The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1898-10-13
MN MI ). FITNIdII1 NuVIIt n
0n1fort powder

ness or care. The thing that first aroused
him, verify believe, was the sight of my
Old Bingham apron. [ had run up one
morning with a bowl of broth, without
removing the big kitchen apron. He
could not eat, but presently l found him
with corner of the apron clasped in
both hands and the tears rolling down
his face. Il have seen my mother wear
one just like it., he said, land her hair
is gray like yours
What higher compliment can be paid to
a woman than to be told by a sick boy
that she reminds him of his mother.
Thank Heaven, this one was unworldly
enough to cry like a baby. The ''blue
devils tied before a flood Of healthy
tears, and from that hour his recovery
was rapid. The first time the two came
down TO dine with 1.-THE family,' their
boyish delight was good to behold. To
be sure, there was nothing in the menu
but the usual Red Cross and army rations.
but it was neatly served and rendered
attractive with light and cheerful COM
partnership. at is the first time we have
sat down to a table in four MONTHS said
one. actually forks and spoons"' ex-
claimed the other. "a table-cloth and
napkins, too"' chimed both together. 1t
was not necessary to explain that the
table-cloth was the sheet Of an army cot
and the napkins improvised from an old
bic purpose in the making of a home as
well as the finest damask could have done.
Next to the young Michiganders, the
happiest boy know in Santiago is Lieu
tenant WISE He is only 49, but has been
promoted for gallanty and goes \ orth to-
morrow. True, for a month he has been
alternately burning and freezing with cal
entura and looks like a walking skeleton,
but he explained to me how lucky it was
that his bad day and that of his aide,
who also has the fever, happen to come
alternately, so that one can relieve the
other ''Y GU can afford to be happy" |
said, "because You are going home"
''Of course l am glad to go home,' he
replied; 'tbut l would not have missed
that fight with my men, nor all these ex-
periences in Santiago-not if l had to
leave my bones here'
Perhaps the most interesting place in
town is the Red Cross headquarters, down
near the landing. l report there every
ton there in an hour, on all manner of
subjects, than could be fonnd elsewhere
in a week. To get material for volumes,
one has only to sit still and listen. 1t is a
big bodega, or warehouse fronting the
wharves, the lower floor used for stable
and store rooms, the upper utilized as
offices and retiring rooms for Miss Barton
and her aides. From this place forty
thousand people are daily fed and half as
many sick are gratuitously treated-not
by the actual issuing of food and medi-
cine from this bodega, but here is located
the engine, SO to speak, which keeps the
whole machinery in motion. Here the i'm
poverished and distressed come with their
narrowing recitals, civilians and army
officers to make requests, and a thousand
things are continually demanding atten-
ton in the proper distribution of ship
loads of food, clothing, medicines and
supplies. Miss Barton-that wonderful
~,
ruffied nor ''rattled," but goes on her
quiet, unassuming and always efficient
way, doing her appointed work with I'M
erring wisdom and an executive abil-
ity which would be hard to match. Nav
she live forever-for when she is called
"up higher" there is none to fill the
place which she, herself, created.
Let us give you some examples of the
odd things which are perpetually coming
up at Red Cross head quarters. This
morning one of our surgeons received a
letter from minor officer in one of the
camps near Santiago. which said: 'sFor
Cod sake send us some condensed milk
Men are dying out here of intestinal
troubles, with nothing to eat but beans
and bacon, which to them is as rank poi
son. l write as man to man, in humani-
ty' name. If my appeal was known, 1
would be disgraced.'
An army surgeon came and threw him
self down on chair, the picture of des-
pair. Said he: tsMiss Barton do Won ever
swear? Well, you would if you were in
my shoes. ! have found dozen men in
my ward to-day, just brought in from