Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1898-09-08
FOR THE SOLDIER BOYS.
Pork That Patriotic Women Are Doing
All Over the Land.

Pork That Patriotic Women Are Doing
All Over the Land.
The industry and liberality displayed
by women throughout the country in
providing for the needs of our wounded
and sick soldiers might be regarded by
foreigners unfamiliar with our country
as rejecting unfavorably upon the gov
ernment. They would naturally con-
clude that the authorities would pro-
vide all that was absolutely necessary
to meet the contingencies of war and
that this display of zeal and enthusiasm
on the part Of women was unnecessary
and monopolized one of the functions of
the war authorities.
Knowing nothing of the emergent
circumstances under which a large
army has been enlisted, drilled and
equipped within a brief space of time,
they would not be aware of the fact
that many things requisite for such a
force could not be provided at once and
that much would be left for patriotic
public to do
But even in countries where there are
large standing armies there are many
things that their governments do not
provide which, if not absolutely neces-
sary in time of war, would yet be of the
greatest possible value to its victims In
this country since the war with Spain
began our benevolent and intensely pa
triotic women not only provide those
nonessentials, but also others that are
essential for the care of the sick and
wounded and which the government, in
the press and hurry of an unanticipated
war, found it impossible to provide
within limited space of time.
Perhaps it is rather fortunate than
otherwise that so much has been left
for our women to do. The enthusiasm
that has animated them and their noble
and unselfish efforts in behalf of their
country's defenders will have tenden-
cy to make the patriotism of our men,
warm as it is. still more fervid and will
give an intimation to all nations that
it would be wise for them to cultivate
the friendship of country where all
it's women are aids to the army
The display of patriotic fervor that
has fired all ranks of the female portion
of our population is unique in the his
tory of nations. There is probably no
other country in the world where a
similar cause would produce so wide
spread an effect or such an intensity of
feeling and regard for the we'll being
of the army and navy.
There is perhaps not village in the
United States where the women have
not done something or attempted to do
something for the alienation of our
sick and wounded soldiers. The coun-
try is dotted with female societies in
Vulnerable organized for the purpose,
and the result now is that the invalided
of our troops are provided with many
things that even the patients in the best
city hospitals cannot command.
Not the least meritorious of those
patriotic efforts made by our women,
and in a sense more labor of love than
all others directed toward the same end,
is the preparation of pyjamas, emergen-
cy bandages and other articles for the
sick and wounded The societies that
provide those work as auxiliaries of the
Red Cross association, which forwards
them where most needed. The local So
eieties also collect money and transmit
it to the Red Cross headquarters and
: thence receive the material out Of
which the things are manufactured
Many of the churches in our cities.
towns and Villages have such societies
connected with them, and the ladies en-
gagged in the work usually meet at each
others houses and prepare the articles.
Ice is perhaps as necessary to sick
and wounded soldiers, especially in the
torrid climate of Cuba, as medicine
itself is and is certainly much more so
than some of the delicacies that many