Connecticut western news., 1918-10-17
CHRISTMAS BOXES FOR
 OUR BOYS "OVER THERE"
Information Regarding Pack ing and Shipping Boxes to
 Our Soldiers

| The families of men in service abroad have been longing for some means of making Christmas overseas as merry one as conditions permit. Realizing this desire, the War De- partment has decided that each man may receive one package of stand ard size. The great need of shipping space for the necessities of life need ed by our men and allies make this imperative.
 To avoid any duplication and to make sure that each package is cor rectly addressed this plan has been evolved. Each man abroad will re- ceive a label which he is instructed to mail home to some relative or friend who, upon receiving it will apply to the nearest Chapter, Branch or Auxiliary Headquarters where upon presentation of the label they will receive one standard carton, three by four by nine inches in size.
 The person receiving carton may fill it with any combination of ar ticles which will fit in it and which are not barred by the Post Office | Department. When completely packed and raedy to be mailed the weight of the carton must not exceed three pounds.
 The parcel ready for shipment will then be presented at a place which will be designated later and where Red Cross representatives will exam inc the contents in order to, exclude articles if there are any which are | always barred by the Post Office De- partment, remove any notes or messages, wrap, tie and weigh the | parcel, place on the parcel the label received from abroad bearing the ad- | dress of the man for whom it is in- tended. The person sending the par eel can then affix stamps sufficient to carry it to Hoboken. Then the Red Cross Inspection label is affixed and the parcel is ready for its journey | The carton is not to be wrapped or tied up before it is brought to the Red Cross Inspectors. The outside lwrappings and cord will be furnished l by the Red Cross.
 These are some of the things to lremember. Nothing should go in, IChristmas Parcel which will not keep fresh until Christmas. Hard candy ts~ould probab1y be safe in tin foil or heavy cardboard but soft candies might ruin the remaining contents of the package. No liquids nor ar ticles packed in glass should be sent. AS soon as these ' labels are re- ceived from overseas the friends re- ceiving them are to present them to the Red Cross and receive their car ton. In the event of label being lost no duplicate can be issued. So for the sake of the boys who are fighting our battles, don't loose them.
 There will be others who would like to remember our men and it may be done in this way. Some of our large Department stores like John Wanamaker of New York and Jordan Marsh Go. of Boston will send articles through their foreign offices to the boys at the front.
 They ask anyone to allow five or six weeks for packages to reach their destination. They accept orders for all kinds of merchandise which they have in their foreign stores and prices will be given on application. In this way the boys can receive gifts from friends here although we cannot have the personal supervi- ssion of their purchase.
 Linen Shower
 On account of local conditions it was thought best not to push the col lection of needed linen for the pres ent. The canvassing will take place as soon as we deem it expedient.
 The size of the articles as re- quested are:
 Bath towels 19x38 inches.
 Hand towels 18x3O inches
 Sheets 64x102 inches
 Sheets will be accepted that measure 62x99 inches and they may be pieced down to the desired length and stripped to the necessary width, provided the piecing is done seam. Sheets shorter than 99 inches cannot be used.
 Don't forget to save your peach stones, apricot, prune, plum, olive and cherry pits, date seeds and bra gil nut, hickory nut, walnut, butter nut and cocoanut shells. They are needed to make the carbon used in the gas masks. There are receptacles in the stores where these stones, shells, and pits can be placed after they are cleaned and dried. Then the Red Cross will see to their being shipped to the proper collection cen ter.