100 YEARS AGO IN THE SARATOGIAN
Friday, July 12, 1918. Two weeks after the War Savings Stamp fundraising campaign was originally scheduled to end, The Saratogian reports that Saratoga Springs is still far short of its quota.
The Spa City was supposed to buy or pledge to purchase $240,000 worth of stamps by June 28. The city’s total as this evening’s paper goes to press is only $127,000. The campaign has been handicapped by a rule setting a maximum pledge of $1,000. The object was to encourage thrift among working-class citizens, but the limit has tied the hands and purse strings of wealthy citizens who have the most money to spare for these campaigns.
The deadline was originally extended to July 5, but the paper now reports that stamp sales will continue throughout the summer.
“While Saratoga Springs has not lived up to its reputation by ‘going over the top’ in the War Savings Stamp campaign, the committee is optimistic concerning the outcome,” a reporter writes, “They feel that the people have responded as well as possible and have made a very good showing.”
Bastille Day
France celebrated July 4, America’s Independence Day, as a holiday earlier this month to honor the U.S. contribution to the war against Germany. Returning the favor, Americans are planning to hold Bastille Day celebrations on Sunday, July 14, to mark the anniversary of the French Revolution of 1789.
Saratoga Springs mayor Harry E. Pettee issues a proclamation today to “remind our people of the great principle of freedom which after glorious achievement in our own country became the guiding star of another great nation.” He calls on residents to fly French flags and pay “suitable tribute to our French Ally” in churches and public meetings.
Taking up the suggestion, the Business Men’s Association requests permission from the public works commissioner to hang flags from France and other allied nations across Broadway in front of their Broadway headquarters.
Schuylerville Chautauqua
Part education, part entertainment, the Chautauqua season starts in Schuylerville today with a children’s parade, a performance by the Liberty Maids singing orchestra, and a lecture by Harry G. Seltzer, formerly U.S. Consul at Breslau, Germany.
Selter’s talk, “My Experiences with Kaiserism,” captivates the audience at the Mayhew lot on Pearl Street.
“If there was any doubt in the mind of an auditor as to the exact status of Germany today, he could not have been paying close attention to Mr. Seltzer’s graphic word pictures of a situation which is uppermost in the minds of the people of the world,” a Schuylerville correspondent writes. Seltzer’s prediction of what U.S. troops would do to Germany inspires a standing ovation.