Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-04

time. We trust that these plans will be
satisfactory to the donors of the money
which has been so generously supplied LOT
these suffering people"
There has been no Red Cross organization
in China until now but the government has
signed the International treaty and regu-
lar organization will be effected at once
among other modern Improvements
Suffering in Russia
There has been no famine in India this
year. The conditions there have been I'M
usually favorable. The rainfall has been
ample all over the empire, and the har-
vests have been good. Russia has suffered
more than ever before. owing to a success
sion of crop failures in the Volga valley and
other sections In the central part Of the
empire The trouble there was from drouth,
while in China the famine was due to foods.
Nature does not maintain an equilibrium.
Fortunately the trouble in Russia will soon
be over. The National Red Cross announces
that the government will be able to provide
food for the people until they can harvest
their growing crop, which promises to be
the largest for a dozen years. There has
been abundant rainfall, the temperature
has been perfect. and all conditions have
been favorable to a large yield. The num-
Der of deaths from starvation thus far re-
ported Is about 100000 More than 10000 600
people were entirely dependent upon outside
aid, either from the government or from the
Red Cross organizations The Russian gov
eminent has expended the enormous sum Of
$s7.O0OOO0 in furnishing supplies of food
and seed and in buying cattle and horses
SO that the peasants could put in a crop
this year.
Methods Used in Russia.
Miss Mabel T. Boardman of this city,
who Is giving her entire time to Red Cross
work. and is the soul of the movement in
the United States, told me an interesting
story the other day of the methods used
by the Russian Red Cross to meet the emer-
gency
Relief expeditions were organized she
said, composed of doctors, men and women
medlcal students, nurses hospital attendants
ana were sent into the valley of the Volga to
deal with epidemics of scurvy and typhoid
fever which followed the famine. These re-
nef columns encountered numerous diff
cuities Different people with different Ian
guageS, different customs and religions had
to be dealt with. The various modes Of
life We're productive of different diseases.
AS many were Mohammedans, whose wom-
en- would not receive medical aid from any
out thelr own sex, 1t necessary to have
women physicians in the relief columns
All those who witnessed the work of the
Red Cross during this epidemic are enthu-
slastlc In praise of their energy, their in
defatigable devotion and the high skill
shown in their professional duties. Ambu-
lances, hospitals and kitchens had to be es-
tabllshed. House-to-h house visits were made
III tHe scattered villages by medical stu
dents and nurses. Living in their squalid
huts with their cattle and sheep, the peas
ants excluded all ventilation because of the
cold and when to the pestilential atmos-
phere of such hutS were added the fetid
doors characteristic of scurvy, the visiting
OF these habitations became almost UNI
bearable. And yet, with these horrors
within, with snow, cold and mud without
with pitiful lodgings, irregular and scanty
meals, with constant danger of contag ion,
with eXhausting days of from fourteen to
sixteen hours work. all their duties and
hardships were joyfully accepted by the de-
voted representatives Of the Red Cross
Every member showed under these most
trying circumstances an absolute self-abne-
cation.
Simple, But Effective.
Small hospitals of a simple nature were
established in empty huts which had been
cleaned and dLsinfected. beds were put up
and kitchens and pharmacies installed. Sim
pie as they were. the good that they ac-
complished was marvellous. Care, cleanli-
ness, pure air, better food soon placed the
sick again upon their feet with little need
OF remedies and pharmacy. AS the Red
Cross nurses were not numerous enough to
meet the requirements application was
made to several converts and q number of
nuns were sent whose experience in domes-
tic matters enabled them to render great
service in the kitchens and refectories
Everywhere the Red Cross received a warm
reception, and especially were it's nurses
welcome. Their arrivals in the villages
were times of rejoicing, the people cluster
ing around them to tell them their troubles
Ignorant and semi-civiliZed as were these
rough peasants, not nurse complained of
a single act of rudeness on their part