The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1917-02-13
THE AMERICAN RED CROSS

The beautiful building recently erected IN Washington a
"A Memorial to Heroic Women of the Civil War; one Of III
hanmes many noteworthy public structures in the Nation
capital Its completion offered occasion for article by Edwar
Abes on American National Red Cross which appeared
both the Spanish and English editions Of the Bulletin OF the Pa
American Union which the writer audes to the building as "
majestic conscated to the memory of the women OF TIL
Northern Southern States those who lived and suffered
during terrible racda strife which for four long d
vded great nation That monument stands today complete
thing beauty perpetual reminder of those who suffered
than death their helpless angushhe women who SURRENDERED
their fathers brothers. husbands and to the piess monster
war; Not only in its architectural beauty this monument
pirate; uiaan purpose for which is destined adds to it
testimonial to the heroic womanhood OF the
Nation dedicated in perpeuy administration Surely bet
oer office could assigned to it than that OF being the home
the greatest and efficient organization for the alienation OF
suffering that human love and have yet been able to
devise
In dealing with the history of the organization the writer
plains that the original purpose Red Cross societies sup
pmn the medical services of armies times but that the
great need Of thoroughly trained organization nationwide
and character render assistance and afford relief
after great disasters times of became manifest that
of these societies have extended their functions and in no country
this phase their work been Systematically developed and
perfected in the United States In regard the Importance OF
this he writes Some idea Of the magnitude of the work Of
the American Red Cross times peace from its rencorporaon
in 1905 june 1915 be had when stated that during this
tenear period conducted Is relief operations following earth
quakes volcanic erupton re floods fmnes explosions and
incidentally foreign countries and that the total
received and expended including donated supplies not
less than $13,500000
OF the various departments active times of peace
perhaps of utility than the rstaid department.
is under the direction officer Medical Corps the United
States Army and has staff of physicians who available for de
tail instructors in Mines lumber telephone and electric
works railroads. and in other industries peculiarly subject to
accidents The scope of this department recently
in
ng dangers drowning teaching the best methods of
ing drowning and the utilization of preventive
against The sad department maintains
instruction the railroads of the United States and
the Mississippi River and instruction given
the employees by the physicians charge of each The annual
accidents railroads. and other indus
has been very and this work doing much toward mnm
izing the dangers.
Another important the Red Cross nursing with
which the American Nurses Association has been affiliated This
vice composed of national committee 36 state committee
and SO local committees which total of 600 serving
without pay 5000 have been enrolled for service under
the Red Cross Through this service another work being
carried This consists carrying the homes of the people
better knowledge of the principles of health and the prevention
and of Illness through the establishment of town and country
nursing in which instruction organized
elementary hygiene and home of the sick the
sections of the country Another great work the Red Cross
pagn against the tuberculosis funds for which
by of the sale of the wcknown Christmas seals Receipts
from these sales from 1908 to 1915 have aggregated
and practically all of this amount has been used by local branches
for the study and prevention of this scourge.
Of the work of the American Red Cross connection with
European not possible quite adequately Never
before has organization Of neutral country rendered
and extensive service other nations engaged war;
mel has to the begerent countries II surgeons 253
and 43 sanitary commissions and in RENTED salaries
transportation supplies etc. spent $46O3O6 during the first
year Of the Perhaps its greatest work. however
conqueng the yphus epidemic Serbia Montenegro which
against diseases Red Cross surgeons gave
their lives for alien people These Dr. F. Donney
Brooklyn and Dr. Ernest P Magude Washington For it's
splendid services times of peace alone however American
Red Cross deserves the support of the entire American people,
FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE SOUTH