The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-04-04
FOR FRIEND
AND FOE
Countess Cassini Seeks American
Aid for Suffering Soldiers in
Far East.

WASHINGTON, April 4. "To re.
lleye the wounded of friend and foe
alike left on the battlefelds of the
war" In these few words the Countess
Marguerite Cassini, the daughter Of
the Russian ambassador here, told the
object Of the fair which, under her d.
rection, will be held in Washington in
aid of the Russian Red Cross society.
A week ago the countess determined
to do something for the aid of the Rus
sian Red Cross and at once started the
cables to Paris and St. Petersburg
working. The articles for the fair were
ordered, and hundreds of invitations
for assistance were sent to all parts
Of the United States. In making her
appeal to the American people the
countess emphasized the fact that the
undertaking was not partisan in its
object.
"Tl.e Red Cross society is an inter
national humanitarian organization,
wholly divorced from politics. II is
in the aid Of that society that my fair
is TO be held" said the countess in out
lining the plan to her friends. The
past week has brought to the countess
over $4,000 in cash subscriptions to the
Red, Cross fund and articles valued at
hundreds of dollars for sale at the fair
In the mail came a letter from a jewel
er in New York city. Enclosed was a
pair of diamond earrings which his
little daughter removing them from
her ears, had asked her father to sell
Ito help the little children whose ia
theirs are killed in this war" The
mother of the child gave her watch,
a valuable one, and the father added
to the collection a diamond scarfpin
These will be auctioned off at the Iuir
So many responses are coming to the
embassy from poor people and wealthy
alike all over the country that the
countess has had to employ a private
secretary, and each letter and gift is
acknowledged the day Of its receipt by
a note of thanks signed by the count
ess
Heading the list Of pAtronesses is
Mrs. John Hay, the wife of the secre-
tary of state. The list of patronesses
includes Mrs. E. A. Hitchcock, wife OF
the secretary Of the interior; Mrs Hen.
ry Cabot Lodge, wife of the senator
from Massachusetts; Mrs William S. |
COwles, wife of Commander Cowles of |
the navy and sister of the president; |
Baroness Speck Won Sternburg, the |
German ambassadress; Nine. Jusse- |
rand, the French ambassadress; Lady |
Durand, the British ambassadress;
Baroness Moncheur, the wife of the |
Belgian minister; Sonora Calderon, the |
wife of the Peruvian minister; Count |
ess Cellere, the wife OF the Italian |
charge daffalres; Mrs. ogden Mills of
New York, Mrs Potter Palmer Of Chi
cago and many others.
The fair will be attended by prac-
tically the entire cabinet. the mem
bers of the diplomatic corps, the SUI
preme court and members OF congress.
The countess, however, is DESTROYS
that its guests shall not be confined
TO the official set, but that all who feel
it in them to aid the Red Cross and
give assistance to some Russian or
Japanese soldier left wounded on the
field either shall be present at the
fair or contribute. BY special appoint
ment Of the Russian ambassador there
will be some one at the embassy at
all times to receive any gifts that
may be sent there.
Nine. Jusserand, the French ambas-
sadress, will preside at the Russian
booth and Mrs. Wadsworth at the
French booth The fair will be held
in the largest garden available from
early afternoon TO midnight. In addi-
ton to the booths n special troupe is
coming from New York to give po-
lite vaudeville performance in the
evening.
80 generously are the people all
over the country responding" said the
countess, that l am sure they will
make the fair a success"
The countess sent kilograms to Mr..
J. Pierpont Morgan and Mr.. Andrew
Carnegie advising them of the enter
tainment and its objects. The pro-
ceeds of the fair, together with the
cash subscriptions. will be forwarded
promptly to st. Petersburg for dis
tribution by the Russian Red Cross.