Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-31

Civic Federation. they have ever so many
organizations which ramify into every
town and hamlet Of the United States.
To every one OF these organizations we
are mailing a circular containing a list
of supplies of various kinds that would
be acceptable.
THE list was made out by the surgeon
general Of the army and tho surgeon gen.
eral Of the navy. and the supplies are
grouped under three heads, a food. ~
furniture and 60 clothing. The food, OF
course, must be Of proper kinds Mtnce
pies and sausage are not wanted, but
densed milk. jellies, grape Juice and
canned soups.
Such supplies may be donated by In
dividuals. clubs or societies. But 1t Is
particularly desired that people shall not
go about collecting funds with which to
purchase clothing or other articles for
the Red Cross. There are two objections
to that method Of procedure. 1t Is liable
to interfere with the work Of our own
finance committees and it wastes money.
Incidentally, many things are bought
which are not adapted to the purposes
contemplated.
Suppose for example, that a num-
Der of people were to club together and
buy a lot Of mattresses, sheets and pillow
cases. In all likelihood these things would
be of wrong sizes to fit the soldiers cots
and pillows. II bandages were purchased
they might not be of the kind required
by the army surgeons. The Same remark
applies to surgical instruments, which
must be selected by men who know ex-
actly what is wanted. Medicines of tested
efficiency have to be bought by the medi-
cal departments of the army and navy.
and cannot be accepted in Job lots from
outsiders.
One thing that is always acceptable is
money. Cash Is the best thing to give
when practicable. 1t buys every time ex-
actly what is wanted, and being used to
purchase goods in great quantities. 1t
goes twice as far in the hands Of our
vfdual in the shops.
Nevertheless we realize that there are
many people who would rather give things
than money. and for their use the list Of
articles needed has been prepared and
circulated. We are glad enough to get
the supplies. There are tens Of thousands
of good women who. with no money to
spare, will gladly give their loving labor.
They can do much to help.
r
Most Importantly are the women Of
the Needlework Guild expected to con-
tribute in the way OF supplies that come
pajamas. nightshirts. surgical nightshirts
(which open at the back so as to make It
easy to strip a recumbent patient Of the
garment, convalescent gowns Cresem-
bling bath robes, and meant for use when
slippers. socks and soft straw hats. Hand
kerchiefs, combs. brushes and tooth
brushes, while hardly clothing. are in the
same list and also comfort bags.
The comfort bag is a new idea and a
good one. 1t is meant to be hung on the
wall by the soldiers hospital cot. and.
made Of prescribed size and material,
contains writing pad, pencil, a few
stamped envelopes and perhaps other
things Think what q delightful conven-
fence 1t will be to the sick or wounded
soldier. who will thus be able to write
a letter home whenever he feels like it.
And the precious letters he gets from
the dear ones at home he can keep in
the bag. so that they will not be lost.
1t is hardly practicable to keep letters
under a pillow.
For able-bodied soldiers in the field
there will be little bags, eight by four
inches. to contain black and white
thread, safety pins needless etc, for the
mending of clothing. These military
housewives will be carried in the KNAPP
sack and every man viii have one. The
during the war with Spain made and
furnished thousands Of them for men in
the field and sailors on tho hattleships,
who were delighted with them.
Comprised in the list under the head
of furniture are mattresses, sheets, pill
lowcases. mosquito bars. folding chairs,
rolling chairs, cots. palm leaf fans.
everything in short. that is required for
use in hospitals even to portable ice
making machines. Hospital cots have
to be higher than ordinary cots for con-
venience in treating the occupants, a
point on which a layman who attempted
to purchase such things on his own In
itiative would be likely to have no knowl-
edge. The machines for making ice, In
the event Of war with Mexico. will I'M