New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-04
THO American Women
By Arthur Gleason

After had published number OF articles
in The Tribune on doctors, soldiers and am
bulance boys nurse at the American Hos
pital said
"But why not mention the women? They
have done a little, you know
They have done much. Many hundreds
Of American women have given up their re-
cent life to nursing and organizing relief
work. ! give here the work in detail Of two
Of them. and back Of them arc the hosts OF
the unmcntioncd who, also, have done well
for France and America
IN the month Of November. 1915, the
"Amcrcan IIostcls for Refugees" were found
ed by Mrs Wharton and n group Of Amcrl-
can friends in Paris to provide lodgings
and A restaurant for the Belgians and
French streaming in from turning villages
and bombarded towns. These people were
destitute, starving. helpless and in need Of
immediate aid. The work developed into
an organization which cares permanently
for over 1000 refugees, chiefly French from
the invaded regions
There arc six centres for the wors. One
house has a restaurant where 800 meals
day arc served. at a charge Of ~ confines
meal and an "ouvroir' where about fifty
women are employed under p dressmaker
with a day nursery, an infant school, IL
brary and recreation room Another centre
is a rest house for Nomen and children re-
ouirinc rest and careful feeding Young
mothers are received here after the birth
Of their children, and children whose moth
ers arc in hospitals. Sixty meals day are
served here, with a special diet for inyallds
Another centre contains a clothing depot
which has distributed nearly 100000 car
ments. including suits Of strong working
clothes for the men placed in factories lay
cites and boots.
Such is the work of the american Hostels
for Refugees" The present cost Of main
tanning all the branches of this well-organized
charity is about five thousand dollars
month.
Mrs. Wharton has also established 'Ameri-
can Convalescent Homes for Refugees Many
refugees come broken in health, with CHROME
bronchitis and ;ncipient tuberculosis and
even severer malades. Seventy-one beds are
provided. There is also a house where thirty
children suffering from tuberculosis of the
bone and of the glands are being cared Tor
Four thousand dollars a month should be
provided at once for this work.
The Children of Flanders
At tie request Of the Belgian government
Mrs. Wharton has founded the Children OF
Flanders Rescue Committee" The lombard
rent Of Furnes Yprcs, Poperlnghe and the
villages along the User drove the Inhabitants
south. The Belgian government asked Mrs.
Wharton if she could receive sixty children at
fortv-eight hours notice. The answer was
"ves." and home established. Soon after the
Belgian government ASKED Mrs. Wharton to
receive five or six hundred children. Houses
we're at once established, and these houses
are under the management Of the Flemish
Sisters. who brought the children from the
cellars of village homes, from lonely farm
houses, in two cases from the arms OF the
father. killed by a fragment of shell. Lace
schools sewing and dressmaking classes, agrl-
culture and gardening are carried on. Seven
hundred and thirty-live children are cared Tor.
The monthly expense is 5000 francs.
One of the most important charities. IN
which Mrs Wharton. Mrs Edward Tuck and
Judge Walter Berry are interested, IS that Tor
French Tuberculous War Victims" in direct
connection with the Health Department OF the
French Ministry of War. Nearly 100000
tuberculous soldiers have already been sent
back from the French front. They must be