Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-09-24
FAITHFUL AND PERSISTENT
Splendid Work Done by the Pension Office
Ladies' Relief Association.
The Report Submitted by Chairman
Entertained and Aided.

Mary B. Saunders. chairman of the PEN
sion Office Ladies' Relief Association. has
submitted her report of the work SO faith
fully and herocally performed by the asso-
citation at Potomac Hall in comforting and
succoring soldiers passing through the city
from August 16 to September %. Il is
voluminoIs and most interesting document.
1t opens with the statement that the asso-
citation in the beginning Informed the as
sistdnt secretary of war that the relief
work proposed was not to be taken as a
reflection on the government, but ii was to
be done simply to extend hospitality to the
soldiers passing through the city, who, at
best, had been obliged to suffer Giscom-
forts in camp and while travelling. Then
follows complimentary mention of the
helpers in the work and the donors of the
refreshments and articles used. The sac
rifices made by the former in order to
tighten the hearts of the soldiers and the
generosity of the donors are pictured In
glowing words of praise.
Many who came regularly and all day,
the report states, steadily worked making
sandwiches, preparing edibles, setting ana
cleaning tables, washing dishes and doing
good Samaritans cover three long pages,
and all but a few were women.
OF the pension office ladies the report
says:
gave of their means and time as they could
afford and manage, some coming oftener
than others, but many We're away on
leave and others lived out of town, and
again others had onerous, absorbing duties
at home, SO all could not equally come for
the same amount of time, yet all wished to
do and helped all in their power, taking
pride and pleasure in the inception and
progress and success of our enterprise"
Special thanks are returned to Commits
Sioner H. Clay Eyars Chief Clerk Bailey
and other officials for their sympathetic
and indulgent treatment of the lady work
ers, and who also rendered active help dur
ing the busiest hours at Potomac Hall.
Several clerks took a weeks leave, and
aided by their wives, bent all their ener-
gies upon thei.' labor of love and patriot
ISM
Highly fattering comment is made upon
the attention to duties of the secretary,
Miss Mary McHenry; the treasurer, Miss
Ida and Lille Neumeyer and the Roth
family, in caring for the sick, also is given
its tribute of praise.
The names of the thirty-odd commands
entertained are: The 9Th and 9th Batteries,
22d Kansas, Sd Missouri, LIST Maine, I'd
Tennessee, Vermont boys Sth Pennsylva-
mia, 18th Illinois, 18th Pennsylvania Mich
igan troops, 18th Pennsylvania, 18th Penn
sylvania, Sth Pennsylvania, 1st Connect
cut 9th Maryland, I'd New York Sd New
York Sth New York, LIST New Jersey, Goth
New York, 10Th Infantry, Z. S. A. Signal
Corps, 159th Indiana, Rhode Island Nolun-
teers, 10th Infantry, L. S. A; 18th Infan-
try. T. s. A; 9Th Cavalry, u s. A; 10th
Cavalry, U. S. A; 1st Cavalry, L. S. A;
Rhode Island Infantry; the total number
ing at least $4,000 hungry men.
The treasurer's report shows that from
various sources there was received up to
September y, 81 S42.62, and there has been
expended 81 $500, leaving a small balance
on the wrong side of the ledger