Evening star., 1919-04-04

tndI attracted dlieHtlOI pun
her head was a broad-brimmed vel
vet hat, colored feather showing
oddly against the black background.
1t might have been a creation once
worn by Gibson girl. 1t suggested
that type of person.
Ghosts of the Long Ago.
Then her coat caught ones eyes. 1t
was one of those ight:itting affairs
that suggested photos placed in the
family photograph album back in the
ninetieS. 1t fitted as tightly as any
vest. but the sleeves to the elbow
were snug, a Ia balloon, the rest OF
the way to the shoulder. It's short
ness was accentuated by peculiar
little bunch of pleats at the rear.
One saw ghosts of the long ago.
AS she elbowed her way toward the
bread counter and took haSty glance
at the great cans of Steaming soup
with which she soon was to I'LL her
surprised glanceS that fell in her
direction. On the other hand. she
was voluble when discreetly question
ed as to her circumstances and odd
raiment. In fact, she was eager. Here
is what she said
MY food I get from America. And,
see. these clothes l get from America.
If it were not for America I get no
food and no clothes. Then I get hun
cry. Maybe die. Then l get cold and
maybe die. America good to we Bel
gians.'
More than thirty million garments
have been received in Belgium from
the outside world. principally Ameri-
ca. Seventeen million of these al
ready have been distributed. AS the
result of the campaign recently
waged in the United States for cloth
ing for the Belgian civil popula tions.
10000 tons will arrive at the port of
Antwerp during the course of the next
few weeks-more than five shiploads.
Cover Great Floor Space.
AS these great burlaped bundles
are taken from the ships they usually
are dispatched Immediately to Brus-
sells, where the central distributing
Offices and workshops are located.
This branch of Belgian relief. which
single room early in 1914, has grown
to proportions so immense that today
it's various buildings and workshops
cover hundreds of acres of floor
space and 10000 people are given need.
ed employment in its operation
AS the thousands of burlapped bun
dies of old clothing arrive at the
warehouses in Brussels they go to
central distributing plant where
Belgian girls are used in sorting. A
bundle is placed before them and
here they distribute the contents No
America. and as consequence all
kinds of garments may be found in
the same bundle.
The Belgians go about this work
with discrimination. All articles for
men are placed in one pile. those for
tn,
children in still another. Each ar
ticle is classified according to it's
value and condition. Those articles
needing repairing are sorted from
the rest and they go to special tailor
ing establishments. where they are
further washing are sent to the
laundry.
Some idea Of the number of bales
received and distributed during the
course of each week may be gained
by examining the figures of the week
dred and seventy-eight bales of
clothing. each bale containing an
average of 2o3 articles Of wearing
apparel. were handled by these girls
in the sorting room. Nearly $1,000
bales had until that time been han
1000 articles were assorted during
the week. OF the goods received
from September on 242.09S were new,
indicating that the American people
were not alone content to send their
cast-off clothing. During this period
Of time 3S7,14l articles had gone
through repairing processes, S4,S72
of these being suits Of clothes.
Kinds of Garments.
To give even more intimate idea of
the number of garments handled in
this relief work up to the first of
March one has but to look carefully
at the figures. OF the articles received
there were 146,744 mems shirts, 125,-