The San Francisco call., 1898-06-05

' you would view patience on a
 monument go visit the Red Cross
 Society. If you would see tact and
 kindliness working hand in hand to calm ruffied tempers and check hys- terical tears. go spend an hour with the Red Cross workers. If you would learn that to ask senseless questions is q misdemeanor, go listen to the human interrogation points that come in never ending train 10 hurl their nonsensical questions at the defenseless ears of these in charge of the Red Cross rooms.
 But every visitor, man. woman or child, be the mission one of folly or importance, is listened to graciously, passed on to the committee that has charge of the matter inquired about, and sent away in an amiable frame of mind.
 All day long a constant stream of people come and go in the three rooms of the Claus Spreckels building that serve as the headquarters for the Red Cross League. The society has been in active life only a few short weeks, hardly enough time 10 get a sewing circle in good running order, yet it is swinging along under a tremendous press Of business as easily and smooth ly as though months had been spent in peTfeCting the running of it's machin- cry. The secret of this remarkab ble success lies in two words-good com mittees.
 There is a committee for every matter Of importance. The duties of the va rious committees do not overlap. The workers are given definite instructions and the result Is order and efficiency.
 And the master hands at the wheel all honor to them-are Mrs. W. s. Har- rington. Mrs. J. F. Merrill and the oth- CTS. who came so valiantly forward to shoulder this responsibility, and accom- plished the seeming impossibility. IL has taken tireless energy, clear brains and infinite tact to bring this about. So big has the work of the society grown that division has at last been forced upon the piOneers-Mrs. Har- ringtOn has just taken charge of the State organizations of the Red Cross and Mrs Merrill has assumed her du- ties as president of the San Francisco branch.
 The president and officers each do the work cf ten women, and yet were ' possibly meet all the demands made upon them. Almost every one who en- ters the rooms inquires for the presi- dent.
 There are always two ladies who stand guard, one on each side of the door of the main room, and they in- quire the nature of the business of all who enter.
 What can I do for you?" A thou sand times day they put the ques- tion and the reply is generally T want to see Mrs. Harrington"
 That is impossible. She is attending to a very important matter. But if you wish tC leave message for her I will take it in to her when she is dis engaged, and you can come back for the reply. IT you will tell me what you want perhaps l can attend to it, or turn you over to the committee that can give you the information that you want"
 Nine-tenths of the people see the wis dom Of this course and the folly of ex- pecting the president to meet all com CTS. But the tenth She happens on an average of twice a day. Watch the sentinels at the door and you can tell when they are dealing with this spe- cies. Thcy square their shoulders and resclutely fight inch by inch until they reduce the pursuers of the officers to submission to the general rules.
 There was one interrogation point whose colossal persistency has placed her in the front rank of her genus.
 Mrs. Harrington is now president of the State League. is she not?" was the question with which she opened her batteries.
 An affirmative reply.
 ''I would like to see her at once"
 That is impossible; she is busy. You h.- 70 fcI, Lo, personally"
 T cannot wait; my time is vaIua- ble"
 50 is Mrs Harrington's.
 Well, l suppose Mrs. Merrill, the