[Letter to the Editor.]

IN THE NAME OF THE CHILDREN.

Sir, Permit me to lay before the members of the
Union and their families a suggestion with regard to the
celebration this year of the fete of San Nikulaas.

In view of the present international situation and the
call for practical sympathy with the sufferers, is it not
open to question whether the celebration of the fete this
year on the scale adopted hitherto will be fitting and proper ?

It is well to remember that, in a sense, it is on our
behalf that the War is being waged by the Allies, and, apart
from the sense of obligation induced by this view, it is
well also to remember that we do not and cannot, in any
sufficient degree, realise the amount of sorrow, neglect,
privation and misery that wives and children and mothers
and sisters of combatants have already suffered and will
continue to be exposed to. I accordingly venture to
suggest that contributions, which would otherwise be
made for the purchase of gifts for our children, be invited
this year as for a donation to the Belgian Relief Fund in
the name of the Dutch Burgher children of Ceylon.

It is far from likely that the spirits or health of our
children will suffer by their not receiving the usual San
Nikulaas gifts. Their Christmas in the home-nest is assured
them. Is it not then our duty to bring it home to them
that thousands of children, equally deserving as they and
far less accustomed to fetes and parties, are being cast on
the mercy of the world, their very homesteads destroyed,
bread-winners no more, mothers and brothers and sisters
hurriedly parted, many of them foodless for days, and, when
served with food, granted by kind souls who would give
more if they could only a tithe of what is really wanted,
ill-clad and with the fearful prospect—almost meaningless
to most of us—of a winter to shiver through—an ordeal
rendered doubly cruel by their homeless and destitute
condition ?

Children's hearts are as responsive as any, and there
is no reason to doubt that our children will be ready and
eager to answer the call.

A member.

P. S.—The suggestion it must be noted does not go so far as to
recommend that no gathering at all should be held on the occasion—
only that there be no needless and selfish expenditure of money
sorely needed by others.

    

05/21/00