The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-05-09
Home Service Means Morale

WELL" said Smith, as he walked
into my office, I've wound up all
my business interests
What for?" l said, as l rose to
greet the man | had known III my
home city years before
80 l could offer myself, If I'm
worth having. I've got to get INTO
the game. Anything useful and hu-
man. I'm ready for marching or
ders"
worth having?" echoed.
you've dropped like a God-send.
We've got the biggest man-slzeo JoD
you ever did, with all due respect 10
YOUR business success and your civic
contributions Put on your hat anu
come along. Something useful ana
human? Why, in week this thing
will be gripping you so that youll
eat and sleep it,
A committee was meeting. IL was
composed of business men, lawyer
a doctor, a teacher, an editor, the
chairman of a draft board, we'll
known social worker, woman prom
inent in civic affairs, and woman
who had made a success OF her own
household 1t was Home Service
Section of a big city Red Cross Chap
ter in session. They were discussing
the problem of a soldiers wife and
six children, found living in two ten
ement rooms, in a building that mao
been condemned because OF a ieaky
roof, mouldy floor and lack OF hre
protection. They had sold most OF
their furniture piece by piece foI
current expenses. The children mao
no change of clothing. There was
no income and because of the mo-
theirs condition no possibility OF one
except the expected allotment and
allowances which even when 1t came
would not entirely meet the cost oil
living in the city. The Home Ser
vice worker had given generous
sum of money to meet the urgen'
needs, and now the committee was
planning to rent better quarters
move the family, secure medical and
nursing attention for the woman
outfit them all with clothing and FUR
niture, and keep regularly in touch
with the family.
''They didn't know we were here
to help them" said the Home Ser
vice Secretary.
"Publicity." said the editor. 'Ev-
cry paper, every preacher, every tea
cher and everybody that makes a
speech or even talks to his friends
during this war ought to advertise
what Red Cross Home Service is. Ev-
cry soldiers family is entitled to
know about it,
Leaving this meeting, Smith and
boarded a train We dropped off at
i country village Virginia court
house. - A delicate, womanly, little
Southern woman met us. I'm just
starting OUT" she said, won't you
go along?"
We got into a Ford-God bless the
Fords-and ratified out toward the
Blue Ridge Mountains. We crossed
the ridge and entered lonesome
valley. We stopped somewhere and
walked a mile. We found a young
wife and a three days old baby. Its
eyes were swollen shut.
We're all going to X'' announced
our guide. x is fair-sized city in
q neighboring county. At the hos
pital there a skilled physician made
an examination. 1T will require a
long course of treatment, n-said the
physician, "but we'll save the child's
sight. Let that be my service. !"
'And our Home Service Section will
take care of the mother in your city
near the hospital" said the Home
Service Secretary.
Our next stop was prosperous
little manufacturing city. AS we
set in the office of the Home Service
Section a white-haired old lady came
fimidly ina soldiers mother. The
Home Service Secretary took her in
to another room to hear her story
sprivately. She was so puzzled and
worried. Her boy John-"John was
always a good boy''-had written
that he had taken out $4,000 insur-
ance for her. THE Government had
sold it to him for only $3.50 a
month. Wasn't the Government
good-just think-if he came back
without his arms or his sight or the
like he would get $3.50 every mon
tn for twenty years. But" she
continued, coming to the point, while
the Home Service Secretary patient
ly and encouragingly listened, Il
haven't gotten any policy. 1t must
be lost, and if anything happens
The Secretary told her that all
the policies are not yet issued. John
had certificate sort of little re-
ceipt, but that if he lost it the APP
plication was still recorded.
Just little bit of information, but
it brought happiness to that dear old
mother.
by George" said Smith, that
sort of things worth WHILE
In the next town the Home Service
Section and the tuberculosis Asso-