Show WONDERFUL G GROWTH OF THE PENNY CHRISTMAS HEALTH SEAL although the christmas health seal idea originated in it a very modest way it has spread over the country until now its story la 13 comprehensive andro nd romantic mantle fifteen years ago miss emily P bissell ot of wilmington deleware leware Dc started the christmas seal real idea in nn an attempt to raise to help in the anu tuberculosis work of her state she bifid and read in the outlook magazine an n artice by jacob illes on the christmas stamp sold in denmark for or the support of it a childrens hospital at the time silas bissell was secretary of 0 the Dolo waro red cross chapter with 40 secured from two friends as lir lier capital she obtained the official consent of her chapter and the authorities to put afew thousand seals into air circulation culat ibri stores newspapers and clubs all 11 ll supported up ported her with gront great enthusiasm from the first through such generous 1 and united effort three hundred shousan tho usan to her IL a number beyond all ter her dreams were sold that first year end and 1000 was paid on the site of the first tuberculosis sanatorium in deleware known as hope farm asa As a result of miss bissells Bla sells demonstration str atlon and earnest pleading the american red cross decided to take up the enterprise on a nationwide nation wide scale the next nest year 1908 1909 the parent organization was handicapped by lack of funds and again miss bissell found the necessary backers who aho shared her faith she personally undertook the of writing top to newspaper editors throughout atie country ask ju ing thera them to publish the tha tact fact that or al cherb e rs for seals should be sent to national headquarters the result was wag a veritable flood of orders the seat seal design varies from year to year this years seal with the iother and child Is symbolic of the helpful guardianship of this cross over the children of our country over one billion christmas seals will ha be in circulation this year la in december |