The Irish standard., 1895-12-21
to cooperation in the Red Cross Alliance,
which was accomplished in 1882.

to cooperation in the Red Cross Alliance
which was accomplished in 1882.
In 1883 Gen. B. F. Butler, then governor
of Massachusetts, appointed Miss Barton
superintendent of the refornlatory prison
at Sherborn, giving her full control. She
was reluctant to accept the position, but
such was the condition Of affairs that the
leading philanthropists Of the state urged
her to aid them in the matter. Her sue
cess was so marked that the legislature
! merged the offices of treasurer and steward
into that Of superintendent. with Miss Bar
ton in full charge Of the work. She per
formed these arduous duties with marked
success.
But the demands of the Red Cross, of
which she was president, called her into
other fields. The floods along the Mis-
sissippi and Ohio rivers had swept away
the homes of people, and thousands We're
destitute and starving. The govern
ment put forth vigorous efforts to meet
demand and encouraged the work Of the
Red Cross by assigning steamboats, for
Miss Barton's use. These were loaded!
with supplies of every kind she person
ally experimenting the distribution at
every point from Pitts1,urg TO New Orl-
cans. The Charleston earthquake and
the drought in Texas again taxed the
energies of the society. and again Miss
Barton. showed her marvellous zeal aud
ability in supplying relief.
In 1884 she was appointed by the pres
ident 8 delegate in the conference of ma
tions at Geneva. on the Red Cross work,
Judge Sheldon, Of Connecticut, and A. S,
Solomon, OF this city, being her col
leagues At this conference she was
the only woman invited to the ban
auet given by the state and civic author
tiles. She had received previously from
the emperor of Germany the iron cross.
an honor. seldom bestowed on foreigners.
Subsequently Queen Natalia, of Servia,
bestowed upon her. through the Red
Cross Association, diploma and hand
some decoration, and after her return to
| her own country she received from al
organization OF Germans in Milwaukee,
! who had participated in the FIanco-Prus-
sian war, very handsome badge OF
honor.
In 1887 Miss Barton was again appoint
ed by the president to represent this
country in the international Red Cross
conference held at Carlsrhue, Germany,
and she was again the recipient OF d,s-
tinguished attentions, and was invited to
speak. After the conference closed she
was invited to Baden Baden to meet the
emperor. 1t was q time Of great ankle
ty in Germany. The emperor received her
with much cordiality. expressed satlsfac-
ton in the meeting, and SAID, III the
name of humanity, he was glad to meet
and welcome those who labored for it.
She has since been employed in the
grand task, elf-imposed. but serious be-
yond description, wherever calamity has
called her. At Johnstown, when the
| food spread devastation over that city,
she came with her forces her genius tor
organization and her capacity for work,
| and more than any other she accomplish
ed results in relieving the distress, allay-
inc the pain and soothing the Wounded
hearts of the sufferers. It may justly be
said that she is always ready for duty,
and accepts the duty nearest at hano'
She never shrinks because the task is
hard or ylncong genial, or waits 1or a more
p,easant field for service. Her rule is TO
dc good where she can, and Whetner me
consequences be the hazard OF life on the
sacrifice of health, she neither shr'nks
nor hesitates.
The Society Of the Red Cross is an Or
| ganization unique in its breadth and use
fitness, Many attempts have hoen mace
to bring about an international agreement
for mitigating the horrors and mprtailt:
| nj battle, but the first success III thls dlS
dect;on was the organization in question
| In 1868. while the civil war was raging IN
! this country, a conference CT jurlsts and
others interested in the subject was he}ti
| in Geneva. The government of s'Witzer"
land approved the project for an interna-
| tinnal agreement which was drawn up, alld
soon the sanction of the French empire
| was secured, AT a second conference, Aug
! % 1854. the ten articles OF the Geneva
convention was signed by. the plenipoEen
tiaries of France, Prussia, Italy, Spain
Holland Belgium, Denmark, Sweden
Switzerland, Portugal, WurtembIrg, Ba-
den and Hese-Darmstaat. This conven-
| tion for .'the amelioration OF the wounded
of armies in the field imposes upon the
victorious army the duty of-caring for the
eaemy's wounded, and guarantees protec-
| ton to all surgeons and nurses and the.I
hospital stores and materials. Military
and field hospitals, in which the wounded
are cared for. arc made neutral, and al the
! attendants are free from :nolestation; non-
complaints bringing help to the wounded
are not to be hindered and houses where
| wounded are must not be disturbed. The
| permanently disabled are to be released
and allowed to return to their own country
In 1865 Great Britain, Turkey, Greece
and Mecklenburg- -Schwerin accepted the
| conditions Of the convention. In 1866 Aus
tria, Bavaria and Saxony Joined. Russia
came in in 1867 and the pontifed states in
F! 1863, and the organization vas completed
at Berlin in 1869. In 1862 through the in
| fuence of Miss Barton the United States
! government Joined with the others. and
Since that. most OF the civilized nations OF
| the world have subscribed to the compact
INSPIRED "BEN HUR."
| z