Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-01-24

100000 boys and girls of school age
In the United States In discussing the
launching of this Junior movement. DR..
Henry N. MacCracken, who has been
president of Nassar College since 1915,
and who, because of his qualifications
as an educator, was chosen for the po-
sition of director of the Junior Red
Cross exhibited a rumpled letter, writ
ten in pencil, which, he says, is re-
sponsible for the new work. Here is
the letter:
Dear Sir; I was very ,gald to see your letter.
am saveinS my pennies two buy some more
1t is every Friday and / go. But now I am
going to school. then | cannot go so l do the
from school and my teachers name is Miss
sometime I read them over when l have time
so ! will tryed to get all can to save there
like to get letters and read them and then
answer back to them. / think this is all for
Your, friend truely. From Milas DOlecst.
Answer back.
X
The meat OF this letter, expressed in
the few words, but now I am going
meeting" set the Red Cross officials
to thinking. and from this little mis-
spelled outburst a presidential proc
lamation was born. In the words of
President Wilson. who, as president of
the Red Cross. made the official an
nouncement, the activities and influence
of the Junior membership are best de-
scribed He said:
"The American Red Cross has just
prepared a junior membership. with
school activities in which every pupil
in the United States can find a chance
to serve our country. Our Junior Red
Cross Will bring you opportunities for
service to your community and to other
communities all over the world and
guide your service with high and re-
ligious ideals. 1t will teach you how
to save in order that suffering children
elsewhere may have the chance to live.
1t will teach you how to prepare some
of the supplies which wounded soldiers
and homeless families lack. 1t will
send you, through the Red Cross bull
letins, the thrilling stories of relief and
rescue. And, best of all, more per-
fectly than through any of our other
school lessons, you will learn by doing
those kind things under your teachers
direction to be the future good citi-
zens of this great country, which we
all love-"
Membership for this new division will
be gained through the schools; in fact, It
will be gained through the state boards
of education. Whenever there has been
placed in the local school fund an
amount equal TO 20 cents Tor every pupil
the school becomes an auxiliary to the
Red Cross. At the same time each pupil
becomes a Junior member and is entitled
to wear the junior button.
The fund will be expended upon ma
terials which the children will make up
into Red Cross supplies, and for other
uses in which the children will
have a personal share. The extent of
the possibilities for training the child s
mind and hand and at the same time
giving him a definite object for which
to enthusiastically continue such train
Ing are limitless. In the sewing classes,
for instance, the little girls will be
more Interested in learning to sew a fine
seam If later they can apply their
knowledge to the making of articles for
a soldiers comfort kit, and the boys
viii be more eager to learn to construct
uninteresting square boxes if they know
these boxes will be used for carrying
supplies to the battlefields. Such
spirit It is evident, will be
the means of benefiting the children