6
THE
CHEM AW A
AM ERICAN
crusade in Norway and Sweden in 1904. To Jacob Riis, the well-know n
social worker of New York, and to Miss Emily P. Bissell, the energetic
secretary of the Delaware Red Cross, jointly belong the honor of originat
ing our American Red Cross Christmas Seal. In 1909, Mr. Riis’ inter
est was aroused by the receipt of a Christmas tuberculosis stamp on a let
ter from Norway. He published an article about this queer-looking
stamp in the “ Outlook,” and suggested some possible uses for it in this
country. Miss Bissell at once saw an opportunity here and prepared a
stamp, from the sale of which her society realized $3,000 for tubercu
losis work. So impressed was she with this success that she induced
the American Red Cross to take up the sale in 1908 on a national basis.
With very little organization and with hardly any attempt at careful
advertising the sale that year brought in nevertheless, over $135,000 for
anti-tuberculosis work in various parts of the United States. In 1909,
with more thorough organization, thesalewas increased to nearly $310,-
000; in 1911 to over $300,000, and in 1912 to over $400,000. Last year
the sale was increased to nearly 45,000,000 seals netting $450,000 for
the anti-tuberculosis campaign.
It is fitting to note that war, inhuman and cruel, was the mother of
the Red Crcs-s Seal, ar.d that new war fcr humanity against disease brings
it back to its fullest usefulness.
NEBRASK A
G IR L 'S
C H R IS T M A S R I D D L E
The following Christmas riddle was prepared by Camilla Kdliolm, a
twelve-year-old Omaha girl and the daughter of Mrs. K .R. J. Edliolm,
the secretary of the Nebraska Association for the Study and Prevention
of Tuberculosis. Guess if you can.
First of all, I am a small piece of paper nearly one inch square, and I
carry on my back something which will make me stick closer to you
than a sand burr,
My face is red and green and white, as all things should be at Christ
mas time, and I remind you of snow’ and sleighs and Christmas-trees
and Santa Claus. I am very neat and trim, for I am scalloped all the
way round my edge like Christmas cookies.
I have had my picture taken, and there are now over 100, (MM), 000 of
me in almost every State; in fact, all over this country there are people
who know’ me and send forme to come and help them make their friends
happy.
You may burn, tear, cut me up, or throw me away, but although I
mav be destroyed my meaning never can be lost. It is something that