Evening star., 1915-01-05
WASHINGTON FOLK GIVE
FOR LAFAYETTE KITS"
Contributions Already Large Enough
to Purchase 200 for French
Troops.

WaShlngton1anS have taken klnuiy "
the effort being made by number OF
prominent society women here to raise
funds for supplying comfort kits to
the French soldiers in memory of the
assistance given by Lafayette to the
American arms in 1776-7S. This money
Is being expended in Lafayette kits.
which are being made up by needE
young women under the direction OF
Miss Anne Morgan.
Mrs. Lawrence Townsend, secretary
Of the Washington committee, and
Mrs Frederick A. Keep. the treasurer,
said today that money already has
been contributed here for. about 2oo
of these kits. although the work was
given publicity here for the first time
in The Star last evening.
Several of these kits are on eXh1bls
tion in the homes of the members OF
the Washington committee and are TO
be shown in store windows IN the
shopping section, so that the pubic
may see just what is being packed
into these kits for the wel1-keeplng OF
the soldiers.
In their appeal the committee says:
Americans, through the medium of
tho Lafayette fund, are to be given the
chance to pay a little interest on the
debt this country owes to France. The
Lafayette fund was inaugurated sew
eral weeks ago by number of prom
city, it's purpose being to supply kits
containing articles of necessity and
comfort for the French soldiers in the
trenches. These kits, costing 81 each,
are made possible by voluntary COLI
There Is a strong touch of patri-
otic sentiment behind this movement
on behalf of the French soldiers. The
snow and wind are just as cold along
the European Aisne as ever the winter
at Forge
and Americans never can forget that
it was Lafayette and his men of France
who endured the hardships. and dan
gers of the revolution shoulder to
shoulder with the builders of this ma
ton. and who helped them in the win
ming of this nations independence.
1T is in spirit of gratitude, as we'll
as from humanitarian motives. there
fore, that the Lafayette fund has been
organized and the work to fulfill it's
purpose is being done.
Responses Speedy and Generous.
This movement was inaugurated
nearly two months ago. Responses
have been speedy and generous, and
already a dozen shipments of these
comfort kits have been made to Havre
Arrangements have been made with the
French authorities for the lmmedlale
free transportation from New York OF
all packages received by them and for
the delivery of these packages to the
soldiers in the trenches within twenty
four hours after arrival in France.
Each of these comfort kits contains
the following Americanm made articles:
complete suit of feece-lined under
wear, two pairs of wooden socks, a pair
of wooden gloves, an abdominal belt
with six safety pins, dark mu1ner,
colored handkerchief and cake OF
soap.
while this fund at the outset was
supported practically by New York
contributions. it rapidly is assuming
national proportions. Contributions
are being received from numerous
and the work is speedily assuming a
nationwide aspect. And the whole OF
each contribution goes for the beneht
Of the French soldiers in the field, the
members of the executive committee
personally having undertaken to meet
all expenses necessary IN conductHlS
the affairs of the fund.
"0ne may become known as a
founder of the Lafayette fund by
contribution of $500. as sustainer by
contributing 500 and as subscriber
nv giving $50. One may become con-
tributor by sending So. The name of
the contributor will be inclosed in each
kit sent to France"
The members of the executive COM
mittee of the Lafayette fund are Mrs:
Chanler, Mrs. John Jay Chapman, Miss
Janet Scudder, Mrs. Lee Thomas, Mrs.
NJ. Orme Wilson, Mrs. Henry Rogers
Winthrop, Miss Emily Sloane, Robert
l. Bacon, Frederic r. Coudert, RaWhns
Cottonet. r. Bayard Cutting, Richard
Harding Davis. Archer NJ. Huntington,
Philip W. Livermore. Philip M. Lydis,
John G. Milburn, W. Forbes Morgan,
Gollverneur Morris, Ralph ]. Preston
and Charles D. Wetmore.