Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-09-12
Threc-Cent Meals
and Reconstruction
by Frederic J. IIaskin

and Reconstruction
ny Frederic J. IIaskin
Washington, Sept. 10.--fIow meals
are being served for ne little as three
cents apiece 10 ettid ats IN half
dozen European countries, that they
mny continue their studies, and 80
prevent the complete breakdown of
higher education In Europe, is told IN
n report upon n year of activity by
the Worlds Student Christian Fedora.
tlon. II is one on several organiza-
tons that are working 10 help uni
veraity students IN Europe.
The European universities were inn
poyerlvhed and depopulated by the
war. Students and professors were
killed and msimel. There Was no
money for textbooks or equipment.
The greatest educational system the
world has ever seen was threatened
with ruin. Europe. with the greater
part Of it's youth killed, has no jade-
ayate facilities 10 train what r. left,
rThc great problem la how to rain The
doctors. engineers and technicians
generally. the teachers. lawyers and
leaders, in all lines. who must rebuild
European civilization. Somehow
European students must be kept alive
anI supplied with books. for ne sake
of the whole world. This is the work
dc Federation Is doing. Rumor says
that its work Is soon to be extended
To Russia. II the Bolsheviki admins
tration VIII permit.
The executive committee which il
fs..
lief program of the Worlds Student
Christian Federation is composed of
Or. John X. Mott and Mr.. David r.
Porter Of New York city. g. s. A., Dr.
/ Karl Fries Of Geneva Switzerland;
Miss Rrth Rouse Of London. England;
and Dr. II. G. Rutgers of Hardenbroek,
Holland
A World Undertaking.
The report poivs out that the as
sistance now being given to students
throughout Central Europe, from Es-
thonia to Turkey, has been made
possible by voluntary contributions
from rs countries. including such
widely scattered sfates as Japan,
Uraguafy. Finland and Cuba. stu
dents have been the principal agents
in collecting funds. as well as them
selves generous givers. in all the con-
tributing nations. In England direct
| appeals 10 commercial firms have
resulted in gifts Of rs tons Of cocoa
and several carloads Of biscuits for
/ students breakfasts. In Norway and
| Sweden students have appealed from
i the churches and in this manner
gathered collections r1inning into
| thousands of francs. The resplts of
clothing raids organized By Dutch
Undergraduates are now seen on the
backs Of penufious Austrian and Po-
lish students. while during this sum
mer vacation young Englishmen from
oxford University are collecting. funds
lin SWISS and English resorts
10 enable this work I'm behalf ~ their
fellow undergraduates to continue.
In cooperation with the American
-ReIief Administration. whose funds
for this work nave been largely sup
piled by American college students.
70. 600 students in 100 institutions Of
/ higher learning are assisted by the
Federation with meals. Gifts Of food
stuffs. assistance by the various gov
ernnents and universities concerned.
student cooperative self-help, and
the high purchasing power Of money
Of the victorious nations in Central
4 Europe enables the cost OF these meals
to be kept at the almost incredibly
How figure Of little more than three
cents apiece.
In addition TO the feeding work.
large supplies of clothing have been
1 distributed by the Federation, slf
Austrian students having been out
fitted in a period OF five weeks early
this year. Another activity now be-
ing developed is the supply Of neces-
sary textbooks in places where not
A only poverty, but that Of the uni
versity itself prevents access to es-
sential works Thus 500 volumes oi
reference books, each with a special
bookplate indicating that it is the
i gift Of the European student Relief
& have been presented TO the Medical
school AT C.arcow (Poland1- Needy
students at the University of Dorpai
Il tEstnonia) have been furnished with
Is eases OF textbooks which are serv-
f ing as the basis OF permanent loan
library. At the request Of the Fed
q eration's representatives in Berlin
publishers in that city have agreed te
furnish books for Austrian univer-
sites at practically cost price. while
free shipment has been offered by the
L German State Railways.
Among other forms Of relief work
among the students undertaken by
the Worlds Student Christian Fed
Grafton the following are cited as
characteristics
Some Work Done.
Purchase and distribution Of 264
tons OF wood for student hosteis IN
Vienna, to enable these hostels to have
fires during the winter. Medical ex-
ANIMATION and treatment Of sick stu
dents at a clinic especially established
in Prague. AT this clinic 2o5 students
we're examined during the first two
weeks Of operation, OF whom 40 wer'
found to be tubercular.
The care Of tubercular students in
sanatoria. In Poland l2o students ar'
each receiving months care this
summer. in such institutions.
Management. of special hostels il
Budapest and Warsaw for homeless
students. In Warsaw a dormitors
with 10 beds has been equipped bs
fha Fedora ti0n