The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-28
MRS. LANqON'S LETTER
A Plea for the Soldiers in Manila
Hospitals.
American Women Write Home Re-
Guesting That Certain Supplies He
Sent to the sick and Wounded-t
Dearth of Writing Paper Books,
Puzzles, and Games Asked For.

| A number OF letters have been received
at the War Department from women in
Manila interested in the work among he
| solliers in the hospitals there A letter
frcm Mrs. Lawton. before the death of her
husband, says that pajamas, towels. bed
linen, slippers. and handkerchiefs are bad
ly needed; also games. puzzles, and books
to amuse the sick men. The letter says:
They cannot have too much reading
| matter. Many of the sick are able to buy
| writing material. but have no one to get
it for them. They write home when they
have 1t. and it means SO much to the fam
lilies far away.
Il don't think a mail comes without
bringing to General Lawton. and even TO
myself. pitiful letters, enquiring about a
son, brother. or relative out here. II the
men had pads, pencils, and stamped en-
yelopes. it would be great help"
A letter from another woman SAYS:
The hospitals. We have Just started 4
society for systematic visiting of the hos
pitals and the distribution Of the books, pa
pers, and stores sent us from home
They have formed a society there the
Manila Aid Society. The pajamas and
other things cannot come too soon. Our
hospitals are not well supplied / have
interviewed nearly every nurse in Manila.
AMI all long for mere bedding. paiamas.
slippers, towels, and other things There
are three large hospitals in the city. be-
sides one at Corregidof. and the division
and field hospitals. The one we have been
the most interested in has between eleven
and fourteen beds in tents, and is unspeak-
ably forlorn.
Mrs. Lawton is i'll. and 7 am trying to
set our society organized and working.
We had three meetings. and | think that
il is in working order now. / do not like
the responsibility. | have to 20 out row
and get material for pajamas and take pa
pers to the hospital and straighten out
some MISUNDERSTANDING about ward visl-
tors.
Mrs. Florence Y. Hamburg, Of Detroit
Mich, is President of the Manila Aid So
ciety, which is sending many things to the
sick soldiers in the Philippines She has
written General Corbin as follows:
when 1 wrote you some three months
ago. asking for free transportation of the
books. etc, collected by our Manila Aid
Society, 1 also wrote to Manila to Mrs.
Lawton. asking what else we could send To
the sufferers in the hospitals there. | wrote
General Sternberg and he answered me that
the Government provided everything.
Know that even our Government has its
limitations with so many thousand men
5000 miles across the sea. have appealed
Ca the Daughters of the Revolution. the
daughters of 1872, the Colonial Danes. and
der patriotic societies TO help us in this
work. As Mrs. Lawton will soon return to
America. we shall have to change the ad-
dress OF our boxes and send them to Mrs.
Liscum. Soldiers Relief Society. Manila. |
would like to send some reading matter to
some Of the garrisons in the other islands
10 relieve the tedum OF barracks life May
ask that privilege? It would be a god
send to those men. Please help me all you
an. My whole heart and time are given to
his work, and { find people here so apa-
hctic and willing to make the Government
10 everything, instead OF helping all thay
an"