Evening journal., 1915-12-11

The following letter has been received
by Mrs. Willard Hall Porter, chairman
sewing committee of the local Red Cross
War Relief Committee:
l6. Avenue dc Bretruil.
Paris, France.
October ,. 1915.
NV Dear Mrs. Porter; At last the de-
laved cases have arrived and | am de-
lighted TO announce to you that the list
after your letters, etc, is at last COM
pleted and / am delighted beyond all
expression to have these things, so well
chosen, of such good quality, and OF
such invaluable service to me, which VIII
make so many souls comfortable and
more happy Surely these men will rise
up and call you and your generous
workers "blessed' My hands are now
more than filed in getting this material
of, for ! make my house place where
things are not allowed to accumulate;
they must pass on, and | have place
for everything before it arrives. My
work has been increased by my aid being
asked for by the committee, which goes
twice each week by auto to lie Bourget
where there are two camps des lsoles
at Aubervillicrs. where there is depo
des Eclopes, and then on to Drancy
where there is another camp. Ihese
men are amassed at lie Bourget after
their convalescence in some place, or at
home. or have been on a furlough and
then returned TO their regiment. Ihey
are often in need of the shirt to wear
under their uniform. We are receiving
help from the Touring Club, which en-
ables us to do more than we otherwise
could. for often we arrive and find over
200 soldiers about to be sent to the
train At the "Eclopes" they are tn
wounded and manned, and the misery
there in every detail you feel when you
enter the gate before you see soul.
The other day the Infirmerie at this
place. which is an old board shed, we
found the beds, with pans on each, TO
catch the water which ran down, Tor
rain poured in torrents that day. One
poor fellow told me that the night be-
fore il was so bad that they had to get
up and all the beds were huddled into
tbs middle of the room. and even then
they did not get away from the water.
Uanpilv there was a wealthy lady with
me who seeing this state of affairs,
promised to have new coating oil TAR
manor nut on, for of course these are
only temporary things, Tor no one
Thought the war would last as 1t has
hence. after a year, they wear out.
have lust received a letter from an hos
pital begging me for surgical instru-
ments which will cost at least SOC
fran They write: 1--WE are waiting
the arrival of so seriously wounded
which have been announced since several
davs." adding: 81 crave pardon for ask
ing for these instruments and medicine
but in our great necessity ! have TO-"
have already sent sheets, etc. TO tins
hospital. So far as the instruments are
concerned. ! have not as yet an idea
where I will turn to raise the money t'
Get them. but ] am going to make tho
effort and have faith.
am wondering il all Of my lctteri
are coming to you, for in the sinking o
ships. and the orders Of the government
cannot tell Today the news is brought
me that all correspondence telegraphi
or otherwise. with neutral countries, IN
cluding America, is for the moment IN
terrupted. I have not seen any oiiicia
announcement Of this. therefore do no
believe il. however II has been thu
with Switzerland for several days, tn
frontier being closed to all travel an'
correspondence of any nature. ! hop
Won aud your daughter keep well. Ono
more. many. many thanks TO YOU am
also TO your admirable workers for wha
] have received.
Very sincerely and gratefully.
Charles Holman Black.