Judge, 1915-04-10 · page 23 of 24
Judge — April 10, 1915 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a cartoon or satire**, but a serious fundraising appeal published in *Judge* magazine during World War I. It solicits American donations for Belgian war relief, specifically to fund a relief ship called the "Argosy." The page describes genuine humanitarian crisis: over 30,000 children born in Belgium since the war began are dying of starvation and disease. It includes eyewitness accounts of desperate conditions—mothers scraping condensed milk cans to feed infants, families living in cellars and animal shelters. The appeal targets young Americans, asking contributions of any amount (from 10 cents to $10,000) and offers incentives: donors receive picture cards of Princess Marie Jose and can write messages to her. The fundraiser leverages emotion and patriotic duty to help Belgian civilians during the German occupation and resulting famine. This reflects *Judge's* shift during WWI toward serious advocacy alongside its usual satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Sreveveraroraagnk NDS upon thousands of the more than 0,000 “‘kiddies’* born in Belgium since the war began have come into the amid conditions of indescribable horror, misery and hopelessness. Thousands upon thousands of them have been born amid ruins, in fields, in charred cottages, in shattered churches, in crowded refugee camps. “We found people living in cellars, under the ruins of their houses, in lofts over the cow stables. We saw children that had been born in hencoops and pigsties, and learned of one man who considered that he was doing well when the population of his poultry house was reduced from 28 to 18 refugees.” (Statement of official investigators.) Words cannot tell the story of the famine-time, war-time babies born to the homeless, helpless mothers in that desolated But the heart of the story is this—they are crying and suffering and dying. “I stood one morning at the back door of an army cook-camp watching a group of Belgian women grubbing through the trash-heap. All these women carried babies in their arms. “‘What are they doing?’ I asked a Sergeant. “‘Scraping our condensed milk cans,’ he said. ‘It’s the only way to get milk for their babies. I have seen them run their fingers around the inside of a can which looked as bright as a new coin and hold them in the babies’ mouths to suck. The mothers! How terribly changed is life’s outlook since, those few months ago, in the homes of that then prosperous, industrious land, they looked forward with maternal hope and confidence and love. Certainly you will be unwilling to let them and their little ones starve by hundreds, possibly thousands, without your hav- ing made an etfort to help in this the world’s greatest work for human salvage. Surely there r call more heart-s Please send $10,000 if you can. If not, send $1,000, $100, or $50, or $5, or even 10 cents. But send something now—all you possibly can, land. We buy it st quantities, at lowest prices, the foods most urgently needed. This saves time and mone Our next Relief Cargo will be the “ARGOSY—A SHIP OF LIFE AND LOVE” From the Young Folks of America to Princess Marie Jose for the Children and War-Time Babies and Mothers of Belgium he Argosy must sail at the earliest possible moment, laden with good food, We ask all boys and girls, and all the young folks between the ages of 1 to contribute, Please tell your friends at home. Write to tho 1 cannot see. CUT ALONG DOTTED LINE.... “Our Argosy—A Ship of Life and Love" Write Not More Than 20 Words Belgian Relief Fund Date coecceccecsesesessereseensees To ARGOSY 10 Bridge St. Ne Her Royal Highness MESSAGE Tenclose $. my contribution to the Belgian Argosy. Piesse ect an Argory Cardo Princess Marte Jose with my te Princess Marie Jose of Belgium and acknowledge my gift by sending me an Argosy Souvenir with her pi Age (if under 16).....ceeeecseeee cesses ‘ Address... order, checks. payable to n & Co., for Belgian Relief Fund.” Judge Marie Jose Picture Card for You To every one who contributes 25 cents or more an Argosy acknowledgment card will be sent, with a picture of the Princess Marie Jose, nine-year-old daughter of the Belgian King and Queen. Your Message to the Princess A special personal card, with the exact message you write on the coupon above, with your name and address, will be sent to the Princess, telling of your gift. All these cards will be arranged in Argosy Albums for the Princess. They will become part of the permanent records of Belgium. Please send these coupons with your BELGIAN RELIEF FUND, 10 Bridge Street, New York contribution to Emanuel Havenith, Belgian Minister to the U.S. Pierre Mali, Consul General. Rev. J. S. Stillemans, President, Robert W. de Forest, Chairman of Executive Committee. Lyman Abbott a ck: Henry W, de Forest Thomas H. Hubbard W. Barclay Parsons Francis Lynde Stetson Frank A. Vanderlip Otto T. Bannard r . Bi Cleveland H. Dodge Rev. 0. A. Nys. Bernard Raap ‘Thomas Thacher Alfred T, White Arman Batta Brewster Lionel Hagenaers: Henry Fairfield Osborn John Van Rickstal ., This Fund has shipped to Belgium to date food valued at more than $1,533,000—all purchased in the United States, 42-This is a nation- wide appeal. Any desired number of Argosy Circulars and Coupons will be sent to ministers, Sunday School superintendents, teachers, mothers’ clubs, ladies’ aid societies, etc., etc., upon request.