The San Francisco call., 1904-03-13

to be the fate of every humanitarian
movement to meet at first an incom-
prehensible opposition In this respect
the Red Cross movement shared scarce
ly less Indifference and contempt than
had the abolitionist movement some
years before.
To-day wherever in the world there
is need of aid in time of war the Red
Cross Society of America is ready at a
few hours notice to dispatch supplies
and nurses to aid its sister societies
wherever they may be labOring. wheth-
er in japanese or Russian territory.
and no matter where we may be needed
we are sure of safe and speedy escort
through the enemies lines.
The Red Cross kncvs no friend. no
foe. 1t does not recognize the word
enemy, and. thanks to the treaty Of
Geneva as we'll as to the popular sent-
ment OF all the nations, it is regarded
as a strictly neutral body with full
power to go whittier it secs Gt.
"As things look. it seems as if Russia
is to have 1cns and bloody war with
Japan and it is difficult for the aver
age newspaper reader to realize how
vastly the hospital field service has
been improved since the days. for in
stance, of our Civil War. To-day no
Jap. no Cossack will lie uncsred for
on the battlefield nor unfed in the hos
pital camp. 1t is hard for any one to
realize the strides in the humane con-
duct Of war since the days of the Pc
ninsula in McCleIlan's campaign. of
Pittsburg Landing. Cedar Mountain,
Second Bull Run, Antietam and ter
rible old Fredericksburg. with its acres
of snow covered fields and its fourth
day flag of truce; of its dead and starv-
ing wounded frozen to the ground and
cur commissions and their supplies in
Washington, with no effective organ
ization to go beyond; of the Petersburg
mine, with it's 1000 dead and wounded
and no flag of truce. the wounded
broiling in a July sun. and then dying
and rotting where they fell.
L remember our prisons-Libby, An
dersonville and others. all crowded with
starving men, whom all the powers
and pities Of the world could not reach.
even with a bit of bread The Red
Cross exists to-day. not because there
has ever been conscious lack of indi-
vidual kindness in times of war and
distress, but because there has been
and always is a lack of system govern
ing individual charity. without sys-
tenn individual efforts in anything
> count for very little"
AS Miss Barton talks one becomes
impressed with the consciousness that
she is veritable stickler for system
and order. even into the minute details
of everyday life and conduct. There
is pleasing precision about her trim.
spare little figure and neatness shim-
mers from the very texture of her
black satin gown. She was dressed for
an afternoon call which was to be
made later in the day. which fact ac-
counted for the satin gown and the
splendid amethyst brooch worn at the
throat, a gift from her long time init
mate friend, the Grand Duchess OF
Baden.
On the table. scattered among the
photographs Of princes and prin-
> cesses, were a few books-old-fash-
ioned poets and two modern novels
Are you great reader. Miss Bar
ton?" I asked, expecting the usual
conventional appreciations and one or
two overpowering enthusiasms.
NO" replied the lady, decidedly.
, Il am not a great reader. don't
read much of anything"
''You are too busy now, of course.
but you have read much in the past 20
and the question was sincere, for in
desuItory conversation Miss Barton
seems to be tinctured with the litera-
lures of all the lands. The insistence
upon the subject did not meet with a
cordial reception. however, and she
shook her head impatiently.
NO. 1 do not read much now, and
1 never have read a great deal-that
is, judged by the way the people of to-
day devour books. Reading in my
young days was sort Of recreation,
although it could be hardly called a
fashionable recreation. There weren't
so many books to read, and there was
not nearly so much time to read them
HeTndpS nilshl ACe10 AAoAN ho0
/ not been so busy all my life. must
{ confess. though. that books are not
much TO my taste, not much more
{ than theology is"
e Again Miss Barton's delicate little
wrinkles began to show signs of sup
y pressed merriment.
Il you are not a church woman, then.
although you did come from New Eng
Il land?"
d NO. 1 am simply a well disposed
s pagan"
: you will probably be a Japanese
;. sympathizer, then?'
Miss Barton shot a humorous fash
anrnss the table toward a narticular