The Republican journal., 1915-10-28
The Isle OF Peace.

.ho oiiiy HOH-Delllger-
ent country on the nid-continent of
Europe surrounded on all sides by
lighting armies, has been aptly and poet1
ical!y called 1.-The Isle of Peace"
The Swiss people themselves are suf-
ferlng hardships entailed by the Wharf.-The
penury of male labor, the closing of fac.
tories, the mobilization of the entire
army at the frontiers, the deficiency in
imports and exports. ETC., etc.
Yet the Swiss in their generous svm-
pathy for the poor and oppressed, the
wounded and the dying, have forever
symbolized in their daily living the car
dinal virtues of Faith, Hope and Char
ity.
The Refugees, the countryless.
homeless Belgians, the "Evacues, those
expelled from the invaded lands of
France, where there is nothing more to
I feed them; the "Grands Blesses," men.
too badly wounded to ever serve again.
all these have been aided, cheered, cloth
, ed, encouraged and indeed sent on their
several ways rejoicing.
! How can one help admiring such de-
votion to the cause of humanity entire?
Switzerland truly is wonderful little
country, sufficient unto herself in MANY
ways.
Her army is the. admiration of the
world. standing ready, as it does, to put
/ half million men into the field in two
weeks time. This means, too, that thew
are fully equipped, thoroughly trained,
and effective In every military sense.
When, | wonder, will the United
States OF America wake up to just such
an army, modelled on precisely the same
lines?
Every male in Switzerland is expected
to do his duty, cheerfuily as we'll as fear
lessly. If incapable, mentally or physi-
caly, then he pays in money his tribute
to the general safety. There is nothing
servile about the Swiss. All is done
from sense of patriotism. A would -be
shirker is emphatically boycotted by his
fellows. One does not, cannot, depend
in these days on the good will of other
nations, nor, as ii appears, can treaties
be trusted: so the one rock of defence is
the fighting strength and capacity of
ones own army. think, in Switzer-
land, as nowhere else, the old maxim,
''Vox populi, vox Del" prevails.
All is calm at present here in Laus-
anne. Public opinion, of course, is de-
cidedly for the Allies. Everyone is bus
lily working one way or another for their
we'll being, further comfort and final
triumph, VIII oh all believe to be Ultimate
ly assured, though the struggle will be
dreadfully prolonged. No peace in sight
yet.
The American Ladies' Aid Association
was started at the very outset of the
war over year ago. The parlors of the
Hotel Gibbon have been graciously
placed at our disposal every Friday
morning from 10 to IL, when we meet to
give back finished or donated work, take
cut more, and enjoy social intercourse in
community of birth, aims, hopes, and
national aspirations.
{ We have done excellent work for SOL
diers, Belgians, refugees" hospitals,
'Evacues, private cases brought to our
notice, and also for the Swiss themselves
whenever possible.
We are hand in hand with the Red
Cross, ard the Union of Swiss women.
The animals, too, are not forgotten. Those
no-less brave, obscure, unsung heroes in
this greatest of all wars,
The Blue Cross, So Victoria St., Lon
don, England, looks after their pressin
needs. and begs urgently for funds.
Life in Lausanne is about normal once
more. In the midst of war-preoccupa-
tions we do not forget we must keep up
our spirits and courage; SO social func-
tons continue, albeit in MINOR key. A
Partisan lady last week declared, cit is
gayer here than in Paris now. Yet how
much you all do for the war victims. +"
Many strangers from other lands have
sought hospitality in Switzerland for the
duration of the war.
just now there are almost daily trains
Tor the exchange between France and
Germany of their mutilated and grievous-
wounded soldiers. All these trav-
erse Switzerland. passing through Ge-
neva and Lausanne.
/ The poor MANNED soldiers, Zone having
neither arms nor legs had to he carried
IN basket! are the recipients of many
gifts. cigars, pipes, tobacco, cigarettes,