The Irish standard., 1895-12-21
LIFE WORK Of A WOMAN. |
What Clara Barton, Head of the
American Society Of the Red
Cross, Will Do.
She Will Visit Armenia and Re-
lieve the Sufferings of
Christians There.
Sketch of Her Labors and the
Wonderful Success She
Has Accomplished.

lldS
The determination Of Clara Barton, the
heroic and worthy head of the American
Society OF the Red Cross, to visit Turkey
with the view of ameliorating the suffer-
tnss of the Armanians and invoking the
eervices Of that magnificent organization
In caring for the wounded Of ali sects and
hationalities, presents the first gleam OF
hope that the atrocities will be discontin-
iued, or at least that the sufferings incident
Ito them will be ninimized. The name Of
Miss Barton has become an 'honored house
hold word in all parts Of America and Eur
ope. The reverence with which she is re-
gan1ed wherever her unselfish work for
humanity is known has become Droverbial
and that she has undertaken this vast and
hazardous enterprise is but another proof
of devotion to humanity and q consecra-
ton Of her life to it's cause that must enlist
the sympathy and support Of philanthropic
hearts everywhere. Tt is only those who
have had a glimpse of her real character
and beautiful inner life. such as mey be
obtained by those who are privileged to
visit her in her home in this city, who can
fully appreciate the unselfishness Of her
work. says a Washington correspondent Of
the Chicago Times-H erald. She is sin
grlarly ,unambitious, and the honors that
have come to her have been unsought and
almost unwelcome. But they are rewards
won by real merit and honest endeavor III
an uninyiting but strikingly important
field of usefulness.
Miss Barton comes from sturdy New
England stock and Was born in Massachu-
setts or Christmas Day, 1880 her father
being Captain Stephen Barton, who re-
sided at Oxford. who had served with dis
tinctiom in the Indian wars, and whose
courage and patriotism she Inherited. She
enjoyed no more advantages in early life
than other girls OF her time, and fewer
than those of the present day, for she had
to walk two miles to school along country
road. But the exercise strengthened mus
Gle and nerve and the pure country air in
vigDrared' brain and blood, so that she
made rapid progress in the acquisition OF
knowledge.
AT the age OF L. Miss Barton became a
teacher in her own neighborhood and ex-
hibited rare executive and governing abll-
ity Soon afterward size started free
school at Bordentown n j., beginning
whit six pupils in an old house. Before the
brick school house had been erected for
their accommodation at q cost OF $4,000.
The labor proved too severe for her fragile
body, however. Her health failed and she
came to this city In 1854 Judge Mason,
commissioner Of patents, offered her a
clerkship, which she accepted and filled
very satisfactorily She was the first wo-
man employed in the patent office. When
the war broke out she was still employed
In that Office and when the first regiment
Of troops arrived in the city Was among
those who met them al the station with
food and deicacies greatly needed after
the fierce encounter they had had on the
streets of Baltimore,
OF her subsequent work in the war 1t
would require a volume to tell the story.
But it may be said she got into it without
prem editation Her brother had been
captured by the enemys troops and she
resolved to try to secure his release. Before
starting for the front she announced in a
Massachusetts newspaper that she would
receive stores and money for the wounded
soldiers and distribute them personally.
There was an overwhelming response and
she found herself with work On hand
pnerous beyond all expectation. Until the
war closed she never left the field biit con-
tinueti nursing the sick, relieving the suf-
tering and distributing supplies that came
to her from all parts Of the north. She
worked quite alone and independent OF
any organization and when hostil!ties end
ed Clara Barton was known throughout
The world as the soldiers faithful and un-
yalfish friend. She served through the Ell
tire time and wherever her services were
needed she was al hand to- render them.
No danger was great enough to deter her,
no deprivation 100 severe to drive her from
her purpose. She not only ministered 10
the sick and wounded but comforted the
dying by gentle touches of Wo1nanly good-
ness and went to the heart and soothed
Immediately after the close of the war
Miss Barton volunteered to go to An(ler-
sonville prison to identity the graves Of
3 ths dead there. 1t was d hard and hazard
Gus mission, but she was 50 successful that
she was afterward commissioned by the
government 10 ascertain as far as possi-
bic all about the $4,000 missing men, OF
whose fate the war department. had no rec
ord. This work occupied four years and
I was so severe a tax chat upon its compile
ton she was sadly broken in health, and
,inon the advice of her physician she went
to Switzerland in 1859.
1t was while in Geneva shortly after that
she became acquainted with the Society OF
The Red Cross Meeting the officers Of the
association she ascertained the plans and
scope OF its work. It at once appealed TO
her sympathy, though at the time she did
not know that the government of the Uni
ted States held aloof from this most hu-
llane and smeritorious organization,
though "a nations had subscribed to the
compact Within three days after the
Z opening Of hostilities between France and
Prussia III 1870 the Red Cross was In the
{ field, with Miss Barton as one Of its most
jealous and efficient. workers. She was at
me seige of sttrasbnrg g, ich lasted 4 90
u days and they were days OF fire and blood
\ and carnage and labor. But she remained
s. 81 her post Of duty and entered the fallen
city with the German srmy, honored for
courage, skill and human nitarianis sm BY 5fh
s8$Ststs and men. Subssqu Ii d at slega
81 of.s Paris, her laborsj were renewed and
hen the war ende she was bro
In l8 f733 she returned to America.
n Ss9bnt AIS sofeeble IL red nired fl yearA
was
a tp On once be-