The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-10-29
WHOLE NO. 1857.
Clara Barton at Geneva.

The following letter. dated Gene
va, Switzerland, Sept. s, Is from An
toinette Margot and addressed to the
Woman's Journal:
The great kindness with which
two or three American papers receiv-
ed and published some articles
which / sent them. few years ago
in regard to Miss Clara Barton's
work in Strasbourg, encourages me
to send you an episode of her pres
ent visit to Geneva on tho occasion
of the third conference of the Geneva
convention, known as the Red Cross.
leave it to pens better authoriz.
ed than mine to tell you about the
conference but | want to be the
first to speak to you of Miss Barton,
whom we are proud and happy to
have again in our old Europe, where
she is as well known as if she had
been born among US, and where she
is loved and appreciated by many
rulers and nations who saw her at
work after our great war of 1870.
The hearts of all her countrymen
would have beaten with a noble
pride, as did mine, if they had been
present at the session oflast Wednes-
day. Mr.. Sheldon had just spoken
of the Red Cross in America, and
paid delicate compliment to Miss
Barton. After speaking of her ef-
forts to spread the Red Cross in the
United States, and of the full sue
cess by which they have been crown
ed, he alluded TO Miss Nightingale,
and said with voice of emotion
F" After our American war we used
to call her our Florence Nightingale;
but now we only need to call her
our Clara Barton, and we consider
that this name is enough" Upon
this the whole audience, who were
less familiar with the American
work of your famous and beloved
country woman than with her Euro
peau work, but who knew the latter
well, applauded warmly. One of
ihe Italian delegates, springing upon
the platform, proposed to the assem-
blage TO vote by acclamation that
Miss Barton has deserved well of
humanity" And actual thunders
of applause broke out at this propo-
sition. Emotion and enthusiasm
were at the highest pitch. The clap
ping and stamping were renewed
again and again as if they would
never stop.
L do not know whether you are
familiar in America with the exact
significance of the phrase, ''blen
merite ee Phumanite." 1t is the ex-
preston of the highest appreciation,
honor and esteem that the French
language can convey. 1t means that
all humanity is under grateful obli-
cations to her for the varied work |
she has accomplished, net in Amer |
lea only, but wherever she has gone. |
1t lie to declare her a universal bene-
iactress- Miss Barton is probably |
that from the official representatives
Of all the governments of Europe,
and from seven foreign countries. |
which gives this vote very great |
] hope and believe that after this
Congress and this vote old Europe |
will no longer be SO afraid of seeing
women mingle in public work which |
has been considered hitherto as the
exclusive domain of men. | hope |
that this meeting with a woman dis
as princess, modest and |
capable as statesman, will mark a
step of real progress in the cause of |
and that we shall be able,
we women of all nations. to declare |
that Miss Barton has deserved well
of womanhood. And this is why
address. through a woman's paper,
my humble tribute to our noble and
venerated friend May God send
us many Clara Blrtons, and the tri-
umph of our cause will be near at
hand.