The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1915-1920, 1920-03-31

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children will not be taken away from
them .
"To this city | returned, and I can
not get away from it. 1t has become
part of my heart. Here l am bleed
ing to death, but not patiently and ST.
lently. No! l am going to cry out
loudly to all the world. Help! Help!
"All the misery of the children, all
the pain of the dying city where the
vultures are waiting for the carcass
es, is nothing compared to the des-
peration of the old people. There are
about 100000 old people, childless or
left alone, in Vienna. They are dy-
ing, slowly, steadily, of starvation and
cold. They do, not go begging; they
do not steal; they do not complain.
They do not attract attention to them
selves. They cover in their cold
rooms, their fearless eyes staring out
at the merciless winter.
"They are ashamed of their needi-
ness. They eat as little as possible
of the cabbage and turnips, the only
food they a afford to buy. Fat,
meat, coffee, milk, eggs and sugar are
only MEMORIES to them.
They were not born to poverty.
They did not grow up in misery and
idleness. They worked and saved
money, and the interest on their saw
ings provided for all their simple
needs. With yearly incomes Of 1000
to 5000 kronen they were we'll off
in former times. Now these incomes
will not eve enable them to satisfy
their hunger with cabbage and turn
Ups. They cannot light a lamp or heat
their ovens The gradual approach
of death has made them apathetic
silent.
"The terrible story that all persons
over sixty in Vienna have decided to
end their lives to leave more food for
the young is untrue only because to
cut the thread of their lives takes
more strength than they possess.
Could a physician go from house to
house and offer the old people the re-
lief of death, few would refuse.
"For a long time I was vainly seek
ing a way to help them. Money alone
would not do, nor would food and coal
These old people are more helpless
than babies in their cribs, for they
have lost hope.
ut was my friend, DR.. Eugenia
Schwarzwald, who found the golden
way to solve the terrible problem. Her
name shall not be forgotten. It will
shine when all of us are dust and
ashes.
"Dr. S~chwarzwald founded COM
munity. kitchens. 1t was she who for
med the plan of sending under-nour-
ished children out of Vienna to other
countries, and it was carried out to a
great extent under her direction. She
keeps tens of thousands alive.
Her plan for the old people is to
get them out of Vienna, out of Aus
tria, to places where there are vacant
hotels and mansions. There she will
make homes for them where they can
live according to their former GUS
toms. The cost will be about $21 per
pairing old man or woman can be
year for each person. For $21 a des-
made comfortable for 365 days.
"You,-the men and women who
have read what my heart has written
you may contribute your share. Give
quickly. Each day there are deaths of
the old people in Vienna of slow
starvation.
Help! listen to my imploring words!
Help, all of you who remember a ia.
Their or a mother, in gratitude for the
privilege of going through life with
out knowing the terrible fortunes of
hunger
With that appeal Mrs. Michaelis'
letter ends. Her Coy, for help for the
aged in Vienna can be answered bv
all who will, through the American
Relief Committee for Sufferers in
Austria, 261 Madison Avenue, New
York City. Checks may be sent to
the treasurer, Alvin w. Krech. Pres
ldent, Equitable Trust Co., 81 Wall
st., New York City.