Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-06-06

unfit, appeared at headquarters, saying
We've come to nurse and seeing no
reason why they should not fnd thelt
own work and do 1t In their town way"
This first individualism and incoher-
ence soon gave way to order and sys-
tenn. Three hours after the attack on
the Sixth Massachusetts, regiment in
Baltimore Dorothea Lynde Dix, woman
of nearly So who for 20 years had been
laboring the country over in the inter.
ests of the insane, was on the train for
Washington to become superintendent Of
women nurses. ito select and assign
women nurses to general or permanent
military hospitals, they not to be en-
p1oyed In such hospitals without hef
sanction and approval"
Organization soon followed, too, in thu
sending of supplies. beginning with thu
formation in New York of the Wonan'i
Central Association of Relief
On April q a netting was held In New
York. nominally only Of the direetors q
the infirmary for women and children
but attended by some so or 50 oth'sr wons
en- Of prominence and few men to dis
cuss methods Of sending out better equips
ped nurses.
1t was urged that not more groups q
women, but a Capitalization OF the exist.
ing groups. was the great need and
meeting was called for April 20 at Coopei
union to form such an organization thu
call being signed by 81 of the best knows
women of the city.
THE Importance of systematizIng and
concentrating the spontaneous and earns
est efforts read the call, now making
by the women of New York for the sup
ply of extra medical aid to our arms
through its present. campaign mus: be OBJ
vious TO all rejecting persons.
Numerous societies, working without
concert, organization or head. without
any direct understanding with the Off
cial authorities. without any positive In.
struetions as to the immediate OF. futur<
wants of the army, are liable to .wasti
their enthusiasm in eisproportionate eff
forts, to overlook some claims ard overs
do others, while they give unnecessarJ
trouble in official quarters by the VARIETY
and irregu'arity of their proffers Of hell
or their inquiries for guidance.
.As no existing oganization has right
to claim precedence over any osher "a
could properly assume TO lead in this mo-
bic cause, where all desire to pc first, u
is proposed by the undersigned Hemberi
of the various circles now actively en-,
gagged in this work that the women %
New York should meet {. to confer to-
ScLHCT anu u dppOlHl q tfcHcEdA GOMAAAAAN*
tee, with power to organize the l3eneVos
lent purposes of all into a common movesk
ment"
TIE call further stated that "ths form
which woman's benevolence has already
taken and is likely to take in the pres.
ent crisis is first. the contribution of la
Dor. skill and money in the preparation
of lint, bandages and other, stores il
aid of the wants Of the medical staffi
second, the offer of personal service as
nurses. I"
From the second meeting came the
Woman's Central Association Of ReliefT
and out of the same movement, in cona
nection with the activities of the New
York medical societies. originated the
famous sanitary commission.
Meanwhile north and south the women
were picking lint. When a prominent
banker of Richmond heard that Lincoln
had called for troops he said 10 his
Begin to pick lint" They had
obeyed, and like thousands Of othef
southern girls, had put aside their pretty
needlework and were occupying their
hands with the sad labor of preparing
dressings for use in field hospitals.
In the north, too. 1t was the same
and at each sewing circle or church
auxiliary there was a discussion as To
what was the best material for lint
how should it be scraped and prepared
how best gathered in the largest quan-
titles.
Thus, while the men shouldered theft
muskets or opened their purses, women
north and south, apprehensive but reso*
lutte, were steeiing their nerves TO meet
the shock they knew was coming
Copyright 1911. by Associated Literar9
Press.)