The Washington times., 1915-09-20
Half Century Ago 10000
Organizations Raised $780,
100000 in Four Years
With Business-Like Thor
oughness.
List of Executives and Nurses
Furnishes Roster of Nota-
'bles That Adds Luster to
Achievements of American
Womanhood.

~ ELIEF societies were not
born with the European war.
IN In the years Of the civil war
the women Of the United
states were organized as effectively
as the women Of Europe today, yet
they had to meet the same situa-
tions-lack of supplies, Inadequate
hospital equipment. and insanitary
conditions with but few OF the aids
modern science has at its disposal.
The year 1915 pridee itself on the
amount Of relief work done for Eu-
iopean war sufferers: New York
Red Cross and gives elaborate pa
geants for the Secours Na1ionale or
the American Ambulance or what
ever may be the favored org anixa-
tion OF the moment-and local or
gaIizntions all over the country
ape. the metropolis to the best Of
their ability.
Back fifty years ago-women and
children Of America. working with
more than 10000 relief associations,
raised $50, ,000,C0 IN four years. to-
gether with an amount Of hospital
supplies and food that can never be
estimated.
Spirit of Cooperation.
There Is much criticism OF relief
work today. Hundreds Of societies.
all working sincerely to accomplish
the same end. have been hindered in
their successful operation through
lack Of spirit Of coordination.
Half q century back American
women were 30 we'll organized that
Dr.. L. p. Brockett. writing from
personal observation OF their import
ance during the war. said:
womss. ssise'Ts wo1S IN .h. tsat"ss' %ss w.fa Se
magnitude. system. thorough CO.
operativeness with the other sex.
business-like thorou hness in details.
sturdy persistency to the close.
Everywhere started up women ac-
quainted with the order Of public
able ssnI, to Ga ana f tS.r to Treose
sex. act as secretaries and commit
tees. keep accounts with adequate
precision, cooperate In the largest
and most rational plans proposed by
men who had carefully studied the
subject Of soldiers relief. and adhere
to organizations which commended
themselves to their Judgment In spite
OF local. sectarian. or personal
jealousies. Nothing that men think
peculiar to their own methods was
wanting in the plans OF the women"
Selection of Nurses.
The most perfect cooperation ex-
listed between the women Of the
United States and the Sanitary Com
mission. Organized by women. under
the approval Of the Government. 1t
depended largely upon women work.
ers for Its efficiency. In addition to
serving as volunteer nurses. hum
dreds Of women engaged in menial
work at hospitals and helped with
the vast correspondence necessary
for the commission.
There was no hit-or-miss choosing
OF the nurses engaged by the sani-
tary commission. Just as in the pres
ent war inexperienced nurses are not
they have learned at least the rudi-
ments Of first aid. In Just such
careful way did Dorothea Dix choose
her army nurses. She personally pre-
ferred those of middle age. those
who entered the service from a sin
cere spirit Of helpfulness rather than
the romance ot nursinG ha the nns9sr w9unded ,sa
dress. the calmer the manner Of the
applicant. the greater chance she had
OF being selected.
Work of Clara Barton.
The distinction of being the first
army nurse to see active service
goes to Clara Barton. nationally
known as founder Of the Red Cross
Unlike Dorothea Dix. whose labors
were largely executive. Miss Barton
devoted the majority of her time to
actual field service. accompanying
the Army of the Potomac through
much of its campaign. Other nurses
who accompanied the Federal troops
were Aunt Becky" Price, at pres
ent president of the Army Nurses
Association; Mrs. Eliza Porter. who
went with her husbands regiment
through Tennessee, and Mother"
Mary Bickerdyke, whose name was
known by the entire Union army.
In addition to hospitals in the field
and In many Of the large towns, the
Sanitary Commission established at
least ten soldiers homes for en-
feebled soldiers. incapacitated for
further service and in many cases