On Saturday I had the following letter inserted in the Press, thinking this would stop the flow:
“SICILIAN CLOTHING
“Sir,—I had no idea when my appeal for clothing for the sufferers in Sicily appeared last Tuesday that the response would be so magnificent and so overwhelming. In three days about 20,000 articles were landed at my door. After the house was full they stood in stacks in the street, as many as 196 parcels arriving by one delivery. Thanks to the help of friends, all these were repacked in three days. Carter Paterson generously conveyed the crates and packing-cases to the docks. Forty cases went by the Orient Line to Naples, addressed to the British Consul, ten cases went by the Wilson Line from Hull, similarly addressed, whilst the P. and O. kindly took no fewer than eighty-five packing-cases of enormous size to Malta. They were addressed to Messina, to the Duke of Bronte at Catania and the Marquis di Capizzi. Another forty cases are being transported to-night by the Wilson Line for distribution to the sufferers at Reggio. All these companies are generously conveying these enormous consignments free of cost. Unfortunately, it is impossible to reply personally to about 700 letters or about 2000 parcels, so I hope all kind donors will accept my gratitude by this public acknowledgment. Where money was sent, work from the Ladies’ Needlework Guild was purchased (thereby doing a double charity), or men’s suits. The work has been colossal, and only accomplished by the kind co-operation of many friends. I would beg that no more clothes be sent, as physical strength cannot combat further strain.—Yours, etc.,
“(Mrs.) E. Alec Tweedie.”
But no, still they came.
A week later the Italian Ambassador’s kindly thanks appeared in the Press:
“Dear Mrs. Alec Tweedie,—I saw in the Press your acknowledgment of nearly 25,000 articles of clothing which the public so generously sent you for the sufferers from the earthquake. I wish to endorse my thanks to that generous public, and I also wish to express my gratitude to the Wilson Line, the P. and O., the Orient Line, and Carter Paterson for conveying nearly 200 of those enormous crates free of charge to the nearest ports to their destination.
“As the writer of Sunny Sicily my country owed you much. It now owes you still more for the thought, speed, organisation, and despatch which accomplished such a gigantic task in three days to catch the steamers. I myself saw the bales of clothing being packed in the street by your fifteen friends, guarded by the police and helped by several stalwart men, four of whom were required to lift some of the cases. I can only repeat the task was herculean for a private individual, and its successful completion amazing. Please make this letter public.—Sincerely yours,
“San Giuliano.