The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-03-19

ships carrying the goouS'
They also have the assurance tnat
they will be permitted to dlstrloute
the shoes and clothing among the
neopIe. and hat nothing will be taken
from them by the German soldiers.
One.third of whatever we send
viii be given to the women and chill
dren of that part of France wnlcn
the Germans hold; the rest Will go
TO the Belgian civilians.
The need is great. So long as there
was n cloth in the land, layettes
were given to prospective
but for a long time, now, there nave
been no supplies of dainty new CLOTH
ing for the babies. They are merely
wrapped in dc rags.
Halt SoIes Cost 81.
The situation as to shoes Is Iuiiy
as bad. Old shoes have been q
and made over, and pieced together
So often that there is almost nothing
left of them. Last year the cost OF
a paIr of half soies was 81. n
these were not of new leather, out
made from old material, picked up
by the commission for relief IN Bel
GUM wherever it could.
Bedding also is needed. Most OF
! the beds In that desolate land now
! consist of bags filled with leaves.
| Blankets are so scarce mat IN the
winter just past whole families siept.
in the same bed to share the warmth
of the only blanket they possessed.
| Hospitals are out of sheets, and no
more are to be had.
1t is to meet such a situation that
! the $4,000, 900 members of the Red
Cross are asked to share their plenty
with those suffering ones who have
nothing. We must not send then
! worn-out things; let's just divide
with them the things we ourselves
are using.
Either New or Used Articles.
We need not send new things UNI
less we choose, and they need not De
In perfect repair because there are
hundreds of French and Belgian
women whc are glad TO have the
task of mending n making over.
But anything that is sent must be:
Clean.
Strong.
Durable.
shoes, for instance, if not clean,
will be rotted when they arrive III
Belgium
Clothing, if packed while damp, will
mildew and perhaps spoil a valuable
lot of goods
Either shoes or clothing, if made of
/ fimsy. or cheap ani unsound ma
terial, will be useless, Remember
that the occupied lands are the abid-
ing places of untold grief and sor-
row, and bright. flashy colors are not
wanted. They are lands OF the hard-
est of common labor, and only the
plainest and strongest material will
stand the wear OF work in field n
factory. Filmy waists, h~igh-heeled
shoes, fashily colored or stylishiy de
signed dresses would be useless.
There is no society" there any more
-even those who were rich are short
of everything, and the poor are in
dire need. 1t is a land of universal
want and hard work.
Things We Must Not Do.
There are some things the commits
sion has asked chapters not to do,
and il we do them, loss of time and
effort will result.
Do not send stiff hats, either mems
or women's straw, dress or derby.
Do not send anything containing
rubber; not even garters or sus-
penders.
Do not send shoes that are not
perfectly clean.
Do not send damp clothing.
Do not put notes or messages in
the pockets of garments. 1t is fo--
! hidden to send written or printed
matter with the commissions goods.
and you can see that much harm
might result if anyone should try to
send a message, and it should escape
the commissions inspection and be
found by the Germans. The Red
Cross and the commission for relief
in Belgium would both be open to
the charge of trickery.
Things That are Wanted.
MEMS WEAR.
Shirts (preferabIy OF light colored
Hannels), undershirts.. underdrawers,
coats, work quits (overalls), suits
(3-piece), shoes, overcoats. jerseys.
sweater vests, socks (sizes 101k and
I'D.
WOMENrS WEAR.
Shirts, drawers, corset slips, petit
coats, blouses, shawls, skirts, over
coats, suits (2-piece), pinafores,
shoes, cloth hats, knitted caps, stock
ings (sizss Z or larger)-
BOYS WEAR
Shirts, union suits, undershirts,
trousers, coats, suits, shoes, over
coats, jerseys, socks (sizes l to 81.
GIRLS WEAR.
Dresses. skirts, ~overcoats, night
dresses, drawers, stockings (sizes j
to g., undergarments, p~etticoats.
suits (2-piece), blouses, shoes.
BOYS AND GIRLS WEAR.
Hooded capes, pinafores, union
suits (woolen).
u-rAD