The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-10-27

with those held by another eminent
American statesman.
Since he left the White House, it is
estimated that Col. Roosevelt has real
lied nearly million dollars from his
literary Iabors. His book, african
Game Trails has sold to the extent of
over a million copies, which con sti-
tutes record for so short a time.
Kenyon Cox, the painter, was born
in Warren, O.. hdty-seven years ago
today, the son of Gen. jacobs Dolson
Cox. The latter, native of Montreal,
distinguished himself in the civil war,
and afterward became Governor of
Ohio and Secretary of the Interior in
President Grants cabinet. Mr.. Cox
studied under Gerome and Carolus
Duran in Paris, and also in Cincinnati
and Philadelphia. His pictures are
principally portraits and figure pieces.
He painted decorations for the Library
of Congress at Washington, for the
State Capitols of Minnesota and Iowa,
and many other public buildings, and
has also designed United States cur
rency.
Geneva, Switzerland. celebrated
yesterday the semi-centenary of the
first Geneva Convention, which re-
suited in the organization of the Red
Cross Society.
Civilization took a great stride for
ward at that historic meeting of the
representatives of sixteen govern
ments, assembled in Geneva at the in
vitation of the Swiss Federal Council
for the purpose of devising some plan
for aIleviating the horrors and suffer-
ing incident to warfare. The dele
gates agreed upon an international
code, which was formally adopted at
another meeting held in Geneva the
following year. The humanitarian
fiOT offiPia I1xr he
international Society, but it imme-
diately became known as the Red
Cross Society. owing TO its insignia,
a red cross on a white background,
chosen as a compliment to the Swiss
government, whose national emblem is
a white cross on a red ground. With
in a few years the convention was
adapted by all the great civilized ma
lions except the United States, which
did not become party to the treaty
until 1882.
The Red Cross first demonstrated its
right to be considered one of the great
agencies of civilization in the Franco
Prussian war. In that conflict the
flag of the human angels of mercy was
recognized as neutral, and the society
was instrumental in saving the lives
of thousands sof the sick and wound
ed. Since then the Red Cross has
waved above battlehelds in China, Gu
ba, South Africa, the Balkan States
ana otner IandS, ana even turkey has
its Red Crescent Society. The Red
Cross of today cares for the victims
of pestilence, flood and fire as well
as for the victims of war.
The Red Cross is monument to the
humanistic impulses of NJ. Henri Du-s
nant, Genevan, who aided the med
zeal forces in the Italian wars of 1859.
He was tremendously impressed by the
utter inadequacy of medical service
and of the provisions for the care of
the wounded. Scenes that made his
soul sick with horror were enacted
before his eyes at the battle of Sol
ferino. At the conclusion of the war
the great Swiss wrote his ''Un Sou
venir de Solferino,'' in which he sug-
gested that all nations agree to re-
gard as neutrals the sick and wound
ed in wartime, and the formation of
an international society to care for
disabled soldiers.
Before the Geneva ceavention-and
that was only half a century ago-in-
credible brutality marked the treat
ment of i'll and wounded soldiers Mil
itary hospitals had been established
by all great nations, but in nearly
every battle the service was fnade-
quate and inefficient. Hospital flags
were not respected by the enemy, sur
geons were killed or taken prisoners
whenever opportunity offered and