Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1917-10-09
THE RED CROSS.

Dunant, Swiss tourist, witnessed
the sufferings of thirty thousand
French, Italians and Austrians, as they
lay wounded on the battlefield of Sol
ferino for days, uncared for. Haunt
e1 by the memory Of the neglected
horrors of this field of blood, he felt
that the world must know what he
lad seen, ana he wrote a tract, the
Souvenir of Solferino.
The CHASTITY pages of this pamphlet
aroused intense interest all over Eu-
rope, and as direct result, in 1864
fourteen nations sent delegates TO a
conference held at Geneva, for the
purpose of discussing some method
of caring for the sick and wounded in
time of war. Up to this time, such
thing as a trained nurse never had
been heard Of, and organized and e.
ficient care of wounded men was ur-
known; it was all left to chance and TO
any unskilled, amateur effort that
might be at hand. One can scarcely
realize that this simple, Christian idea
of practical help is only about fifty
years old, and that it took humanity
nearly two thousand years TO wake up
to the necessity for such an organiza-
ton. The aftermath of all the bat
ties of history, from Hastings TO Get
tysburg, have sent out their piiiful
call, but it seems that Dunant was the
first to hear and heed. The result of
this meeting at Geneva was the sign
ing of a treaty by the fourteen ma
tons to be known as the Red Cross
Treaty, in which it was set forth each
nation should extend its sanction, au-
thority and protection, to this voluE-
teer relief organization in times of
war; and that all doctors, nurses, am
balances and hospitals, be accorded
the privileges Of neutrals. And as
delicate compliment to Switzerland,
as the birthplace of the idea, the cross
from the Swiss flag was adopted as
tine universal insignia of the order.
The color of the cross was changed
from white to red. To-day all over
the civilized world, the simple red
cross on field Of white stands for
organized human help and sympathy,
a sympathy that knows no creed,
class, or nationality. The story of the
Red Gross is the story of earthquakes,
famines, floods, and fires, as well as
of wars.
Wherever help is needed, the Red
Cross stands ready with money and
trained men and women to succor and
relieve. The Red Cross took root
slowly in this country, and it was not
until 1881 that it gained sufficient mo-
mentum TO push forward and demand
place alongside of other great ma
tional movements. That year it was
incorporated under the name of The
American Association of the Red
Cross. The United States did not sign
the Geneva Treaty until 1882; and it
was years later before the govern
ment took cognizance Of the scope
and value of the organization. About
this time the name was changed to the
American Red Cross. II is now close
| ly allied with the great branches of
| the government. The President OF
the United States is its official head,
the Army and the Navy are repre-
scented on its board, while its finan-
ces are audited by the War Depart
ment. This trained department also
assists in the distribution of its boun-
lty. II is the only officially authoriz-
! ed channel through which succor can
flow for the relief Of any great disas-
ter. So if you have heart that is
touched by suffering and you feel that
you would like to do your part you can
do it best through the Red Cross.
EYou can help by adding your name to.
the roll. and by giving your one dol
lar, or two dollars, as annual or SUBJ
scribing member.
Everyone, male or female, young
or old. is eligible for membership; all
you have to do is to send in your
name and dues, to feel that you have
a part in this great work Of lessening
human suffering. The American Red