Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-10-29
WAUsAU STILL in IT'S GRIP
Influenza Cases Number Fully a Thou.
sand in Wausau-M Many
Deaths

Can l help? What can do?'' Thus
spoke young miss as she stepped in
to the Health office at the city hall.
1t was surprise to those who heard
her. She was so young and apparent
ly care free. But she had uttered the
word that was the keynote of the work
now going on-helpfullness.
1t is a peculiar truth that the peo-
pie who make up a community and
have casual acquaintance with each
other, are practically strangers in
some respects, and it takes some big
situation to bring them to really know
each other. The fact has been and
is being practically demonstrated in
Wausau during the present epidemic.
Wausau citizens are united in one
pig family, or army, whose slogan is,
Fight the Flu" Men and women
from every profession, business and
calling are putting their best and
earnest efforts foremost in the work.
Doctors and nurses are working day
and night as are also volunteer work
er who go into the homes. The mem
bers of the Motor corps have worked
tirelessly, one of their chief duties
being the carrying of food to some
OF the homes of those who are ill.,
And this food has been just as tire
lessly prepared by experienced cooks
at the High school, Training school
and in private homes.
The hospital forces have segregat-
ed a part of their buildings to infiu-
enza and pneumonia patients, and
pending operations have been post
poned that the greatest possible care
might be given those afflicted with the
diseases. Perhaps those who are real
ly the heroes and heroines of the
work and deserving of the greatest
commendation are the volunteer work
ers. Among them are men, women
who are wives, teachers and girls who
are employed and unemployed, who
have voluntarily given their services
to go into homes and care for the
sick, cook and clean for the family
and have not shrunk from any menial
task whereby they might be of help.
A man who stands high in the COM
munity has done just this thing. AL
so his wife, both working in an un-
denonstrative and unobtrusive way in
different homes where sickness sur
rounded them and death often how
cred near. Another woman entered a
home of people unknown to her where
both parents lay i'll and held a little
dying baby in her arms until it
breathed its last, her daughter doing
the housework for the rest of the chill
dren. Teachers have washed dishes,
swept and mopped, and still found
time to battle the children. There are
many such cases and we who help
from the safe seclusion of our homes
are moved to lift our hats to the brave
workers in the volunteer force. Every
one is doing his or her utmost to help;
the fountains of deep feeling have
been touched and through it all we
are learning something of the real
sympathy which lies in hearts where
one would least suspect it. And each
one is working in unity and harmony
with his neighbor. A spirit of help
fulness permeates the air. The al
deviation of suffering is the big idea
now, and working closely together
through it all, we observe the tender
hidden springs in our fellow men ana
find the milk of human kindness in
the breasts of those whom we have
considered worldly frivolous or
thoughtlesS. Life is wonderful
InlHS, DuJ lie, llVeQ IN appreciation
of the good in those about us, is glori-
Gus.
Meals are being furnished about
one hundred people on the west side
These meals are taken around by the
motor squad in cans; cooked at the
Agricultural school room. On the East
side more than that number are be-
ing fed, in the same manner, the
meals being cooked at the High school.
The cans are afterwards collected and
sterilized-
John Dern, who has been at home
for the past two weeks, i'll with the
influenza, is now convalescing and
will soon be about. Mrs. Dern and
son, John, Jr, have also been very
sick with the disease, but are now
much improved.
Mark Bells and family have been
on the sick list with the influenza,
but all are now "out of the woods
and improving.
In many of the establishments in
our city, masks are being worn by all
employees.