The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-05-31

on the subject, and transmit to me- shall feel
greatly indebted to you for them. solicit eorre-
spondence also from your friends and acquaint-
ances. Since there are so many books bearing the
title OF Woman " in some form or other, shall
publish mine under more pcetleai title than tno
one advertised in my call through the press. ask
for and expect the support of patriotic women and
ex-soldier editors. l am publicly pledged to give
one-half the proceeds above the cost of publication
to the general fund of the Ladies Relief Corps of
the G. A r. Loyalty, yours,
Author OF Bitter Sweet Songs" Among the
Fallen" go.
IS THERE A HOME IN NEW YORK;
IF New York has provided Soldiers and
Sailors Orphans Home for the care and edu-
cation of the children of the Union veterans,
will not some one inform the writer of the
following how he may avail himself of the
benefits of the same2
GEoRGETowS N V May 1888
MRS. SHERWOOD: i have read your articles in
THE TRIBUNE on Woman's Auxiliaries for the
benefit of soldiers and their families have two
little girls the ages of ten and twelve years whom
should love to give a chance in life to be some
thing, and was thinking your society would be
the place to apply. Since the year 1874 have
kept my two little girls together and one to
help me but myself, and sometimes it has been up
hill work, with nothing but small pension for
wounds and disease contracted in line of duty and
my health gone from what il WAS once. have
kept them with me, but they getting older
and must learn to do woman's work and have an
aim in life for something noble cannot do justice
by them. If could get them in such Home
you mention by paying part of my pension,
would do so gladly, and when they get through
would have them come to me once more with a
fathers love. oh, if L able to give them q
chance like other children, one would be an artist
rejoice to them accomplished little women.
Respectfully, yours, REUBEN R. NORTON.
CHARITY AND COMMON SENSE
remarks of Rev. Dr. H. c.. Potter, of New York,
prominent in the Charity Organization in that
city, that to allow alms-giving to be controlled
by sentimental emotion is to promote poverty,
suffering and crime. The remarks which fol-
low are so nearly akin to the testimony that
has been given concerning the kind of work
that the Woman's Auxiliaries are doing in con-
| nectiOn with the G.. A. r. that we make the
words our own:
This society, of which we have spoken more
than once, is one of the most energetic and
efficient agencies of charity in the city, and
none deserves more generous support 1t
| makes immediate and thorough inquiry by
means of experienced persons, and enables re-
lief to be promptly given, either by relief socie
ties or by individuals, where it is really neces-
sary, while it discovers and exposes the endless
| tricks of knavery to trade upon the show of
suffering and the generous desire to relieve it.
| With all the unquestionable poverty and even
destitution that exists in the city, the extent
| of cunning fraud under guise of begging is very
much greater than is suspected. This imposi-
| ton is SO we'll known to those who have most
carefully investigated the subject that it is not
/ surprising to find that they regard indiscrimi-
/ mate, sentimental and ignorant alms-giving in
| the street, or upon mere representation, what
ever may be the plea or the apparent necessity,
| as grave offense against social order and mo-
rality, of which, with all that is now known,
no intelligent citizen should be guilty. Of
| course, he is not to satisfy himself with mere
refusal and the rebuke of probable imposter.
| He is to do two things: First, to give money,
not to the beggar, but to the society to enable
it to ascertain whether and how aid should be
| afforded; and, second, to give such aid either
| personally or through some relief society known
| TO him. When intelligent and public-spirited
| citizens are giving time and thought and money
and labor to deal wisely with the great problem
of charity, the least that the rest of US do is
to support their good work and heed their
wise suggestions"
| THOSE UNMARKED GRAVES.
The following eloquent appeal in behalf Of
/ the unhonored women nurses Of the war must
touch tender chord in many a loyal breast.
/ Here is the personal testimony of one of the
many hundreds of soldiers whose lives were
| spared by the gentle ministrations of women,
! and ought to lead to some action whereby the
| humble graves at Pittsburg Landing and the
other battlefields of the war where they have
| met the same neglect may be properly marked
and honored. What would the readers of THE
| TRIBUNE say to popular subscription to de-
fray the expenses of decent headstone for
every one of these, who died as truly for her
country as the soldier who fell with his musket
in his hands as he scaled the enemy's ramparts.
] Perhaps the G.. A. r. would like to show this
small respect to their workers of darker day !?
Perhaps the Relief Corps and Auxilaries would
make it special act?
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
L..
| very much surprised by statement of your eorre-
spondent from the old Pttsburg Landing battle
field, rather the National Cemetery there. in
| regard to three OF the graves In that inelosure.
The writer says: " All the graves marked with
neat hesdstones, except three the gate; they
| were women nurses, who smitten with dis
| ease while attending the wounded at this place"
Now, ask, in the name of all that is loyal in the
name of those who the recipients of countless
| kindnesses from women nurses; in the of
many of the brave men ofour army who owe debts of
gratitude unmeasursbe; in the name of humanity,
and for the sake of those loyal martys to the dear
Old flag, why were these graves left unmarked?
| Were these women disioysl? Were they outessts
| in society? Were they unworthy of this slight
tribute of respect,-"a Government headstone -
that they should be slighted so? In my humble
estimation the loyal women of our country have
thus far been too much ignored and their efforts
far too much underrated. While the veriest
hummer - that was cut down near a battlefield,
while perhaps in ignominious fight, has been
honored with a headstone these loyal women,
who faced the grim monster-death- the path
OF duty and loyalty those whose weared limbs
bore COOLING hep the throAtS. the
heads and burning wounds of suffering SOL
diers; whose tired hands smoothed the pillow of
| the dying, and spoke glad words of hope and COM
fort to the homesick and weary; whose aching
brow and weary eyes Oft needed rest vet
oft denied are refused honorable burial though
their six feet of earth was begrudged to them.
Perhaps some of your readers may think over
estimate female hospital nurses, but If they like
me, owed their good right arm" to q female hos
pital nurse, think their feelings would undergo
change. To illustrate will give personal ex-
perienee. just after the battle of Kingston. North
Carolina in 1852, was sent to the hospital in
Newberne, North Carolina, with an abseezs in my
right hand The swelling seated between my
thumb and forefinger II grew worse fast In spite
OF the doctors and nurses, and my hand
swelled and infiamed to such degree that could
not get IL in my overcoat sleeve. I was attended
by "a female hospital nurse, Sister Of Mercy"
The name she known by Sister Ger
trude." She was said % be natural sister Of
| Mrs. General Foster. Sister Gertrude took deep
interest in her patients. and particularly In ne.
giving ali her spare time tand 0fsen when OF
duty tool TO them. The doctor lEnced Ely hand
In five different places but no iamdshle pss wAs
found. At last Il begnR 10 turn purple. ard shs
pain decreased. This. she doctor took for syulp-
toms OF modification and desided AZ once on ana
putstiOn that night heard voices IA the ante
room, and recognized Sister Gertrude one
pleading for something. 20 which ire doctor
finally very reluctantly As-eniest He soon retired
for the night, and the sister came in and did my
hand UP with extra 1 wAs piaced IN a isrge
armchair and made comfortable possible,
when tho sister len for the night with a com-
Tade and lsh strict orders TO call her very early in
the morning About midnight my abscess broke
and my hand was saved Next morning learned
tkas the pleading The ant.-roou the night before