The times., 1898-09-04

bans. Thanks to the bounty of the United
States the supply is ample-tons of pro-
visions of all sorts cYowding the ware
houses from floor to ceiling, and more
constantly coming. Things have now
been thoroughly systematiZed. The city
Is divided into districts. each in charge
of a competent person who causes
thorough canvas to be made and each
individual case looked into. Every ap-
plicant for charity Is obliged to leave his
or her name and address; the story of
want is then verified by personal inspec-
ton, the number of the family taken,
and the account written on bit of pa
per, which the applicant must bring
every day in order TO receive his ra-
tions. Thus fraud is prevented and fam
lies of ten dozen, or or TWO or
three receive quantities accordingly. II
Is said that in some cases enterprising
"pobres," as the poor are called in the
vernacular, set up boarding-houses and
street stalls for the sale of Red Cross
food but II this was ever done (Which
/ doubt it is no longer possible under
the rigorous system.
1t is said, too, perhaps with a grain of
truth, that the poor of these countries will
not work as long as they can get food
without. American merchants who
brought down provisions 10 sell, complain
that the Red Cross has entirely spoiled
the market for them, as why should the
people buy when they can get plenty OF
good food for the asking2 They say also
that they cannot get laborers, or steve
dores or servants, because those who
would do that kind Of work for small pay,
if necessity compelled them. now sit idly
on the streets waiting for the next distri-
button of rations, care free as the lilies
of the field, which toll not, neither do
they spin" Doubtless this is true in
some cases, but it is by no means gem
eral. The several houses maintained here
by American money for the distribution
of food and medicines, the abodes of the
nurses and other workers, are literally
besieged by people begging for work, as
teamsters, cooks, lavenderas, seam
stresses, or in any other capacity; and
Major Barber, the gentleman who has un-
dertaken to clean and sweeten this dirty
old town, tells me that he has no difficulty
in recruiting his scavengers and street.
sweeping brigades, though several tnous-
and men are required. In this connection
l may mention that surprising change
has already taken place in the appear
ance of Santiago, thanks TO Major Barber
and his methods. The fostering piles of
garbage have been removed, the cutters
scraped and the odors sensibly diminished.
The disinfectants have not yet arrived
but they are somewhere on the bounding
pillows, hastening Cubaward as fast as
sails and steam can carry them, and there
is hope that by their use yellow fever and
other diseases that have hitherto scourged
the island may soon be abated.
That all Cubans are not embodied lazi-
ness l know from personal observation.
l have many times seen men working
about the Red Cross warehouses, wheel
rtn r-ff,cr rr11A hel
loads, who appeared scarcely able TO
stand from weakness, owing to past star
walton.
To see a man faint AT his work, from
exhaustion or from on-coming fever, is a
matter of daily occurrence, and the Red
Cross physicians are always prepared for
such emergencies. They tell us that many
citizens OF the aristocratic class remain
shut up In their dismantled houses. hun
cry almost unto death, but too proud to
make their necessities known, or to
come with the rabble for rations. The
| lines OF caste are more sharply drawn
| here than even in our own country, not
only between black and white, but be-
| tween descendants of the grandees and
| hoi polloi This is indeed unfortunate, on
| all sides of the question. We understand
| and appreciate their proper pride; but
| when the elder sister republic has sent
| them aid out of her abundance, 10 be per-
| sonally bestowed by ladies and gentlemen
under the direction of the President OF
| the United States one would think that
most sensitive feelings need not stand in
| the wey of accepting the proffered kind
! ness Let me tell you one case, which is
| but a sample OF hundreds. The gentle
| man of whom we rented one of the
| houses-a fine looking, elderly Cuban, OF
| courtly manners and evident education
| tainted one day in the midst of business
| conversation. He was sent to his home in
| a carriage, and then it was discovered
| that he had eaten nothing for two days
| and his family were absolutely without
1 food.
| They own one of the finest houses in
| Santiago, but they cannot eat that
| Owing to the war, their money is all gone
| There is no work in Santiago at this time
| for such people to do; and too proud tc
| accept charity, they simply sat down ir
their decayed splendor and waited, Mi
| cawberwise, for something to turn up
| or for death, the kindly healer of al
| woes The wife, typical sonora of Span
| ish- America, and her slender young
| daughter, were both in their beds, too
| weak to rise when help came. 1t is need
less to add that a generous supply of pro
| visions was at once sent to the family
| and that they are not too proud to ca
| what they could not ask for, Is evidenced
| by the fact that the old gentleman i!
| again seen on the streets. as dignified anC
| courtly as ever.
One of the most useful and interesting
of the Red Cross institutions in Santiago
is the dispensary and "Consultario" TO
the poor big house has been taken TO
the purpose, and a corps of "medicos,
mostly Cubans, under DIR. Sollosso, o
| Havana, are there, maintained by ration
| sent from the Red Cross stores. The ply
sicians give their time and services gra
| tuitously but must, of course, be fed
| They have a supply of medicines, limite
| in variety but not in quantity, furnishes
by the Red Cross, and large stores of con
| densed milk. the medicine most neede'
in the majority of cases. Day after da,
| their consulting room is crowded, by III
| sick the halt, the hungry, and an aver
| age of 1,500 persons in every twenty-fou
hours receive medicine or milk, or broth
| eS each case requires. The army, toe
| has drawn upon the Red Cross for man
| things needed in their camp hospitals
without which there would have been in
| finitely more suffering and death-an
| heavens knows there has been enoug
already. Looking over Miss Barton's Ion
lists of things supplied in one week t
the army, see such items as 400 pound
| of corn-meal; 4,400 pounds of rice; LII
| pounds of beans, SO cases of condense
milk, So cases matted milk; $500 pound
ice, IS cans beef, 420 pounds sugar, 81
| pounds crushed oats, and so on ad infin
tum, to say nothing of surgical good
such as bandages, ether, chloroform, ct,
FANNIE BRIGHAM WARD.