Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-02
Work of the Red Cross for the Cuban
Children.
MAKING HOMES FOR THE FRlENDLESS
Teaching the Little Ones to Be
Self Supporting.
GREAT CHANGE EFFECTED

taken by that society for the relief of the
people of Cube The letter which is ad-
dressed to Gen. Brooke, is as follows:
THE recollection of the cordial reception
of my visit to yourself and Mrs. Brooke a
few days ago fingers with me a pleasant
memory, and emboldens me to address this
familiar line to you, with no object, Off
cially, but simply with the feeling that
deeply interested as your heart is in the
welfare of the unfortunate race of suffer
ing people over whom you are well called
to preside, that even the simple observa-
lions Of another, with similar interests Of
humanity, and nothing beyond, may not be
quite without interest to you-and when l
add to this the knowledge of all the many
favors which you have extended and are
still extending to my work and my work
ers while it stimulates me to speak, at
the same time well nigh seals my lips and
holds my pen for lack of suitable words in
which to express the gratitude 1 feel. In
view of all this, general, | gather the cour-
age to hastily run over some of the expert
ences of the last eight days of country
travel with d few of my assistants along
their lines of work.
The unavoidable difficulties of customs,
transportation, language. SC. &c, which
naturally met them in their first weeks of
arrival, and which you SO patiently and
emectuaify at length set right, held them at
first from the efficient prosecution of the
work they came to do. This work l had
endeavored to restrict as nearly as possible
(under the difficult phases of suffering and
need which must present themSelveS) to
the orphan children and the most helpless
ly sick of the widows of the old reconcen-
trado element; this having been the work
requested of the Red Cross by President
Mckinley six months before the war-thus
1t is merely the remnant of an old-time
request of our honored executive that We
are attempting TO carry out and if pos
sible, to close out by the present work
Asyiums for the FriendIess.
II found on my arrival here, May 3, that
our field agent, DR.. J. B. Hubbell, was at
work in the vicinity of Guines with a
small force of practical women nurses and
a Cuban physician-Dr. Carbanelle of this
city-as assistant, establshing-or rather,
In common parlance, We would say making
in the various towns along
that section Of the country. taking only
the full orphans of reconcentrados found
running about the town, without shelter,
food, clothes, a place to sleep or a person
to care for them; begging at the station of
travellers as they pass, until one stepped
down from a car with difficulty, unfit to be
seen and unsafe to touch. The first move
was to call the attention of the mayor and
municipal authorities to the subject. Each
saw the fearful condition, but no one could
see a way out of it They were too poor,
too tired, too long suffering and discouraged
to start anything of themselves. 1t was
one of those cases where an impetus must
be given, where a little help meant much.
Like the stone on the brow of hill. once
loosened and touched it would roll itself.
"A house of sufficient size on the out
skirts of the town. with land for a garden
or greater cultivation, is first asked for,
and readily found and given free. disin-
fected, whitewashed, made thoroughly
clean, safe and useful. The number of
q limo Il Of 1laD
canvas cots, with sheets, pillows and blan-
kets arranged by the nurses, a kitchen pro-
vded with cooking utensils, dining room
(generally with homemade tables, cups
plates, knives, forks and spoons for all.
"A small shipment of supplies Is, or
rather has been, sent from our warehouse
in Havana or Santa Clara, of food, unmade
clothing in the material calico bingham
cotton, jean. The children are gathered
up, or, more properly, gather themselves
up, in the strange hope that something has
come for them; taken into their new home,
shaver If need be, washed, treated for their
vermin. sores and cu,aneous diseases and
their filthy and dangerous rags burned un-
til no clothing is left, when, if no other
made garments are at hand, they are put
into bed till the ladies of the town who
flock joyfully with their needles and sewing
machines, can make the necessary one gar
ment for each child, which takes them out
of bed. clean and wholesome. The second
day always finds them all up dressed fed
clean and happy Sometimes there are not
over thirty; in other places Seyenty-fiVe or
eighty. The people of the town are SO de-
lighted with the change they cannot do
enough to help it along.
Cubans Give Aid.
1.-THE women. and especially the young
ladies, volunteer the making and mending
of their clothes, and go consecutively and
teach and assist them in the work of the
home, for they will largely do their own
work under instructions. The farmers VOL
unteer to plow the gardens and more land
when needed, assist them in planting the
small seeds, such as children can do. We
SEND the seed of the best quality, spades
shovels, hoes etc. and often good widowed
mothers go to live with and neip them.
Next room is arranged for the school
and the sight that one sees through tears
is these little waits of misfortune sitting on
their rude benches, all animation pointing
out to each other the big letters in the little
primer, trying TO pronounce them correct
ly and plainly. Poor little God-forsaken
creatures that two days before were run
nlng the streets, blight to themselves and
a terror to others, now taken in, cared for
a whole town their patrons and protectors
TO be loved and cherished as its own-as
indeed they are-and to become a part of
1t, for these townspeopie will never desert
nor abandon them
I'm four months these little children will
be eating food of their own raising; in
y
be little farmers, with their hens chickens,
pigs and goats.
During the seven days I was with DIR.
party, visiting Cenfuegos. Santa
Clara, Sagua, l saw four hundred or five
hundred of these little waits picked up in
smaller towns by our people put into asy-
lums made by them in the time; and | left
that the next two weeks would
double the number, and that the end of the
third week would see over u thousand of
these heretofore helpless little creatures
safe in homes, happy. clean, well fed in
structed, and, best of all, at work and
learning how to work.
Their only characterization or decoration
is little red cross on the left breast at the
joint of the shoulder. They are very proud
Of this, and the punishment for misdemean-
or. if any should occur is that the red
cross shall be taken off and withheld till
restitution is made. This would constitute
a degre of grief and humiliation not long
to be endured.
Il have asked my officers to make out
a more specific report of the work to be
sent to you, and only hope that this hasty
preface which l am sending will mot spoil
theirs.
Assisted by the Army.
II fear that none Of US will be able to fully
tell how helpful we are finding the officers
of the army, who seeem to be striving TO