg others to be kind
and send anything and everything. A
case sent to my brother, Mr.. G. Stu
art Smith, Is Broadway, New York,
will be forwarded without expense.
Canned food will have to pay duty
but if you would only send box of
cotton flannel (gray) or warm, cheap
dress goods to be made up; OF strong
women's boots; what joy.
Sincerely yours.
NINA L. DURYEA.
Chairman of Relief Committee.
The Queen of Belgium. writing from
the General Headquarters of the Bel
gian Army at the front. has sent her
warm appreciation of the "Oeuvre des
Belges," TO which she gives her royal
patronage.
A PLEA.
This committee has been formed by
the Baroness dc Broqueville. daugh-
ter-in-law of the Prime Minister of
b Belgium. for the relief of immediate
necessities of the Belgian refugees
aod-pEoYiding- them with adequately
paid work. in Brittany and the sur
rounding PROVINCES. They number
over 10000. and are largely composed
of aged men and women and children
for all able-bodied Belgian men are
either dead or facing death on tho
battlefield
The large funds raised in America
20 to London. Paris and Holland
None comes here. though this distant
corner of France is hampered by scar
cities of supplies and all the ravages
Of war. These people do not ash
charity" for the debt civilization
owes them, cannot be repaid by none,
or clothing. They ask for work" ant
TO give it, is the main object of this
society, that they may retain theii
self-respect. acquire means to eventu.
ally rebuild their burned homes. anC
also to relieve the state Of their sup.
port.
With that end I'm view. this societ,
has opened workroom in Dinard and
will open others elsewhere in Brit
tany. where Belgian women are en-
ployed at good wages making clothin,
which is distributed through the sur
rounding country. where finely-bret
men and women and little children ar,
huddled in peasants huts, with ungIaz
cd windows and earthen floors. A few
months ago, these people enjoyed pret.
~ homes; today in ashes. Their gar
dens are now numbered with the bod.
les OF those they loved, and cannon
balls are the sole crop of the fields
they cultivated. But these once pros.
porous people. are now doing peas
ants work, rather than accept charity
with little complaint. for they appar
emily accept the heavy cost of havin.
preserved their honor. though il ha:
~ 'hNh WIN htNhiHE save nope.
This committee earnestly cmplore,
your aid in raising this Belgian popu
lation 10 its feet. Without il. we viii
Tail. They have your sympathy. bu
sympathy alone will not buy clothin,
to replace the summer apparel in
which they now shivcr with cold. 70
we have not enough of anything 70
these innocent victims of a monstrou
wrong. We beg you to give. Ever
what is thrown aside in America
would be priceless here, where hu
nan suffering is beyond anything O
which Americans can conceive. The
arc practically penniless. homeless
and without a--country, or resource
by which they can help themselves.
This society also wishes to estah
lish a link between all other Belgiai
'ellef committees, to enable member
)f families which are dispersed i'm var
lous directions. to regain one another
There is no ''red tape" in our meth
DDS. The projects have supplied u
with cards bearing the name, age. sc
and number of children, as well as an
assistance received from other source
by them, so everything we give is
necessity TO that individual. Within
few hours after your gifts have bee
received. they are distributed person
ally here, or sent, free. TO distant al
plicants.