The herald., 1896-01-12
MISS CLARA BARTON

rating the condition consequent upon
| war.
Once each year in the city of Geneva
ia held meeting Of the Society of Pub
lie Utility, and to M. Gustave Moy-
nier, president Of the society, was pre-
sented NJ Durant's theories. The lat
ter gentleman also published little
book entitled A Souvenir of Solferino,
wherein he depicted the touching Incl
dents and horrible realities Of warfare.
The battle was fresh in the minds of
the people, the book was we'll written,
was extensively read, translated into
different languages, and awakened the
interest and enthusiasm of the people.
Mr.. Moynier called meeting of his
society for discussion of this question,
which resulted in their appointing
convention in Geneva Of delegates from
every civilized nation TO consider this
subjsct and arrange some internation-
al compact or treaty compatible with
the articles of war belonging to the
several countries. An invitation was
extended to Mr.. Seward to send repre-
sentatives from the United States, but,
surrounded with the realities Of a
threatened constitution and the hor-
Tors OF bitter civil war, ne had little
time 10 consider Utopian conventions
for the advancement of humanity.
However, Charles Bowler, al Ameri-
can banker OF France, and Mr. Fogg,
United States minister TO Switzerland,
constituted themselves delegates TO
this convention, which was held Octo-
Der 26. 1864, and which, after a delib-
Grafton OF four days, resulted in the
arrangement of a set Of resolutions
1Ias sSr,,, I,,1,
hospital in battle shall be considered
neutral, and as such shall be protect
ed; persons employed in hospitals or
ambulances, surgeons, chaplains, serv-
ants, etc, shall be also neutral, and
even after occupation of the field by
the enemy may continue to fulfil their
duties and not be retained as prison
ers; Inhabitants of the country shall
be allowed to bring help to the re-
lief of friend and foe alike; houses
opened for the reception of the wound
ed shall be protected and relieved
from the quarteling of troops; COM
manders in chief shall return wounded
soldiers to the outposts of the enemy
if desired, and send back all disabled
soldiers when recovered to their own
country, and the evacuating troops of
a field shall not be fred upon while
in retreat"
This treaty WAS signed by twelve na-
tions in less than four months, and
no all civilized governments thirty
two in number) adhere to it's regula-
tions. 1t was deemed expedient to
adopt universal badge. which sign
shall be recognized by every nation,
and in honor OF the Swiss republic,
where the convention assembled, and
whose banner is cross of white upon
a scarlet ground, was adopted the en-
blem Of red and white with colors re-
varsed, cross OF scarlet upon a ground
of snow. Something of it's potency is
illustrated in the fact that if the gen.
eral or any officer or soldier OF VIC
torious army lays violent hands upon
the humbiest hospital servant of the
enemy, or little boy who carries water
to his sick lieutenant's tent wearing
the scarlet cross, he has broken IN in
ternetional treaty, and at the risk Of
his head.
The whole Of Europe is marshalled
under the banner of the Red Cross, and
wherever the din of war is heard is
planted the white banner that bears the
blessed sign Of relief. The ensign
waves in Siberia, on the Chinese from
tier, in Algeria, Egypt and Oceanica,
and even in Turkey, where the emblem
is red crescent.