The herald., 1898-09-11

the Swiss army, at its head, to carry out
the ideas of the delegates, the Red Cross
society was first launched. It provided that
the society should act in conjunction with
the military and be part of the machine
of war. as distinctly and elaborately organ
lied as any branch of the service, differ
| ing only in the particular that while II was
| the business of the rest Off the army to
make wounds, il was the business of the
Red Cross to carry the injured to place Of
safety. and there bind up the wounds, ms nd
the broken limbs, and nurse back to life
and hope those who fall in the fight.
| The first formal international conference
| to ratify the plans agreed upon at the pre-
| vious gathering was held in Octobe 1863.
| and the final convention in August 1864
Here the symbol of mercy. the Red Cross,
was agreed upon as the insignia of the SER
wants of the society and the protection of
the nations accorded by international
agreement. to any ambulance, hospital
medical attendant. or nurse forming part
/ of the machinery of the organ.za ton.
| 1t may not be generally known that the
choosing of the emblem of the Red Cross
society was delicate compliment to the
country in which the conference was held.
| The Swiss flag is white cross in a red
field. and in choosing the flag the conferees
at the Geneva convention merely reversed
the colors.
The various nations recognize each their
! own branch of the Red Cross, but the So
ciety is amalgamated as a whole through
the medium OF the international committee
located at Geneva, Switzerland. All ques-
tons Of great international Importance are
ef-t I'D hi
though each national branch of the order
has the right to collect funds and carry on
the minor details of the owrk in any man
ner that is thought best.
These details were given by Miss Barton
very readily. They related to the great
general work of the mercy society. OF her
own share in the self-sacrifcing mission
of the Red Cross, she was not so ready to
talk. With Miss Barton the work is Red
Cross work" All she would say of "our
work. was: 1T includes thirteen fields
of disaster in as many years. Floods, fam
ines, fires, epidemics and storms have
caused the suffering, and more than one
million dollars has been applied in the ag-
gregate, by the willing hands of those who
have volunteered in behalf of the grtat
cause of humanity"
Apart from the information, obtained
through Miss Clara Barton, there is much
to be said about the history of the conven-
ton that led to the Red Cross society's
formation, and many interesting facts
about it's work on other humane missions
than that of aiding the wounded in battle.
Indirectly the Red Cross came into being
as the result of the efforts of half a dozen
Swiss gentlemen, notable amongst whom
were NM. Henri Dunant, Gustave Moy-
nier, DR.. Appia, and, later, General Du-
four. 1t has been justly remarked that it
was an enterprise probably without prece-
dent in the history of the world, that a few
private citizens of one of the least import
ant of European states should have con-
ceived, and carried out, the idea of con-
vening the powers of Erope in congress.
The truth is, the times waited for them;
they voiced feelings which had taken firm
hold upon the national conscience of all
civilized peoples. The cynical Indifference
of the military maxim, that it cost more to
cure a soldier than TO levy a recruit, had
long been regarded with ahhorrence The
practice-incredible were it not historical
of discharging with a small gratu.ty those
who were severely wounded, to find their
way home or leave their bones on the road.
had long been abrogated. The qualities
which go to make a great general are no
longer limited to personal bravery and
strategical ability; he must have due re-
gard for the wounded and the sick of his
armies. Even Napoleon, when the French
army was forced to retreat from st. Jean