Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-09
NURSE PAINTS PICTURE
OF HORRORS OF WAR
Helen Prick. Daughter OF Magnatc.
Back From Doing Her Bit
at the Front.
GIVES PERSONAL EXPERIENCES
Condition OF Children and Old Folks
Is Pathetic, She Declares, and
Tells How Comforts Are Being
Provided for Victims.
BY HELEN CLAY rHlCI<.

tlnteFnatlOnal news
With me-with us all--is the inspira-
lion Of the refugee train Memory of
the sight of it's Influences every one
who has been over to wish TO go back
again. Twice Il day such a train ar
rivcs in Evlan. bringing company
women. children old before their time.
aud always OH the platform the
train pulls in are three bugicrs
The poor. broken people file out OF
the train crying. Viva la France" and
with tears streaming down their faces.
again in their own country.
The buglers lead the way the crowd
follows, the townspeoplc turn out to
cheer them. and together they all
march TO the Casino, where the refu-
gees are welcomed by the Mayor.
On Sunday and Monday only one
convoy arrives. but the program is al
ways the same: the buglcrs are at the
station and the Mayor gives hearty
welcome twice each day. Who but
the French could do this? Who else
could understand that to each return
ing Frenchman and Frcnchwoman. the
cordially OF such q welcome. TO some
degree. throws into the background
the weary months OF bondage under
German rule?
No French people are allowed TO re-
4. turn directly into France from occu-
pied territory First. they are taken
10 Belgium for TWO months. so that
anything they may know Of German
defenses may be Of no Importance TO
the French government; from Belgium
they are sent TO Switzerland. and then
they are sent across the border TO
Evlan There the Minister Of the In
terror directs them TO their destina-
ton.
Our work consisted OF helping these
people after they had been placed in
their homes. All who were able were
urged to do farming. When we visited
them In our motor truck always
took garden implements and seeds with
us. Tor every scrap Of land mus, be
cultivated.
CHILDREN PATHETIC AND
SHOW HINGER'S TRACES
The children OF that district are so
pathetic. They all snow tn. effects Of
maluutrition. and thry seem TO have
left their childhood far behind them.
Very soon the Red Cross Is 10 open
A home 10! thirty or forty little girls
who are suffering from malnutrit!on
Al CLANCY. III the .kiu, which is n
iittie village overlooking The Ehone
valley. The ages Of the children vii!
range from four 20 fourteen.
|, is hard 20 realize how greatly
the children nave suffered one l!ttJc
Gir!. when told IL was again meal time.
exclaimed: oh I'm not hungry, had
something 10 eat yesterday"
nc NOaIci W 40 are not strong
enough TO work IN the ne!ds ar. en- :
couraged TO knit. The French govern
ment furnishes the wool and pays .,
frame for socks and 70 confines Tor
gloves. II IS not very much money.
but IT. helps
one OF the importan, things which
the Red Cross Is doing is it's distri1u-
ton OF furniture. II sells Il great deal
~ furniture at ;wo-thirds the cost. on
the installment plan, and to those
unable TO buy it lends 10 the commune
according to certain system.
HOW RED CROSS HELPS
PEOPLE IN VILLAGES
little villages. are in many Instances
housed in large environments or un-
used buildings. Sometimes as many as
200 are crowded together. The Red
Cross has been very successful in per-
suading the French officials TO place
these people in Individual lodgings.
which the Red Cross helps TO furnish.
Pathetic little stories are told OF
many OF these -e7artries. For in
stance, one poor old man landed in a
little village only 10 find that he had
been separated from his old wife. She
had his sack OF clothes and he had
hers.
Through the medium OF the Red
cross, the vile was located, and when
we made ou- second visit TO him, we
found him al the railway station four
hours before the train was due, clad
in new suit furnished by the Red
Cross. and eagerly awaiting the arrival
Of his wife
The French people are so grateful
TO America and what She has done for
them; they are profoundly grateful,
and since the American cominissi on
has had TO give up the feeding OF thos e
in Northern France and Belgium. the
people say they have not Jared SO well.
MIlI ApHIIC ATEAEMT