The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1916-11-09
Mrs. Simmons Gets Graphic
Account of the Needs of
French Wounded
by Mail.
EPIsTLE IS FROM PARIS

Telling in graphic manner of the
sufferings and heroism of the French
soldiers who have been wounded at the
front, and setting forth in an appeal
ing manner the needs which American
women are striving so courageously to
FIJI, letter received by Mrs. Zalmon
G.. Simmons of the local committee of
the American Fund for French Wound
ed, written from the Paris (France)
depot of the committee by Miss Isa-
belle Stevens Lathrop, is of too great
interest not to be printed. It follows:
stMy dear Mrs. Simmons
Having just returned from a mem
orable trip to the front, I have never
had clearer idea Of the wonderful
work you are all doing nor of the ap-
probation it evokes from the man who
is made happy by your bounty.
"To speak of hospital necessities
has always seemed to me as hopeless
as bottomless pit; so deep, indeed,
that our few gifts would be lost in it's
cavernous crater.
"On the contrary, however, after
going from hospital to hospital up as
far as Verdun, it makes one proud to
say on behalf of France that her men
are cared for as we might we'll be
proud to have ours should that day
come when our own blood is called
upon to resist an enemy that is sap
ping the vitality of the world
Looks to United States.
"France now looks to us for only
those things which through invasion
she cannot supply herself; therefore
we beg of you to continue your magni-
fcent work in shipping socks, shirts,
pajamas and wooden goods, bed linen,
towels and all cotton goods, rubber
goods of all kinds, hot water bags, air
cushions, etc., cotton in quantity, Their
mometers, French scale, gauze in
quantity, and small comforts for the
wounded men.
"The last few articles have assumed
an Importance we'll worth emphasizing.
cit may be but a woman s point of
view, but feel convinced it is part
of the great moral structure that we
Americans are privileged to help
strengthen. }
Wounded and Hopeless.
"Picture to yourself a man after
two years of strenuous fighting. If he
is lucky enough to be merely wounded
-tripped up as it were in this mad
race he is compelled to run--he lies
Unconscious, and then comes one or
many operations followed by a tedious
journey and eventually bed in some
lonely village hospital where he may
lie for months or years. IF lucky
enough to be a convaIescent he must
begin the days Of weary waiting that
bring him either back to his place in
the trench or to his dismissal as a
deforme' which in plain English
means crippled for the rest Of his life.
Future Holds Nothing.
During these long days Of waiting
he sits there, or more often lies there
looking into space. If he has hands
there is nothing with which to occupy
them. If he has thoughts, there is
nothing but the Renaissance of q
broken family, lost home. This is
the man that we have seen by hun
dreds Of thousands, and we wish to
bring into his life a ray of comfort
that every American mother would
pray to have melted out to her own son.
"Were I a painter, I would repro
duce the mental picture engraved upon
my mind during our days so near the
trenches. Gould you but see this
weary-looking figure sitting on a
bench in a forlorn ward with rows of
sick and occasional dying men-elbow
on knee-hand holding a face that de-
picts suffering and often disfgure-
mentl I am not trying to be dramatic
but we want your help Even more
than you have given-and no one in
this great work appreciates more than
we what you have done up to this
time.
Comfort Bag 8, U. 8. Emblem.
"The comfort bag has become al
most national emblem. Our object
IS to eliminate the almost and make
it national messagel How can we
do it, you say2 Very easily We now
represent $4,000 American women who
are giving their time to help not only
the wounded man in France, but to
offer him the sympathy and moral en-
couragement that will bring back the
strength of his former self when the
good days of peace come again. There
are many times $4,000 men who have
been brought back. wounded from the
trenches, and it is our ambition that
each man should know who the woman
IS who has offered him gift. These
bags will do It'll It is simple-a rem
nant of bright chintz or piece left
from an evening gown-the brighter
the better.
Don't Forget Amusing TOYS.
8The FILING of +ha hoos 10 ;o,r