CHARITY STATUES.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 348, 19 November 1915, Page 7

CHARITY STATUES.

Many of the war chaVity schemas in Germany take the form of wooden statues. These have been erected in many of the towns throughout the country. People drive nails into the statues and these nails they purchase at one mark (about Is) each the proceeds usually going to the Red Cross funds. The idea is that the statue should be covered with nail armours jand according to the German Press [there is scarcely a German town of any import wfhcih has not erected in seme prominent position one of these I charity statues. Berlin has the most imposing one a huge effigy of Hindenburg, erected in front of the Reichstag, close to the Bismarck monument. The figure of Hindenburg himself is no less than 35ft. high from the soles of his mighty boots to the crown of his colossal hat, and the statue rests on a square pedestal over 6ft. high. At Hamburg a wooden sattue of the Gdrman St. Michael has been erec+ed. He is described as being of a knightly figure, armed in mail, with a flaming sword in his hand, and holding a gigantic shield on which a Red Cross is painted. At St. Michael’s feet„ s a dragon, “held fe(st by h!s knightly fcot. Carved from the stump of a pear tree 6ft. long, the dragon has four heads, representing England, Russia, France, and Italy.” Hamburgers are now spending their marks in nails which they drive into the statue in the cause of charity.