Danish Postal Clerk Originated Xmas Seal; U.S. Newspaper Launched Crusade

Taupo Times, Volume 19, Issue 98, 17 December 1970, Page 7 (Supplement)

Danish Postal Clerk Originated Xmas Seal; U.S. Newspaper

Launched Crusade

Far more than just a colorful little sticker to brighten cards and gifts, the Christmas Seal epitomizes a mighty crusade for health and happiness. The Seal originated in Denmark in 1904. A kindly postal clerk, Einar Holboell, brooded over the suffering of sick children and tried to think of a way to help them. As he sorted the heavy Christmas mail he was struck by the idea of a stamp which people would buy, use at Christmas, and which would benefit sick and needy youngsters. The postmaster liked the idea, so did the King of Denmark, and so did the warmhearted Danish people. Soon enough money came in to build a children's tuberculosis hospital. Some of these seals reached America. A Dan-ish-American writer,_ Jacob Riis, received one on a letter. Knowing the tragedy of the disease firsthand (6 of his brothers had died) he wrote an article, pleading for someone to take up the cause in the United States. A doctor serving at a shack set up as a TB hospital in Delaware, desperately trying to save the little hospice, asked help

from his cousin, Emily Bissell, who raised funds for good causes. $300 was urgently needed , at once. Miss Bissell, having heard of Denmark's success with the stamps, re-

solved to bring it to life in this country.

After many setbacks, she doubled her efforts, even drew the design for the first Seal herself. Two friends lent money. A printer supplied 50,000 of the bright red stamps on credit. Volunteers put the stamps in small envelopes

carrying a courageous, catchy message. The stamps went on sale in the Wilmington postoffice. At the end of a few days only a few dollars had been realized . . . many dollars away from three hundred ! Miss Bissell traveled to Philadelphia to seek assistance from the city's leading newspaper. But all she talked to discouraged her. What tie-up . could there be between Christmas greetings and the dread disease of tuberculosis?

On an impulse she stopped in to see a writer whose work she admired. His name was Leigh Mitchell Hodges. When he saw the sheet of bright red seals his vision and sense of humanity were ignited ; he saw the seals as a flaming banner to lead a fight against suffering and death. His editor "eaught fire" too. He instructed Hodges to give the story full play. He even asked Miss Bissell to send the newspaper 50,000 of the Seals, Incredulous, but thrilled, Miss Bissell had more seals printed, to meet his enthusiasm. Through the vast power of this newspaper the story of the Christmas Seal was toki, and retold.,

The crusade gathered momentum. From every walk of life, people came to buy the Seals. The rest of the story is familiar. We all know how much a part of Christmas the Seal is. But maybe when we use them this Christmas we will remember how hard its advocates struggled to "put it on the map" ; maybe we will remember what a great fight it is continuing to wage. For the dread disease is relentlessly, cruelly still with us, though to a much less degree.