The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-12-19

result OF his story there was
launched "A nationwide campaign
of mercy which Is still being carried on and
which, during the years. has been increasingly
effective In combating one of the most dread
diseases that afflicted mankind.
The man was Jacob A. Riis whose work as a
reporter took him into of the worst sum dis
tricts In New York City. the terrible Five Points
who became famous as social welfare worker
and whose autobiography, THE Making OF an
American is of the classics of modern liter
allure. The story which he wrote was published In
the Outlook magazine on July g. 1907 and ap-
pared under the title OF The Christmas Stamp"
1t read as follows:
I'm my Christmas mail, three years ago. there
came letter with story to tell that was queer
in this. that 1t was all on the outside OF It. where
no postmaster, not even Uncle Sam himself could
prevent everybody from reading and telling OF
It. And 4 guess everybody who 1t did just
that and was heartily welcome. For, In truth
that was the intention. or part OF It. And yet
there was but single word to read, the word
Chrlstmns-Jul, as they still call 1t where they
speak Santa Claus tongue. At least that
is the way 1t sounds to me when | think OF my
childhood under those northern skies Ever since,
the holiday mail from Denmark has rehearsed TO
me that story with the clear intent that should
pass 1t on. And here 1t is now, at last did not
mean to wait so long.
1T was In October 1904 that Committee of
Fifteen met In Copenhagen to devise ways OF
putting In practice theidea of Christmas stamp
advanced by postal official. Mr.. Holboell I do
not know how much Of 1t was original with him.
There had been charity stamps before They
are used In Australia and In Holland whence
there came recently wall begging people to
buy them for stamp collections And know that
they were considered In Germany but for some
reason, believe. did not find favor. I think /
can guess the reason. They didn't have the right
spokesman 1t remained for Hans Christian
sAnnersens conntryman to enlist Santa Claus.
With him as their companion they don't have to
ask anybody to buy the stamps In Denmark
Their only trouble is how to print enough The
people, the king, and the post ofice-think OF
nothing else than how they can best help along
the cause
This was the npshot OF the committees work:
that two million stamps were to be printed and
sold through the post Offices at two oere each
taDout half cent? during the Christmas season
to be exact from December 0 to January G.
the proceeds to be used in building d hospital for
children, something like our Sea
Breeze In New York. The government stipu-
lated only that the stamps should be different In
size and shape from the ordinary postage stamps,
80 IN 10 De easily distinguished from them. The
Christmas stamp is not good for postage, every
other way 1t Is good, for the man who bays 1t ana
puts 1t on his letter. for the clerk who9cances 1t
with glad thought for the little waits with
every whack; for the postman who delivers the
letter with smile broad and as good as
Christmas itself The proof that they like 1t is this.
mat they refused to man to take anything for
heir work. In the plan Of the committee there
vas provided small profit of ten oere on each
sheet OF fifty stamps for the local post Offices
tut 1t was refused. They all wanted 10 help.
THE newspapers joined hands; that was an
'ther part of the plan. Posters telling OF 1t were
'ut up everywhere Denmark Is a small country
md thing gets quickly to be talked of from one
nd OF 1t to the other. There was run on the
'ost office as soon MS the stamps were out The
wo million became four, then six. Business
ouses asked the privilege OF retailing the
lamps: but that was refused. They were told to
ny them at the post Offices, and they did, Many
usiness houses let no letter or package pass out
q the holiday season without the Christmas
lamp. The executive committee OF four that was
ppolnfed to manage things had their hands full
living out stamps. They were not allowed to
I've out much else. Labor. Office rent furniture
everything outside Of the actual printing OF the
amps-was given to them
when 1t was all over, 1t was shown that