Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-07-10
Stories From Europe
Telling OF The Work
OF The Organization

I'VE are going at last to live again
the new life full of quiet and happi-
ness" said Madame Mercier, French
thanks to the American Red Cross
for the "tolie machine a. coudre"
they had sent her.
A "jolie machine e. coudre" Is q
fine sewing machine. which had been
given her because the Red Cross
makes a business of getting for refu-
gees, when 1t can. the thing they
need most. Mime. Mercfer had her
own sewing machine in the northern
village where she lived the old life
Of quiet and happiness, and kept It
busy-but then the Germans came.
She was a prisoner. with her fam
lily, for three years, and then the Ger
mans, who had worked her husband
till he could work no more, sent them
all back to France through Evian.
Now they r In q new house in
Comigne, in the south of France, and
this is what Mime Mercier says about
IL:
IT do not know how to Express my
Joy and gratefulness for the superb
present you have been good enough
to make me.
After the martyrdom hat we have
endured at the hands of the Germans
we are going at least to live again
the new life full of quiet and happi-
ness. I assure. mademeiselle, hat we
have suffered our share of hunger
and of misery still weep when I
think of IL.
1 came with my family. which is
made up Of my husband and five lit
tie children, January II, 1918, so you
see we belong to the last convoy of
refugees arriving from Evian in Car
cassene.
Receive. mademetselle. the warm
thanks and sincere gratitude of the
mother OF a family"
NINE. JOSEPHE MERCER
Refugee at Comigne.
Cocoon! Goliyi"
Say that in French and you know
what happened In the little school
American sector in the region of
Toul. when the American Red Cross
man brought his acknowledged of
toys for the school-children of half
a dozen villages to the door OF the
schoolhouse.
Say 1t again, louder this time, and
you know what happened when Ma
demoiselle Dine, the pretty, dark
eyed teacher. passed the toys around
from desk to desk, so that every one
Of the eieven-year-olds and the
smaller mes had something for his
own.
They chose little Louise DidIer to
write a formal letter to the ladies at
the Toul Children's Shelter who had
sent toys. and this is the letter:
Ladies':
In the name Of all my comrades I
hasten TO express to you with all my
heart the unexpected joy that your
toys brought us.
We have passed a long evening
with your presents which amazed our
small brothers n sisters. Also we
thought of you. who left your gener-
Gus country and your families and
risked the dangers of the sea to como
so far and care for our wounded and
relieve the misery of u little chill
dren.
Please be sure. ladies. that we shall
never forget your devotion and the
generosity of the Americans who sent
us these gifts. And receive the sin
cere thanks of all the pupils of the
LOUISE DIDIER.
After being five hours In the water.
a hundred and fifty Italian sailors
who had been rescued from a tOrpe-
doed ship were recently cared for at
the American Red Cross Chalet IN
Genoa, according to reports received
at National Headquarters.
The men were dazed INC hopeless
when they reached Genoa. where the
Red Cross maintains a rest-house and
canteen at the principal railway sta
ton. Some of them were without
shoes, others without coats. Their
faces were absolutely passive. They
did not speak a word as they filed in.
Smoking bowls of menestre. hot
soup. were ON the tables, and the Red
Cross agent welcomed them in Ital-
Ian. + ut
Good Appetite" he said. The
American Red Cross welcomes you.
sailors OF our ally. Italy"
That brought the men to their feet
with a viva America!" AS they ate
the refreshing soup n bread they
began to show more animation and
soon they were talking with each
other briskiy and pointing to the
Stars and Stripes which hung beside
the flag of Savoy.
Before they left they were conf
lent and reliant again. They made
light OF their experiences. and de-
clared vehemently hat they wanted
nothing but to get pack to some place
where they could help to win the
war. They marched out cheering
America again and again.
That is the sort OF service the Red
Cross Chalet at Genoa In doing. II
supplies hot food and a clothing
for soldiers and sailors who pass
through the station; II contains rec
reation rooms and a dormitory: and
II makes discouraged men cheerful.