The evening times., 1898-04-16
SISTERS OF
THK RED CROSS
Duties in the Field When the
Soldier Is Smitten.
Many Applicants for Service I'm the
Work That Knows No Greed
or Religion.

Otth btoiGhcu "ltu dppiSdHAS lOE SCT-
vice. until the list of women anxious to
serve their country here or undertake
! the relief work in. Cuba reached four
! hundred. To each applicant two blanks
were given to be filled out, one a certifi-
cate of former service. signed by the ply
sician or surgeon for whom the applicant
| has nursed and the other the following
! application for enlistment:
Il. Are you n graduate of any train
ing school for nurses? 2. Name of
school. 3 Is hospital connected with
the school? 4. Have you had practical
knowledge of emergency cases? 5. If
| So where? s. Have you personally as
sisted in an operating room? T. Have
| you personally assisted in major opera
tions? s. Have you personally assisted
In visceral operations? g. Have you per-
sonally assisted in preparing or handling
! Instruments and surgical dressings for
| laparotomies? 10. Have you personally
assisted in such operations? tQuestions
| No. to 10 refer TO antiseptlc and aseptic
| work. IL What cases have you usually
nursed? IL. If not trained nurse, what
| has been your occupation until now. H.
| II not trained nurse, what knowledge
nave you OF the II IL
| this application sanctioned by your par
| ents."
The following summary of the neceS-
sary qualifications and requirements was
| also given to each woman who wished 10
| become Red Cross nurse:
In order to become a Sister of the
! Red Cross the applicant must be OF un-
| questionable character and qualifications.
Further, she must take the regular two
L Of 4Tnf
| ing at the Red Cross Hospital, or present
certificates from some reputable training
school for nurses and take a six months
| postgraduate course in methods spe-
cially applicable to war or other national
calamity. At the expiration of the course.
upon giving satisfactory evidence Oh re-
Quisite fitness, the candidate Is gradu-
ated as a Red Cross Sister, and can there
after act as such either at home or
abroad
In cases of emergency nurses may be
enlisted for the special need upon pre-
Sentation OF their certificates, and with
out taking the six months course men
toned but il should be understood that
at the close OF the service in question
their relation with the Red Cross ceases,
until they can be graduated in the regu-
lar way. In this connection, however,
credit will be given for character of
work done during the enlistment. The
certificates above mentioned are;
certificate OF health and character, GER
tificate (or true copy thereof of gradua-
tion from training school. and the in
closed blank properly flied out.
Candidates must have idea that
there is any romantic or sentimental at
tractiveness in the stern demands Of
war. pestilence or famine. The emer-
gencies of the service are often most
trying. sometimes involving privation
and danger. and only those ready for
such work can be of real use. The Sis
ters are required to be within call at all
times. ready to respond to any order
authorized by the president of the
American National Red Cross The in
stitution is absolutely neutral and nom
seCtarian, not in the sense Of ignoring.
but OF respecting, every nationality and
all religions. The Red Cross is vol
unteer institution. guided by and prac-
ticing regular military tactics. The Sis
ters are required to devote their entire
attention during the period of their serv-
ice TO the work to which they are as
signed. and must cheerfully obey the
instructions of their directors.
No salary is paid but during actual
service the best available provision is
made for the support and requirements
of the Sisters. Information when and
where examina tons for ranks may be
made will be sent upon receipt of signed
application. Should at any time one be
found unfit for service in the field.
changes will be made as found proper.
These regulations are made by order of
the Right Hon. Clara Barton, president
of the American National Red Cross, and
Bettina A. Hofker Lesser, sister-in-chief,
Red Cross Hospital, for the purpose OF
rendering best aid to the sufferer, best as
sistance to the physicians and surgeons, I
and to those who devote themselves to at
tend the sick and wounded.
Already 100 of these blanks have been
filled out satisfactorily and the women
accepted while the mail brings fresh re-
quests from all over the United States.
Two lists of applicants are kept-one in |
cluding the regularly graduated nurses, /
who will be given the preference, and the !
other the names of women. possessed of
unquestiOned executive ability. who are
willing to go at their own expense as
nurses assistants.
A young woman who called on Mrs. |
Lesser proved equal to the occasion.
Are you nervous?" questioned Mrs.
Lesser.
Not at ALL" replied the applicant. Il
had just as soon take care of smallpox as
phthisis.'
Have you good common-sense?"
Il think So
'Have you means of your own to take
care of yourself?"
Il have"
Are you willing to do any kind of
work."
Anything, no matter how menial, from
scrubbing kitchen floors up
Are you willing to. go to Cuba, if neces- |
sary?"
Anywhere; I have no fear of any hing, |
man or beast.
Have you had any place at any time |
where your executive abilities have been |
called into play?"
II have kept house and dealt with ser |
wants.
''You may go into the parlor and listen /
to the lecture about to be given" said /
Mrs. Lesser.
At o'clock the room was crowded to
its utmost capacity with the applicants, /
ready to listen to their first lecture by |
DIR. Lesser on Military Surgery"
"In Red Cross nursing" said DR.. Lesser, |
I'VE find no difference from the nursing I
in general life. Surgery is surgery all 1
over the world and so is medical nurs- /
ing, but We must be thoroughly pre- I
pared for emergency cases in event of /
war. so that Red Cross service is mill 4
tary service. We recognize in the Red |
Cross but one superior officer, the Right |
Honorable Clara Barton. In addressing /
her we have only to say the Right Hon.
orable others are to be called simply !
sister-in-chief. sister-in charge, sisters, I
and associate sisters. Going to the field 1
in Red Cross work does not always mean /
going to war. but includes any great 1
calamity, which affects large multitudes
of PEOPLE
There are two kinds of military service,
the Army and the Navy; but only France
and America belong to the Navy Red /
Cross Service though Japan has begun,