Page:The Newspaper and the Historian.djvu/401

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chairs for free kindergartens, " patriotic yarn, ” and Thanks

giving dinners ; for homes for consumptives, foundling hospitals, the promotion ofproper housing for girls, improving the condition

of children brought before the children 's court, and for various

missions, cults, and fraternal organizations; for victims of infan tile paralysis ; bandagematerial for lepers; boys' clubs; the Christ

mas Fund for Belgian Children ; the Royal Blind Asylum and School, Edinburgh , Scotland; the British Red Cross and theOrder of St. John of Jerusalem ; for Belgian relief.11 The American Ambulance hospital of Paris advertised for contributions and forestalled criticism of the expense thereby

entailed by stating that “ no part of any contribution is used to pay expenses of postage, printing, advertising, salaries , or anything else .” Every number after the first in the series of appeals headed “ Message to Jews” was followed by somevaria tion of the statement, “ A friend has paid for and donated this advertisement.” The advertisement of the Federation for the Support of Jewish Charitable and Philanthropic Societies of New York City contains an interesting record in the statement

that “ themodern, tested and proper method ” is to give through a federated organization.12 In all of these philanthropic advertisements and appeals for contributions to various good causes it is evident that the appeal is largely made to the emotions . Funds are desired for “ suffering Belgians," " French orphans," " starving Poles," “ milk for babies,” but little evidence is given in the advertisement of exact 11 The manager of this fund stated , “ Newspaper advertising has been our strongest asset, and more than $ 500 ,000 has come in with blanks and coupons clipped from our advertisements in the newspapers. Another

$ 250,000 can be traced to newspaper advertising.” — New York Times, March 31, 1915.

12 New York Evening Post, November 23, 1916 . These illustrations have been taken from New York dailies, but they are

typical of the appeals found in other metropolitan papers. These appeals have been specially numerous at Thanksgiving and at Christmas. Among the most significant requests have been those in the announce ments of deaths. One was followed by the statement,“ It is earnestly re

quested that no flowers be sent, but that those who so desiremake a donation in memory of the deceased to the Montefiore Home for Aged and Infirm Hebrews or to similar institutions.” — September 5 , 1916 . Another reads : “ It is most earnestly requested that instead of sending flowers , those who wish to do so , send contributions in his memory to the American Red Cross for war relief work .” — December 6 , 1916.