Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1917-11-01
MANY CHILDREN ARE
ACTUALLY STARVING
Urgent Appeal Is Made To People OF
Audubon To Help Save Little
Ones in Holland

/ The following paragraph from q
letter received from Mrs. James A.
Kirk, who is doing active relief work
OF The Hague and whose son is q
secretary in the United States en-
bassy there, should appeal to all those
who wish TO relieve the suffering Of
the little French and Belgian child
/ rem. who are being forced in such
/ numbers into Holland from the de-
wasted sections OF France and Bel
GUM. Full assurance maybe had
! that any donation of clothes OF mon
( ey, no matter how small will 20 to
relieve and possibly save the life of
some little enc. Al articles and
money will be handled through q
former secretary to the Embassy at
Beriin-now in Washington assur-
, ing their shipment to Mrs. Kirk at
The Hague Mrs. Kirk is the mother
I !n-iaw of Mrs. LoweIe Van Corder
Kirk of Chicago.
The Hague. Sept. 20. 1917.
+ | have Just moment as | hear an
English packet boat will take letters,
TO write you TO ask il you ard
friends could not start something for
the relief of the little French child
rem who are sent to Holland from the
occupied districts in Northern France.
We have nearly exhausted the
source of help here at The Hague
and the demands grow so insistant.
So many more children should
come out of Belgium who are stary-
ing or going to worse fate under
the influence of the German soldiers
there
This one home that l give my
special care TO, has now SIS children
both boys and girls from 7 to is
years of age, but most of them aver
age ten to twelve years.
The house where they now are is
very old and uncomfortable and The
Hague has given another which Will
accommodate more if means can ba
found to care for them.
IT costs SO a month to keep one
child and if clothes are included s12.
Many take over upon themselves the
care of one child and il particular
child is selected, furnish clothing for
il.
The Dutch government does all it
can. gives homes etc. and many with
country homes take from 10 to 60
of these children into their homes
The girls wear the simplest wash
or wool dresses and aprons of any
dark wash material. Second hand
clothing was given at first hut the
supply is now exhausted. The boys
wear blouses and trousers of any ma
terial and the small boys also wear
arro"s.
The urgent need is for shoes and
stockings.
] thought. perhaps sewing circles
could be started, to make aprons
dresses and any other wearing APP
parel strictly necessary. Induce
some to donate money for the case
of one child for one. two or three
months.
We are always expecting peace to
come, but if these little waits are
sent hack they must have clothes.
They arrive in such wretched con-
dition and their clothing is so infest-
ed with vermin it has to be destroy
ed. 1t would break your heart to
see them. 1t is possible to cleanse
their bodies and clothe them, but
the injury done their little minds
from the sights they have witnessed.
I fear can never be remedied.
Life here, just now revolves its
self into one theme. Charity.
The. city is full of refugees of all
sorts and deserters from prison
camps in Germany and Belgians who
are daily escaping from their own
starving land. But ones heart goes
out most to these little homeless or
phans and any help from you would
be so gratefully appreciated.
Audubon women are willing and
anxious to do their bit and answer
this urgent appeal. Clothes are be.
ing collected and sewing done and q
box will be sent from here on Dec.
LIST.
Kindly leave any contribution Iof
clothes or money with Mrs. r. r.
Childs or telephone and she will call
for any packages.