The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-18
CLARA BARTON'S WORK
President of the Red Cross COun-
ell Has the Brain Of a Ruler.
Swift and Silent Relief Afforded to Suf-
fering in War and Peace-Backed by
Many Powerful Nations.


derful administrative power, which has
been used freely. To me this modest
woman with the brain of a ruler. who sits
with crowned heads in the first and most
powerful international council yet or
ganized, who has served on the cruelest Of
foreign battlefieldS, who clothes city
or feeds starving people with equal ease,
who in eleven years has done what was
found to do on more than fourteen fields
of national disaster, is the greatest woman
this country has produced, none ex-
copied, and time will justify that estimate.
People will never know half OF Clara
Bartons deeds unless her biographer is
her own right hand, and even then mod
esty will keep the ink from picturing
much that has gone to round out her
measure.
Miss Barton is one OF the personal fea-
lures of Washington. Just before she start
ed for the wrecked sea islands 1 her
at the headquarters Of the Red Cross, in
the old historic mansion of the city.
Seventeenth street, opposite the State De-
partment. During the war it was used by
army generals headquarters, and Miss
Barton has carefully had the doors of the
rooms which were at various times occu-
pied by Halleck, Hooker. Meade and Grant
marked with cards to that effect. This is
Miss Barton's home. There are flags of
all nations, silk flags and famous European
flags, arranged in curtain draperieS and
portieres. The walls of the hall and stair
way are hung similarly. On the first floor
is a long salon, where some Of the societies
in which Miss Barton is interested, meet
on her invitation, and when Miss Barton
gives these receptions which everybody
likes to attend, the young girls who delight
to flock around the hostess, turn it into a
ball room. Directly this salon, and
the same size, is Miss Barton's library and
office. Here we had talk over late Red
Cross affairs.
For the general public to appreciate the
Red Cross from an exact understanding of
the inside workings seems impossible
Everything is conducted without oStenta-
ton. The world hears of the Red Cross
only in times OF national disasters. There
Is seldom any noise made about subscrip
tons. The Red Cross headquarters is COM
municated with by the proper authorities
OF suffering locality. Miss Barton signi-
les its readiness to conduct relief work.
Trains or steamers are sent with suitable
supplies and so complete is the confidence
In the wisdom of the Red Cross that money
donations come in without public appeal.
When Miss Barton, as president of the Red
Cross, does make a statement of conditions
and repeat it, it can be understood that the
necessity for supplies and funds is beyond
the ordinary. No stir is made over the
contributions and supplies sent. 1t is all
silent, swift and sure. Nurses spring up
like magic on every hand. The best-trained
men and women in the country are ready
| to move on the afflicted district
There is no need for us to maintain train
ing schools, said Miss Barton. 1.-The in
slant 1T is known the Red Gross wants
nurses or assistants, physicians and nurses
from all parts OF the country hasten to
| place themselves under Red Cross orders
| and stitch the brassart to their coat sleeve"
Usually the only news that comes is SIM
pie announcement that the district is &C.
| cupied by Miss Barton and the Red Cross
| accompanied by directions for marking and
addressing supplies. That is about all the
public knows OF it. Work goes on steadily
| and intelligently. There are no delays
| and controversies over methods. Supplies
| fidence in Miss Barton's capabilities to han
| die the situation and knows there is from
| that time no necessity for any worry on
| its part.
| MILITARY DISCIPLINE.
| Miss Barton lays stress on one point or
| two which charity workers can appreciate
She says: THE Red Cross has behind 1t
| the experience and wisdom of the mill
tary world, and maintains. SO far as prac-
ticable. upon entering a field the strict
| discipline of army. If, as at Johns
| town. it finds the field held by the mill
tary, 1t at once reports as an arm of the
service. is gladly recognized. and proceeds
with its work with all the aid, confidence
| and advantages of that high protecting
| power. 1t not only has the authority and
| sanction of the military of the country be-
| gress as WE'LL
1t will probably be news to most people.
but it is nevertheless a fact that such work
| as has been recently performed by the Red
| Cross in the Sea island district is watched
| by foreign nations with cioseness and in
| tereSt quite unthOught of by us here.
That 1t is within the jurisdiction of the
Red Cross to conduct such relief as that for
, the wrecked Sea islanders is due entirely to
| Miss Barton. AS the Red Cross was organ
| lied in the Geneva convention the articles
OF the. treaty applied only to the "ameliora-
| ton of the wounded in armies on the field
1t took the United States eighteen years
! TO make up It's mind to sign that treaty.
| One Of President Garfields last acts was
| the appointment of Clara Barton as presi-
dent of the national association of the Unit
ed States. President Arthur carried out
Garfield's intention of recommending the
signing OF the Red Cross treaty and on
| March ], 1882, Congress voted the United
States into the group of nations which had
| signed this great international treaty, the
| first ever made.
Before the United States ratified the treaty
| Miss Barton's foresight grasped the prob
| able need Of this country, and, believing
that 1t would be caused by the elements in
stead of human agencies, clause in
| serted giving the Red Cross in this country
| power 70 act III national needs beyond the
original lines OF the treaty. which only con-
sidered relief in war. When Miss Barton
made this suggestion the international com
nIittee regarded IL as an innovation. But
the United States was finally accepted with
| American amendrne 1t to the treaty of the
| Red Cross" And very fortunate for the
entire country has hat amendment proved
for in eleven years The Red Cross has gone
into fourteen fields Of national disaster.
Miss Barton said that Japan, which is
the last nation to enter into the treaty,
asked permission to use the American
amendment. and that all the nations which
have signed since this country have used
II. while the heads OF the original nations
to the treaty are talking OF adopting il
and are watching such work as the Red
&c i nrIr n ryy with
critical eyes. If Germany and France and
Great Britain and Russia should finalv
adopt the American amendment IL would
be to Clara Barton that the Red Cross viii
owe. next 10 Henri Durant, in whose
brain the Red Cross was conceived, lis
81 greatest power for usefulness
NOT WITH CUP AND SPOON
The popular idea OF the president of the
! Red Cross has been, as Miss Barton ex
presses. "a woman with a cup in one hand
In this country and the Franco-Germar
war earned her the title OF the American
Florence Nightingale. and the generation
which gave that title TO her like to thinl
of her in that way. Then. too. the picture:
that young people have seen OF hel
strengthen thar idea, for Miss Barton like:
best OF all the portrait taken of her I'm he
old-time garb, and 10 make sure that Sh,
will be remembered as she likes best sh,
las for some time declined TO have any
new pictures made. AS a special favor Mis-.
Barton consented 10 a snap shot.
But the cup and spoon" is only one OF
the parts OF the Red Cross work. There
conferences oStend and