The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1919-12-12
men
IN XMAS APPEAL
FOR ARMEN|ANS
Former President Taft Leads In
Eloquent Plea for Support Of
Near East Relief.

In Armenia and other western AsInI
countries md to care for more thar
25O O0O' orphans who are homeless
there former President william How
nrd Taft. Henry Morgenthau, former
ambassador to Turkey. and Alexande
J. Hcmphill. the New York banker. Al
members Of the Executive Committee
of Near East Relief. the former Amer
lean Committee on Armenian ant
Syrian Relief. have issued Christ
mas appeal for continued support o.
this organization and Its work.
Near East Relief Is now operating
under o government charter and II
practically alone in the western AsiaI
field. the Red Cross several months
ago having announced its withdrawal.
The Christmas letter. classic Of III
kind. is rs follows:
"Dear Friend-Another little chile
has shriveled up and died.
1.-THE mother, creeping back, gauni
and cold. from the desert, has put
down the thin little bones with those
that strew the road and has sunk be
side them. never to rise again.
"Only a little child and a mother
out on the bleak Armenian road But
what is that vision lowering there and
what Is that voice the cold winds bear
to the ears Of our souls-'I was hungry
and ye gave me no meat; was naked
and ye clothed me not
"Today-yes, today-while we are
preparing our gifts for Christmas
many more of these little children
not hundred nor a thousand. but
100000 Of them-nre still wandering
uncnred for and alone In that dead
land, their weakened skins clinging In
fear to their rafting bones and they
nre crying out with gasping breath. i
am hungry. I am hungry And the
voice Of one who watches us as we
prepare gifts to celebrate his birth
day comes again TO the ears OF oui
souls-I nm hungry! am hungry |! |!
am hungry
snow, the children and the mothers
IN Armenia are dreading the winter
Just human remnants they are, moi
protected, many Of them. from the ele
ments by even the dignity of rags
The most favored have merely shred
ded rags How shall we sing oul
Christmas songs md laugh and ligh'
the candles and give beautiful gifts
while that pleading voice cries In Tho
cars OF our souls. 4 am naked and colo
naked and coldT
"But we can feed and clothe these
rcrishing ones-some Of them-befort
It IL too late. Herbert Hoover has ca
b!ed from the Caucasus. 1T Is impossi
Bile that the loss of 100000 lives can a
this day be prevented, but the remain
Ing 100000 can possibly be saved.
They need not starve and freeze ant
die If we will save them. In the name
Of him who saw the multitude n!
sheep not having shepherd and wa
moved with compassion toward them,
who exclaimed when his disciples
would turn them away, They need no
depart. give We them to eat! opel
your heart and purse and give t
these Christians whom he loves, VIII
are suffering for him and with WHOM
lie IL suffering. They need not die
Give We them to eat.
"Fifteen dollars month will pro
| Vide food. clothes, shelter and educa
ton toward self support for one or
phan child.
"Ten dollars month will prOyld
| food, clothes and shelter for one or
phan child.
give dollars a month will provid
food for one orphan child.
HE fed 5000 hungry people in tn
wilderness and said to his foit2wers
The things that do shall We do also
and greater things than these shall "
do Today nearly 100000 destitute
Armenians-his people-need food an,
clothing.
"He took little children In his ARM
and blessed them. Today will you taxi
one or more Of these sad, cold, hungr!
little children of Armenia into you
arms and heart In his name and glv'
them food and warmth and life7
"what a joyful Christmas II will b
when with your songs and your laugh
.er ysu hear a voice Of wondrou
sweetness speaking to you, %, "
blessed Of my Father, I was hupgr!
and ye gave me meat, was naked ant
ye clothed me inasmuch as We hav,
done 1t to these. my brethren, ye hav'
done Il to me-
an his name.
Faithfully yours,
WILLIAM II. TAFT.
ALEXANDER xSl : J HEMPHILL