River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1921-07-14
SOLDIERS GUARD STORES
Buying of Spring Clothing in Asia
Minor a Matter Needing Police
Protection.

When the citizens of a certain dis
trict of Asia Minor go to buy their
spring clothes it's matter for mill
tary protection. Police alone are not
sufficient to stem the tide of eager
bargain hunters. Six Greek soldiers
keep guard over the entrance and ac-
cording to the report of Melville Cha
ter, New York newspaper man on
tour of inspection for the Near East
Relief, they're frequently needed be,
fore the days business is over.
For the price of admission to this
bargain sale is yellow card, issued
by the Greek government to the refu
gees of Ismidt who it knows are in
dire need of clothing. Since this in
cludes practically all of the thousands
of utterly destitute people in the dis
trict, it's a case of first come, first
served, and the rush that is made the
minute the doors are open, needs all
the authority that soldier can COM
mand to keep under control.
The store which dispenses clothing
for the price of a yellow card is none
other than the Near East Relief sta
ton; and the clothing dispensed with
is that sent over from America from
the collections made on bundle days
by the organization.
But despite the great generosity of
the American people last year there
is never enough to go around This"
writes Mr. Chatter on his return from
one of these clothes dispensing visits,
lis seen by the hungry eyed multitude
at a glance. The scene surrounding
us resembled run on bank-the
bank of Americas old clothes.
But it must all be done systematic
ally, so the soldier keeps back the
crowds and Near East Relief worker
stands up on table and calls out the
names given her on the Greek govern
up, each eager for meager quota of
the cast-offs, and followed by the en-
vious eyes of those who behold the
all too rapid decrease of the stock on
hand. OF course there is the usual
oyer-insistent character-.an old wom-
an-who creates such disturbance
that at last she is removed, screech-
ing her protests.
IAN hour has elapsed. forty-three
families have been QUILTED and the
bales have shrunk to an armful of
rags. The mothers of some two hun
dred unsupplied families lift their
arms mournfully in the air toward us.
Even the heap of raglike remnants
have been scavanged, down to the very
burlap bale-coverings and as our car
founders off under darkening sky,
we catch last glimpse of the over
insistent women now proudly envel-
oped in brown sacking, with the stem
ciled capitals, WORN CLOTHING, u.
S. A. showing between her shoulders"
An opportunity is being given the
citizens of this community to add their
contributions to the Bundle Day Drive
which the Near East Relief is holding
during June to supply these still home
less people for he coming winter.
Make it possible for all those mothers
to get a bargain when the Near East
Relief shop opens in their village next
fall. What you would throw away will
save the lives of naked little children
in this far away land of Armenia.
Today is the day! Bundle up your
old clothes and send them to $40 West
goth Street, New York, from which
place they will be sent overseas. Self
addressed tags will be furnished on re-
quest from the Wisconsin headquar-
tiers. 229 Plankinton Arcade, Milwau-
kee.