The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-02-23
Fndley Meeting
DrdWS Big Crowd

/
An audience which filled thu
large auditorium Of the EllZs' lodge
rooms, where the Fargo branch
headquarters Of the Red Cross arr
located, greeted Mrs. d. L. Fridley
. director of women's work for the
, Northern division of the Red Cross
Friday afternoon at 2 O'clOclE1 Many
=, others were forced to stand during
the meeting, in the room adjoining
the auditorium.
1t was a questions and answers
meeting, and so pronounced was the
interest that often there were sew
eral standing at the same time to
ask questions regarding different
phases Of the Red Cross work. Many
out town women and a scatter
ing OF men were in the audience.
/ GauZe dressings was the first sub
| jeot for consideration. I'VE are now
asking you TO wrap no gauze dress
| tngs," said Mrs. Fridley 1T is all
/ done now at headquarters, as Il is
necessary to conserve on muslin as
much as possible" The base hos
pitfalls have their own sterilization
! equipment, she stated, but all the
| dressings for the front line hospitals
have to be sterilized before sending
abroad. While answering queries as
! to the gauze work. Mrs. Fridley en-
| phasized the importance Of the divI-
workers, that they may keep posted
as to the various changes in the re-
quirements.
Knitting.
Mrs. Fr1dley spoke or tho dificIity
experienced in getting sock yarn,
resultant experiments showing that
the heavier sweater yarn I'm gray,
when not harsh, makes very salts
factory socks, even more so In some
instances than the regular sock
yarn "Our socks are worn In the
trenches and on guard duty, while
lighter ones are found best for
marching" she said.
An important point was Mrs
FTtdley's advice against knitting
cotton into the heels, as the cotton
gets hard when wet. She also stated
that the single heel Is now preferred.
In this connection she explained the
ailment, trench foot. A mould forms
from standing in the trenches with
wet feet too long at a time, and
when the foot cracks, as is often the
case, this mould infects the foot and
a very painful time ensues There is
very little of this complaint among
the English, said Mrs. Fridley, be-
cause the English women keep their
men we'll supplied with suitable
socks, and we American women are
planning to follow suit. We are to
continue making socks indefinitely,
she said, and are concentrating at
present on socks and sweaters. She
predicted that soon we will be ask
ed to stop making sweaters and
work altogether on socks. She spoke
Of the wonderful response to the
call for crOcheted trench caps, but
said that except in special calls,
crOcheting is not desired, because it
Is not so elastic as knitting and does
not wear so we'll.
IF you knit any color into the
sock legs boil 1t first, to be sure il
will not rum" was another admoni-~
ton. Another was in regard to the
length Of sweaters. A. 23-inch has
been found more satisfactory than a
25-inch sweater, and a new order is
to make them 20 inches long here
after.
In France the worn socks are
mended by peasant women back Of
the lines, and If, very bad, are sent
to England to have new feet knitted
in.
Hospital Garments.
We would rather have fewer gar
ments made we'll, than many poorly
made" said Mrs. Fridlsy, giving as
q reason that materials are getting
scarcer and higher all the time. The
Northern division saved $4,000 in
December and January alone, through
careful cutting. The double-taped
bedshirts We're found unsatisfactory
and no more are to be made by that
pattern. Neither are the lined
pajamas being made now.
Mrs. Fridley stated that the spe-
cial undergarments, a large number
OF which were made resently in
Fargo, are worn by the French con-
YalesceHts, not our men. Speaking
Of the. scarcity Of tape, she said the
division is experimenting now in
hemming muslin. strips to take it's
place, and expects to place this sub
stttute' in the bureau Of supplies at
Minneapolis in a week. When ma
tertal can be saved thereby, there is
no objection in piecing sleeves. she
said In answer to a query.
Refugee Garments.
Mrs. Fridlsy displayed samples Of
garments that are being made for
refugees, according to their prefer
ences and needs. These comprised
several styles OF women's petticoats.
little boys trousers, a wOman's
house gown Of printed canton fian-
mel, a dressing sacque, several little
girls dresses, a nightgown, a little
boys blouse, a black sateen pinafore
such as commonly seen in France.
children's petticOats. a chemise, and
q cape such as worn by French chill
dren. She also showed one Of the
aviation Jackets lined with leather
from old kid gloves. but cautioned
against using up khaki cloth in maxi
ing these, as substitutes that serve
just as well are available.
The director voiced the hone that /
much Of the refugee sewing win be /
done by the Junior auxiliarles. in the /
schools, etc Regarding a query as /
TO secondhand clothing, She said 1
the division headquarters is not vet
prepared to handle it, but Thought
the time would come when n will /
be utilized. Until you receive or
ders to that effect, do not utilize Sec
ond-hand materials" she cautioned
Every county Is being asked to make
certain size OF these garments. she
stated. Infants layettes are not n
demand TO the extent OF refugee
clothing for children from 3 yaarg Of
age up, as the birth rate IA France
SHOWS an ALARMING Haawasmn 4