Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-06-15
WHAT RED Cross
WORK. MEANS TO
THE SOLDIERS
John H. Gade Tells of Won.
derful Work at Front
Urges Great Help.

In preparation for Red Cross week
proclaimed by President Wilson for
June Is to rs. and for the effort liz
that period to complete the hundred
million dollar wal fund, Red Cross
leaders met at Washington. D. c., re-
ness and professional life ofsss this
country. and many who were familiar
from personal experience with the
conditions in Europe, superinduced by
the war, were among the speakers,
and among those who were instru-
mental in outlining the plan of activ-
ities for the Red Cross countrywide
campaign. John H. Gade, assistant
to Herbert c. Hoover, in the commits
ness to the scenes in Belgium and
northern France, gave the following
graphic description of conditions. in
the war regions of these countries:
You are about to issue to this coun-
try a appeal, an appeal for assist
ance, an appeal for funds. You are
about to attempt to open the hearts
Of the country at large. 1t is a diff
cult task. Your brothers tell you
and you try to understand it. You
feel it-You think you feel it. But it
lis not your son, and you have no con
ception, ever though he be one Of the
nearest you have in the world to you,
Of what your brother feels. 1t is your
brothers. son that lies dead.
In six months, in three months, in
one month your own son lies dead. It
is for you to bring before this coun-
try now what 1t feels like to have
your own son lying dead there. You
are about to issue the S. o. s. call to
this country, to save 1t to a certain
extent from ignorance. to a great ex-
tent from the ignorance. bat also
from indifference, and also from care
l%essness, from selfishness. 1t is a Sk-
fcult task.
America, Seems As In a Different
World.
I come from Northern France, from
Southern Belgium, from the gallant
strongholds III that great district.
There firm virtues were the order Of
the day, stern mercies were before
you from hour to hour. and the flames
OF chivalry still burn in the hearts of
men and women. The horizon was
dark, and 1t is difficult to bring. It to
this country. s
When I came ashore, it struck me
like a blow in the face: Is it possible
this ia the same planet on which I
have lived, that this Is n Same
"0AA - Low l0AL kll0 Ud8lC ISdllly
Of things behind for the rudiments Of
life? Where do these people get all
the things in the shop windows? Why
do they look so careless and disinter-
ested instead of 81 serious and earn
est and sober? Where do they get the
automobiles. the tires, the boots. the
shoes? No, 1 have left the real world
beyond. The artifcialities Of life are
gone. the conventionalities have been
washed away. and here / have come
back to whore they still look the
truth between the eyes.
Every Belgian, q Worker for the War,
Every man and every woman was a
worker there. I remember one day
going through the streets Of Brussels.
We had recently opened Q soup kitch-
pans. we had the kitchen, we had the
food; we had everything except the
workers. I walked down the street
and saw q couple Of servants waitins
Fin front: Of q building, ana I asked.
What 10 going 81 insfde?"
They told me there was a meeting
OF the noble women Of Brussels.
went inside, and as soon AZ I entered
they recognized me. said, II need
twenty or more women right away.
dve to wash the floors, five to ladie
soup i've to take away the dishss. Ave
Ito carry out the garbage, and the re-
mainder to do whatever work there il
left. I, s
II had scarcely finished my demand
before the response came, almost r
quickly al the appeal. There those
women have bean working for these
last eight months, not once Z week,
but seven days 9 week. Those are the
noble women Of Belgium, noble 81
hAo, ~ - well 81 - sklstk 4.