The record-union., 1898-05-18
LITERATURE FOR THE ME
RED CROSS WORK.
A Citizens Tribute to the Society
and It's President.

Eds. Record Union: All honor to
the patriotic women of Sacramento for
the deep and widespread interest that
has been awakened in this beneficent
and philanthrOpic organization. The
hall of Pythian Castle was never more
nObly occupied than it was to-day.
Clara Barton, President of the Ameri
can Red Cross Society, is a typical
American woman. By her wise-heart-
ed and unselfish devotion to high ideals
of phlanthropic work in ministering to
suffering humanity, she has endeared
herself not only to the whole American
people, but to the humane of every
nation.
The Red Cross Society of Switzerland
opened a new epoch in the worlds his
tory by it's adoption of humane and
charitable methods in mnistering to the
sick and suffering soldiers on the field
and in the hospital in times of war.
Clara Barton, who had rendered such
efficient service in this line during our
civil war, was in Europe broken in
health when the Franco-Prussian war
broke out in 1870. Her good work was
known to Emperor William and to the
Crown Prince, and she was invited to
join the Red Cross organization and
lend a hand in ministering relief. Weak
though she was, that invitation found
a warm welcome in her heart and
seemed to help recruit her strength. In
a few weeks she joined the Red Cross
Corps and did valiant service till the
war closed.
Then Paris, whose beauty had been
so marred during the fearful siege, and
IL, dor.
going the hardships and sufferings of
poverty and famine, awakened Miss
Bartons sympathy. Ninety thousand
horses bad been killed and eaten for
food. and Miss Barton and her maid
were obliged to enter that city on foot,
for want of conveyance. She went di-
rectly to one of the Mayors and found
him surrounded by multitudes of half
starved men and women, clamorous for
work and for help. The Mayor was
most distracted by his oppressive cares
and anxieties in behalf of the poor.
When Miss Barton addressed him he
thought for a moment that she was
asking aid for herself, but when she
introduced herself, and said: Il am
come to help you" with fearful eyes
he grasped her hand, and, thanking her
1 will place my mansion at your service
for these people" She said: Your
house is too elegant, too fine, for this
business" but he replied: Nothing is
too good that can be of any service to
these people. My house was spared
during the war. though I expected to
find it in ruins"
It was President Garfield who nomi-
mated Miss Barton for the President of
the Red Cross Society, and well have
her services proved the wisdom of that
Presidents nomination. She broadened
the scope of Red Cross work to meet
the needs of suffering humanity in ev-
cry calamity that might arise, not only
in war, but in widespread, devastating
floods; in great confiagrations, or when
contagion sheds it's blighting influence
over city and town to such an extent
as to awaken the sympathy and the
willing aid of even distant cities and
States.
1t was the writer's privilege to CO.
operate with Miss Barton for one
month. during the great flood on the
Ohio some fourteen years ago. as
member of the Chicago branch of the
Red Cross Society. With her he went
DOWN IIS OIlio OIl the i1ISl SiEdIIlcl llical
ever fioated the Red Cross flag: a boat
chartered by Miss Barton at Evansville,
Ind. and laden with liberal contribu-
tions of clothing, fuel and money, sent
by many of the Western cities and
towns for the relief of the destitute
and suffering ones
In that service the writer saw the
wisdom of personal effort, guided by
careful judgment, in the distribution of
relief to the needy. While it dealt re-
lief with no niggardly hand, it avoided
the great evil of pauperizing the needy
by thoughtless and over liberal giving.
Is it not marvellous to think that this
noble woman, who has made the Red
Cross movement so wide-embracing in
its scope of sympathy, compassion and
mercy, has had the endurance to ex-
tend her personal service over a period
of thirty-seven years, in five different
nations, through four wars, two Ohio
floods, and, also, the tragic flood
of Johnstown, Pa, the pesti
lence of Florida, and that now
she has just returned from her