The Palatka news and advertiser., 1917-12-21
RED CROSS RALLY
A SPLENDID AFFAIR
Addresses by Miss Ruth
Rich, and Mayor Merriam
Splendid Program of
Music.

Crescent City did her '"bit" on Tues
day when she turned out en- masse for
the Red Cross rally at the school au-
ditorium. Between three and four
hundred men, women and children de-
fed the cold winds and rain and were
there to show their patriotism, to
boost the Xmas Membership Drive
and to learn more about the Ameri-
can Red Cross and it's work from one
who has been called "a liberty en-
gine," Miss Ruth Rich, Asst. Direc-
tor American Red Cross in Florida.
Miss Rich made special trip to
Crescent City from Jacksonville in or
der to be present at this rally and
Chairman Merriam of the Putnam
County Chapter, accompanied by Mr..
Merriam Sr.,. Mr.. and Mrs. Mann, Mrs.
Crook and the Misses Lucas, Moragne
and Sharpe, all of Palatka, also hon
ored the Branch by their presence.
The visiting ladies were entertain
ed at luncheon at the Club House, the
gentlemen at the Coutant.
The program opened with beau
tiful drill by the school girls and boys.
led by Miss Columbia miss Nicely
Nathis), each carrying Red Cross
shield, or stars and stripes shield, the
shield bearers finally massing on the
stage singing "The Star Spangled
Banner" and "The Marseillaise."
Following this chorus of about fif-
tv men. women and high school boys
and girls assembled on the stage and
sang "Solders' Chorus" and "To Thee,
@ Country"
, Chairman Tillinghast of the Cres-
cent CITY Branch gave brief but
: stirring address, introducing the
, sneaker of the dav. Miss Ruth Rich.
+ Miss Rich is a delightful speaker, full
. OF enthusiasm for her work and her
g country and every word uttered was
. listened to with breathless interest
: After her address. Miss Rich called
for questions. Many were asked and
frllv answered. Space forbids
z complete report of the address, but
e amongst many other things. an en-
l nhatir dnrial was made to the renort
d that Red Cross articles are sold to
soldiers Rnrors of this sort have
a been traced from one person to an
n other and not once has proof been
y found of such an act. Soldiers often
o have private oifts of knitted garments
Y and some of these NAV have been sold
s. by individual soldiers tortuha.,e
= enough to have more than they, need
'e cd Thot is the only shadow OF toun-
,e dation for the rnmors that Red Cross
4, Garments have been sold. Miss Rlcf
u called attention to the fact that the
IN source of reports derogatorv to the
s. work of the Red Cross can always
r ha traced to German propaganda. anc
it. that a high official has stated that thlF
IN csreless repeatinp of these rumors Il
q distinctly treasonable act: that tt
he in anv way weaken the efforts OF the
h Pod Cross is q decided help to the
he Frr
no Following Miss Rich. Cha'rma'
to N1orriam of the Putnam Co. Chaotn
nix smoke briefly. generously compliment
vs. ;ro +bo Crescent CITY Rranrh for VI
yo work and stating that so tar NreScr''
at CITY has outstrinued PaIatka N u"
,te vn,as Memborshin Drive I.
,+h prorch v.os also commended n" WIS
bo Pich for it's nrompt organization, re
bic ror4s and shinpinc of first-class t1r
his ;sLod work.
VI, Aftar the addresses = tinv ma,
100 MON +he STAGE CARRYING Il
',,d 40, ", which . foo lettr"n nlant we
,ho orovino and stood beneath bio s."
es- M hoard hparino the legend: "Do Yo,
~ p;+" Thi= +ahloou was rere'ved WI
tod hio annlause and was followed oV w ,'
;s srlnndidlv rendered numbers bV U
in -"Ch0rns Of The pl'"r,n'S
49,, ~, o,,d "cuwanre River which cIos'
ono tho afternoons nro"ram ',
.1I oitI ,r,s Wheeler at the riano and VI
Collette on the rornet were nr.llii
oonon7naris+s and great creHf 'S "'
no,, +hono . well as to tho nrlnc,naI ~
P0" t,onhnrs Of the school for the III
Jr;us and chorus Of school ch'ldre,''
Fo,Iowirk the nro"ram a"d .,
o,,,. +-of-+n,rr VISITORS had ,"tt
,,,siraee meotiro Of the Rranch W. w
uph LA WHOM Constitution "nd v
oad lows were adopted. and renorts
p in a., +roocrrer and the chairman
,L;rnirr ronritten were road. pnn
,en- 4:ons :tn 70 +he Branch recently recelv
bout are c e
ues- w. II g Gntes. Lave 'o'"- Q
'ord Nrrs II q Gates. Lake Como ,
that w. Davidson -------,o.. q
ma M. Alfred Clav C"esce't CITY
,es? Focb dav during the Xmas l,r,
that fc~ Membership snecl", co,t,,,,s
such will he on dutv, with heao"u"' 'e'"
the tho drr~ stove. ,,,1,
pnrOllC