The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-09-14
LITTLE DElG|ANS
SEND SOUVENIRS Of
THEIR GRATITUDE
Children of Antwerp Schools Adopt
Novel Idea in Thanking American
Girls and Boys.

Girls and Boys.
One of the big things that Ameri-
cans have done for PROSTATE Belgium
since the outbreak Of the great Eu-
ropean conflict. which deyastcd that
populous. wealthy and Industrious,
little sister of the nations"-a thing
that shone out brightly even In the
higher light Of Americas wondrous
charity-was the sending of Christ
mas Ship" aaip laden with thou
sands of tons of pretty things, and
every article gift from an American
boy or girl to a Belgian boy or girl
1t was an idea for which the origi-
nator is deserving Of public credit. and
the man who evolved it was James
Keeley, publisher and principal owner
OF the Chicago Herald" Mr.. Keeiey
started the ball rolling by articles
written for and printed In his news
paper, and. for q wonder. other news-
papers took up The plan with enthus-
iasm and nationwide publicity was
given IT. The result was that the
Christmas gifts came piling In, not by
hundreds and thousands. but by hum
dreds OF thousands. Even Uncle Sam
lent his sanction and aid to the
scheme and donated the big naval COL
Her. the Jason, for the purpose of con-
veyine the Riddles gifts to the lit
tie Belgians.
Pretty and Useful Gifts for Every
Belgian Child.
There were enough toys, candy and
other attractive gewgaws to furnish
at least one Christmas eift to every
child in Belgium. Nor were the gifts
limited TO gewgaws for there were
comfortable articles of wearing ap-
parei without lirnit-warm mittens.
gloves. caps shoes stockings and
what not--and If the American chill
dren could have seen what Joy de-
light. happiness and comfort their hol.
iday presents caused they would have
felt well repaid.
Distribution of the gifts was made
throughout Belgium by the vast army
OF attaches and assistants connected
with the Commission for Relief in
Belgium. II Broadway. New York.
and In every province there were
thousands of little folks gathered In
public halls, skating Kinks. and IN INV
nicipal buildings to receive the pres
ents. It was more than an ordinary
holiday occasion. for the little Bel
CLANS had been made to understand
.raat a visit from Santa Claus was
not to be expected on Christmas day
OF 1914. because the war would keep
him away" The arrival OF the Jason.
therefore, was a surprise to the great
er rart of Be,gium's population, even
to the adults. In Brussels and Ant
werp particularly the occasion was q
festal scene. In the great Ice palace
of St. Giles, Just outside OF Brussels.
the distribution for the children OF
the Belgium capital was held and the
big auditorium was crowded most OF
the day, for the gifts held out as long
as there were children to receive them
and as fast as one group was sup
piled another took it's place. At Ant
werp there was similar scene. and
many thousands Of little folks were
made happy by the unexpected visit
of old "St. Nick
Thousands OF Letters OF Thanks Are
Received.
Expressions OF heartfelt thanks
were received at the New York offices
of the Commission for Relief in Bel
GUM by the thousands. Large num-
bers OF individual letters we're re-
ceived and many letters conveyed col
lectively the gratitude of entire
schools. the signatures OF all the pu-
pills being attached.
But the most artistic of these SOU
venirs was Mat gotten up by the
is printed on splendid quality
Of paper. from the original types Of
Christophorus Plantinus that were
cast early in the sixteenth century.
PiantinCs was one OF tho most famous
OF the old printers. and a pionee- in
the use OF movable type. In 1863 his
printing plant in Antwerp was Tie
largest in the world. He got out
editions of the Bible in Hebrew, Latin
and Dutch. and his Corpus Juris
and his Latin and Greek. classic were
renowned for both execution and ac-l
curacy. For his most famous work.
the "Biblia Polyglotta," King Philip
ii of Spain sent him the learned
Benedictus Arius Montanus to take
the editorship. and the work was fin
tshed in five years and gained for him
much renown. but little profit Plan
tinus died In 1882. His descendants
continued the business from genera
ton to generation until the last CEN
tuly.. In 1876 the city OF Antwerp
acquired the famous printing plant as
a museum for the Gum of 100000
francs. and 1t was opened to the pub
lie August 10. 1877.
Souvenirs Signed by School Children
of Antwerp.
About four Thousand OF these SOU
venirs were received by the commits |
sion. Each IL signed by a number of
school children Of Antwerp. and the
were designed for distribu- !
ton among the children Of the United
States. who had contributed to the
Christmas Ship" It was found that
to attemp to send one to each boy |
or girl who had thus contributed
would be impossible. ~ there were
nothing like enough of the souvenirs. |
The commission. therefore. has sent
them out to workers throughout the
country whose names were on its
list Of donors. with the request to
each to see that the souvenir be given
to a child who took part In sending
the Christmas donations In this way !
only small minority can be reached. |
but It was deemed the best way in
which to carry out the wishes OF the
Belgian people