The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-02-19

on the distinct understanding that it
would not be responsible in case of
invasion. Its own books and moneys
had been transferred to Milan. And
here, beside window looking out on
narrow street, like as two peas to
those of the Rialtos Of the stage, we
spent two interminable hours count
ing out, not ducats, for precious
metal is scarce, but wartime notessof
small denominations, to be wrapped
up in a big brown paper parcel for
the consul.
Next we went, by many turnings,
past closed shops and along CALI with
but few passersby, to the Teatro la
Fenicer where the Commitato Civile
had its headquarters. Wooden parti-
tions had been erected to divide of
offices in the foyer, and here the peO-
pie came for the tickets that would
get them transportation, or food if
they were to remain. We passed
through knot Of black shawled
women clogging the little aIleyway,
and guard Of soldiers were drawn
up in the open space at the entrance.
Women, old men and children were
waiting their turn on the stairs or
in the corridors.
The head of this committee Zone of
the first Of kindred societies organic
ed throughout Italy earlier in the
war to care for soldiers families, and
now recognized as semi-official
bodies) is General Costello, a man of
"a, a veteran Of the Venetian revoIu-
ton of AS and H9 of the Crimesn
war Of '55 and of the wars for ma
tional unity in the later sixties. Him
we did not see, but we met the secre-
tary, DR.. Andrea Venuti, young
man; and also the active head Of the
committee, Professor MariOne living
double OF Charles Sprague Smith. so
long the director of the PEOPLES
Institute in New York. Professor
Marione occupies the chair Of inter |
nationSI law at the University of
Padua, and at the outbreak Of the
war he and his wife had come back |
to the native city, not, as Portia, to |
give 1t law, but to give it service. |
Mrs. Marlone has been the active !
forewoman and manager of the gar |
ment workrooms. They are typical |
OF the Italian men and women, not |
only on this committee but through |
out Italy and not only OF the we'll |
to-do, but OF the working people and !
groups, who have thrown |
themselves into all manner of social |
work.
Heipina The Citizens.
The first work Of the committee i
was for soldiers families, but it soon /
broadened out along many lines. Tt /
helped float the loan in Venice with 1
one hand and carried on a sanitary
with the other. Not the i
least interesting trophy I brought /
away with me was its little pamphlet,
gotten out like an educational leaflet i
In a STRENGTHENING campaign such as
those for which Colonel Warning set /
The fashion with us. Only this had |
TO do with the littering up of canals.
More especially the committee had II
oroadened its work to include help to Il
all families in poverty because Of the II
war. With tourists no longer COM II
ing to the city and with the Adriatic Il
closed to fishers. it had, raised some
think like 100000 lire from voIun- II
.ary contributions to carry on gem II
eral civilian relief and provide work. II
The well-to-do people OF Venice
are not industrialists who make their
money, but people who inherit from
Did families. These had decreased III
rents and otherwise helped out dur
ng the war poverty, but with this
class largely gone, little was coming
n now to tide the committee over
heir great emergency. 1t was main
aiming ten popular kitchens. Eight
lays before it had been giving fifty
thousand rations; today, so swift
lad come the need, ii had given
.wenty; and altogether, through free
and economic sales, 1t
vas providing for $4,000 families, or
e, 900 people.
Had Helped Many.
So It had come about, in the pres
mt emergency that the commitfae
lad broadened its work once more