The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-01-17
TO THE DEPARTMENT PRESIDENTS.

TO THE DEPARTMENT PRESIDENTS.
wish to call the attention OF Department Presi-
dents the fact that the blanks sent 10 them for
the record of army nurses are important. We
making effort to procure q perfect record of
these noble women, but ID cannot be done unless
those at the head of Departments give their atten
ton to the matter. Of the 10 which have been
turned TO me, only two have been properly made
out. If you viii kindly give this matter eonsidera-
ZION, you VIII greatly aud us IN preparing the report
wish to be able 10 secure. and also save trouble
of ACCOMPLISHMENTS NJ. Rogers, Secretary Pen
sion and Relief Committee, Milwaukee, Wis
CHRISTMAS AT THE OHIO ORPHANS HOME.
The G. A. r, WR.C. andS of V. united in making
happy holidays for the 500 600 soldiers orphans
at the Home provided by the State at Xenis. The
purchase and distribution of the GAR presents
were in charge of a committee, of which Belle T.
Bagley, Past Department President, was Chair
man, assisted by Mrs. Gov. Foraker Mrs Col Put
nam and others. The W.R.C- presents were pur-
chased and distributed by the Department Exeeu-
tive Board, w re, Cora Day Young, Chairman.
Mr. Howard Gilkey, of the Auditor of States office
represented the Sons of Veterans. All united in
the Home Chapel in the Christmas exercises, De
partment Commander o. Neal acting for the GAR,
and Department President Mary +. Bancroft for
the W.RC The following excellent report OF
W.R.C. work is from Cora Day Young who adj
mirably planned the work, so that all presents
were purchased, marked and packed by cottages,
first having ascertained the wants and wishes of
the children:
"On Christmas evening. when all over the world
the birth of Savior was being celebrated, and
myriads of children with bright, eager eyes and
expectant, happy hearts waiting for hesweet
spirit OF Santa Claus to WELD his magic wand at
our Soldiers and Sailors Orphans Home, nesting
among the beautiful hills of southern Ohio, one
mile from Aenia, there was being enacted touching
scene, over which angels shed tears of JOY and
chanted with q new inspiration, " Peace on earth,
good will to men" Merry Christmas shining
INIT "
brave young souls, struggling TO make themselves
noble men and pure, true women.
In compliance with GAR. General Order No.
10, Issued Nov. II, lSSS, by Department Com
mander j. w. ONeall, extending invitation to
the Department W.RC. TO unite with the COM
rades in the delightful duty of remembering the
Orphans Home at Christmnstide Mary Z. Ban
croft, Department President, in General Order No
~, appointed the Executive Board TO cooperate
with her Ia this sweet, patriotic work Cora Day
Dung, Toledo and Ada B. De Wolf, Columbus
were chosen to purchase gifts. Augerona Rice
| Thrift, Lima; Eta K. DoisOn, Springfield, and
annie Enochs, Ironton, on the distribution
OF the same. In response to the earnest
appeal of beloved President SI2s.39 was
received from the Ohio Corps which, together
with the surplus left from the Christmas fund
of last year, gave S476.37 to work with. We
are glad to say that after ali purchases and neces
sary expenses of committees have been deducted,
there will still be surplus of about $50 to form
neceus for this special work OF the coming year.
Three or four well-tiled boxes sent by Corps were
received at Headquarters the contents proving the
love and devotion of the donors. Gifts Of books
and aprons were also generously donated and In
some instances presents were sent to children in
whom ladies were personally interested. The gifts
were varied according to the tastes and expressed
wishes Of the children, and consisted of books,
Bibles, sleds, skates. writing desks, toilet-eises,
waterproofs, work-boxes, dolls drums, games,
mufiers, with blocks and toys for the babies. One
of the committee informed me that before leaving
Aenia lie hud the pleasure OF seeing the one sweet
! little girl who wanted y doll buggy, wheeling 1t
around, happy a bird. letter has been re-
ceived also from little fellow who received Bible
inst hat Aa tod afrG tn
school for his teacher TO read aloud Still others
received real bugle" and an Oetorena," each
promising to learn TO play 8 nice tune" when
the iadles came again. indeed, these pleasant IN
stances, with the pleasure Of purchasing and giving
| as well as receiving, made delightful Christmas
| forail. Mary j. Shade, Mary A. Wilson and Emma
/ Archibald, of Wells Corps, Columbus, helped IN
/ the packing and distributing of gifts, and re-
| ceiyed the grateful thanks of the Executive
/ Board. The ladies were ably assisted by Com
/ rades Carl n. Bancroft, j. b. De Wolfe, j. X
/ Jones and A. George the latter especially kind
| and thoughtful III caring for the personal com
tort OF the committee watching carefully IN our
/ absence the gifts in his keeping. COmrade j. 3.
/ De Wolfe was the strong right arm of the dis
( bursting committee at &enia, and to his energy and
conscientious work Is LARGELY due the successful
carrying out of the plans of the committee A de
tail from the Sons 0! Veterans ably operated with
I ready hands and willing hearts We under
many obligations to the wholesouled Superintend-
I emit Col Noah Thomas, and his charming, gifted
I wife, for their aid aad courteous treatment. We
pray they may long be spared TO give to this be
/ nehcCnt and noble institution their best thoughts
| and fostering care. The presence of Department
( Commander ONeall and Department President
Mary T. Bancroft at the distribution of the GA 4.
/ and N.RC- presents, was greatly appreciated by
! the guests as well as the $50 children and their
! kind and loving words touched every heart. God
bless all VINO contributed III any way TO the Christ
/ mas at Xenia.
And cannot but express the wish OF
/ every heart that enough new cottages may be com
pleted the present year accom- MEDIATE the chill
dreu in County Houses, that when this great
annual festival comes again many, perhaps hereto
| fore neglected ones, may know from sweet expe-
! rence what real Christmas means. Ii this can
not be done, Christmas thought, not new TO
| many, Is herewith given 10 TIE NATIONAL TRIB-
| UNE readers, to reflect aud think upon Cannot
| the Relief Corps, In some systematic way, bring
| JOY and gladness to the hundreds of orphans OF
our soldiers in Ohio who still outside OF any
institution, whose anxious faces press in vain the
window panes of our gay holiday stores, in the
! hope that something may come TO them? Let Us
| renew zeal that this may be accomplished
Cora Day Young.