The National tribune., 1897-10-28
THE RELIEF CORPS
News and Gossip of the Great
Auxiliary.

the work is well systcmatized. and the Depart
ment Inspector has divided up her work among
a host of competen assistants. women well vi
In tho work of the n-r'er who know when II Is
correctly per oru ed and CA follow II without
referring to then rituals.
More ard more necessity OF naSihR
thorough inspection under the supervision OF
comnetent officers has become apparent. loo
often amendments have been maie because
the appointee was in 4 convenient locaiiiy 10 the
Corps 10 be inspected. or because OF the personal
relations existing between the Department In
specor and those whom she desired lie hohor
by an appointment
trict exemplifica,ions of the ritual have greatly
extended a knowledge of the work and enabled
Corps members to discriminate betweea that
which is good and that which Is interior IN
quality The work of inspection shouid DE
serious thing and Corps members have begun
to insist upon superior excellence IN Inc onlcerS
sent to serve ia this line of official duty.
Many times in the past Corps have had GOOD
reason TO complain of the expense OF inspection
since they did not feel that they had value re-
ceiycd from tho officers who might be appor-
tioned to their lot In such a case the officers
have simply been content to sit in their sta
tions aud look placidly while the Corps
went through the work of the ritual being
either too timid or too ignorant TO correct
errors or 10 pOlub OUT u iuUic SASSiiShb ".S"
The books of the officers they have failed TO 20
over. and gross inaccuracies have been allowed
to 90 on from year to year, uncorrected and
perhaps undetected.
Sometimes in their desire to be hospitable,
Corps have given SO much time to reception
or banquet 10 the visiting inspectors as to
leave insu fticent time for the serious duties
attending their visits. Sometimes the In
spector has not allowed herself the time, and
has cd throuuh bnfWaeu a lew
brief hours, that which should have cost double
the length of time and attention.
Now that the new flag work has been intro
duced into the ritual Inspectors have an added
duty to perform. This is the flag work adopted
at 18th National Convention, which. it is
hoped, will add very greatly to the enthusiasm
and interest of the Woman's Relief Corps.
Through this it is hoped to bring many young
recruits into the Corps, as the young girls are
particularly suited to the duties of flag bearers.
George II. Thomas Relief Corps, 1ndianapo-
lis, was the first Corps in Indiana, and. indeed.
the first Corps heard from, TO exemplify the
new flag work. This was done under the
supervision of Past National President Agnes
Hit. The flags, mounted on ash stats, with
spear heads, were supplied by Capt. Wallace
Foster. who is always ready to assist the
W.R.C. There was large attendance of men,
bers to see the new work, and they were en-
thusisstc over its inspiring effects
No Inspector should be content with simply
watching the work of the Corps. If possible
che should be ready speaker, full of energy
and enthusiasm, bringing the word of inspira-
ton and the example OF cheerful service in the
line of duty. She should be able to give the
fag-salute and conduct question box. which
should always be feature Of every inspection
The School of Inspection, or District exempli-
fcation, OF the ritual should be 10 the nature
of normal school, and sort of civil-service
examination, SO that those who are called upon
TO do duty as Inspectors may be the very best
that can be chosen.
public meeting in connection with the In
epector's visit is always of benefit when the
veterans of the Post can be present, aud pro-
gram carried out which will be an object lesson
in patriotic teaching and an opportunity to
the public to become more in sympathy with
both the Grand Army and the Woman's Relief
Corps.
In Short Corps inspection can be made an
occasion of the highest Importance, and no OPP
portunity should be lost by Department in
stimulating the Inspectors to a higher sense of
the duties and privileges of their Office, or in
urging Corps 10 make Geld day of the In
spector's visit. Every inspection should set
Corps many steps forward in the advance
march of Fraternity, Charity, and Loyalty.
TEACHING OF patriotism.
There is an old provsrb which says: "Start
the web and God will supply the thread: or
r. use the language of modern science place the
germ under favorable conditions aud evolution
will do the rest.
The history of patriotic teaching in the pub.
lie schools has exenplifed this great truth, ne
matter in which form it may present itself to
us. The man who carried the United States
flag around the world was looked upon as
crank, hut following up the story of what has
since taken place the crank becomes a crusader
seed-planter all along the way.
When disting uished Union veteran carried
blue banner to the National Encampmsnt of
Union soldiers, inscribed " Teach Patriotism
in the Public Schools, " he, also, was pronounced
crank, and strong. stslwart heroes who had
faced death in a hundred forms smiled at W at
seemed 10 them a mild form of fauaticism and
refused him a place in the parades That
crank, also, has exchanged places with the
crusader, and he with his hammers is welcomed
on great public platforms and greeted by the
pisudits of brave men and devoted women
When young mechanic in New York CITY
founded the George Junior Republic and from
the siums OF New York City took the battered
and neglected boys and girls and placed them
on farm. to govern themselves he also be.
came hopeless crank but again the crank
has changed places with the crusader, and the
success OF his plan has excited the attention of
our greatest educators and most advanced
social economists. Ills scheme for max ing self.
supporting, intelligent citizens is universally
commended. and is being successful lily initiated.
The founder Of the Patriotic League in New
York City has long been termed a crank by
many; but again the crank has become the
crusader. and his plan for organizing the
School City has been iavorably considered by
the Board of Education OF Greater New York
aud has received the approval of practical
educators.
The School City is an outgrowth OF the move.
ment TO teach patriotism in the school, throus h
flag symbolism aud special primers The plsn
is to be introduced into a many schools in New
York City as may be possible-primary, gram
ERr, and high schoels-and have the children
organize themselves into a complete City Gov
eminent As each school mum bers from twelve
TO fifteen hundred pupils there will be ample
material for q representative City Governments,
allowing for from 125 10 200 office holders elect
i've and appointive, and heads Of department.
and their assistants.
The entire mosus operandi of the City Gov
eminent will be placed before the children.
The several City Departments will hold their
meetings and consider the affairs entrusted to
them. elections will take place monthly,
When the idea of Municipal Government, shall
have been inculcated, State and National Coy.
ernments Will be introduced into the higher
grades.
The intent Of all this is TO teach the oh rem
self-government. through which they will be.
come more familiar with the practical thing,
u life and grow more ssf-reliant, more observ.
ant and more quick TO apply, practically, the
truths that are presented To them in the ab.
stract.
Each school will be modelled upon the char.
Ter OF Greater New York. with an elected