Evening journal., 1916-11-29
RELIEF FOR wAR-BLINDED SOLDIERS ANI
SAILORS

WE have received a letter from Mrs. r. Valentine
w Webster Of No 500 Fifth avenue, New York, hon
orary secretary Of the Permanent Blind Relief War
Fund for Soldiers and Sailors Of the ouadrupe IN
tente. II is follows:
To the Editor Of THE EVENING JOURNAL;
sir-This fund. which, the etter-head indicates
has been organized by leading American philanthro-
pists bankers and business men, under the patronage
of the governments OF the Allies TO give permanent
constructive aid TO the many thousands ol Dnnoeu az
lied soldiers desires to form a local committee IN
your city composed Of several men and women OF niu-
ence leisure and sincere philanthropc interest.
VIII your newspaper aid in this public work by pup
fishing on its editorial page, tho accompanying Letter
TO the Editor" asking for volunteers for this local
committed?
The existence Of many thousands of helpless hope
less blinded men who can never again earn living
or perform any useful function in their community un-
less they receive training, is verable wordcalamiy
Every person with sense Of human responsibility
must surely desire assist in remedying this situation
We take the liberty of feeling assured that YOUR
OWN desire to construct moro useful, happy ana
noble civilization will compel you to assist us insofar
the exgencies of your valuable space permit
Very faithfully yours,
NrRs) r. VALENTINE WEBSTER,
Honorary Secretary.
Here is opportunity for generous hearted and
sympathetic men and women in Wilmington to becomt
identified. actively and benefcialy, with this move
ment.
Those who do so will find themselves in good COM
pany The British section established under the
aRer Alexandra President Poncare heads the French
section, while the Belgian section exists under the
patronage Of valiant King Albert and his brave and
devoted wife Queen Elizabeth. Tho executive COM
mitteo of the Fund composed Of Lady Arthur Paget
Vincent Astor August Belmont, Lyman J. Gage Thomas
r. Gore Myron T. Herrck Otto II. Kahn, George Alex
ander Kesser Sir Arthur Pearson, Bt.. Whitney War
rem and Joseph Widener Robert Bacon and Elihu
Root constitute the advisory committee. The hon
orary troasurera are Sir Edward Holden, Bt, chair
man Of the London City and Midland Bank NJ Georges
Paian govcrnor-general Of the Bank of France, and
Frank A. Vanderlip. president Of the National City
Bank Of New York Mrs. George A. Kesser, Mrs. r.
Valentine Webster and Mrs Harry Payne Whitney are
the honorary secretaries. with Miss Nellie F. Turner
their honorary assistant
Those are the persons who through Mrs. Webster
request that local committee be organized here i'm
wilmington It will surprise us greatly II that re-
quest pass unheeded i'm view OF the humane impulse
underlying the movement and the high social and
financial standing of those who are promoting IT, There
are men and women in Wilmington and its neghbor-
hood who should experience pleasure i'm forming the
committee desired getting in immediate touch with
Mrs webster and associates obtaining the plan of
campaign and literature needed to lay the situation IN
teeently before the public and then going ahead with
tho work OF having Wilmington pull its pound in the
! humane enterprise undertaken
Mrs Webster makes It. clear in supplemental let
to that tho committee headed ny Aauy idhot Vo
siros that the local committee he composed of men and
women Of sincere phianthropic interest whose intu
once is sufficient to effect successful permanent local
organization Of the Fund.
The work of those willing TO serve on this local
committee will consist Of: O) taking charge OF the
distribution OF the4unds collection boxes. dime banks
subscription books literature etc; 60 organizing en-
tertanments and other forms OF benefit for the Fund
whenever possible
Mrs Kessler and Mrs Webster. the Funds honorary
secretaries at its headquarters No $50 Fifth avenue
/ New York city will he glad to furnish the local com
mittee with every faculty, including materials sug
gestions etc.
The purpose of this Fund is to help tho blinded meT
! to become rs nearly self-supporng possible: q
by establishing schools and workshops for their train
ing and tuition furnishing them with Tho latest de
vices mechanical and otherwise whereby their ex
traordnary handicap may ho overcome as much a
possible; CO.. by purchasing and supplying the ray
materials they need: and (3) finding and maintanin
a market or exchange FOR their products; CO 10y main
tanning them in their homes when old age oycrtako
| them Their pensions arc necessarily moagre. ar
proximately two hundred dollars year.
The American vice-presidents include more than %
ruhlic men, bankers. college presidents and notable
throughout the United states. Men and women in oil
city who are in position TO aid this urgent cause an
earnestly requested to communicate without delay Wit
Mrs. webster