The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-09-25
CAPACITY CROWD
GREETS MRS. LEE
Intense Interest in Lecture
About War and the
American Fund
MANY INCIDENTS
AND EXPERIENCES
Pictures of Soldiers, Wrecked Buildings
and Views of War Areas Shown on
Screen-Address Under Auspices of
Patriotic League.

screen-Address Under Auspices of
Patriotic League.
Speaking before the largest audience
which ever greeted her and one which
taxed the seating capacity of the Audi
torium, Mrs. Henry C. Lee of New
York, whose work for nearly three
years has been for the American Fund
for French Wounded, brought home
many facts concerning the war and
the work of the American Fund in
most convincing way to the hundreds
OF people who listened intently to her
interesting and inspiring address last
evening. Hearty applause at intervals
showed the appreciation of the audi
cnce, many Of whom gave more sub
stantlal token Of their interest in the
work at the close of the lecture, when
announcement was made that the ush-.
ers would accept contributions to the
fund and about 500 was received.
Checks also have been received today
by the treasurer of the Patriotic league,
under whose auspices Mrs. Lee came to
Brattleboro as the first attraction which
the league has offered to the public.
Mrs. Richards Bradley, an intimate
friend of Mrs. Lee and whose daugh-
ter, Miss Amy Bradley, was chauffeur
for Mrs. Lee in France, presided and
introduced the speaker Previous to
the address the league mandolin club
rendered several selections. which were
well received, and several patriotic
ehoruses were sung under the direction
Of f. H. Crane.
Mrs Lee prefaced her address with
the statement that she was in this
country on leave of absence with a de-
finite purpose in view-to plead for
the women and children in the war
zone. We forget that less than $50
wears ago we were fighting for our lib
erty and France came TO our aid: we
forget even now that the great battle
for the liberty of the world is being
fought in France The French peopls
have the vision of the brotherhood of
man; our boys have that vision. We
have our service flag with the stars for
our boys. France has no service fac
There Is no flag large enough to hold
their service stars.
ihe speaker said the American Fund
for French Wounded was started soon
after the opening of the war and is still
beng conducted. She paid tribute to
the work of her chauffeur by saving the
success of her work in France was due
as much to Miss Amy Bradley as to anv-
thing she could have done herself.
She smoke of fba aSta blis b,,ou+ sc AZ =
depots of supplies, the necessity of their
permits, which must be presented when
entering a town and secured before leay-
ing, of the shortage of gasoline for
Maggie, their Ford truck, and of the
various other inconveniences for travel
ing. In some of the places where they
stopped they were given the services of
| conyalescng soldier to help in the
work. They visited many hospitals filled
with wounded men and gave out surprise
bags, and the speaker told of MANY pa
thetlc and some amusing stories con-
nected with this great work which has
done so much to cheer and comfort She
SAID the conditions in many of the
| French hospitals were very sad. Many of
the men have nothing they can call their
| own. Their families have been killed or
scattered and their homes have been
shattered. and these little surprise bags
| sent by the Americans are the only spot
| of cheeriness in their lives.
| One incident in the distribution of the
| bags was especially interesting. when a
| hospital was reached where a German
soldier was being treated. A conference
was held between Mrs Lee and some of
the allies as to whether bag should be
1 fn tho CnlIiar Int
decided that wounded man was not an
enemy When the bag was presented to
| the German soldier he asked if they
knew he was a German and the reply
was that all the allies had agreed that
he was to receive his surprise bag as the
others had received their bags, and the
expression of thanks which reached Mrs
Lees ears were in the words: "ATy
enemies are kinder than my kaiser
| The spirit of the French wounded as
one visits the hospitals is overwhelming
You can kill them, but you never can
conquer them.
She told of the thrilling experiences OF
their visit to Verdun while travelling al
one time in the evening, when no lights
are allowed. Their automobile stopped
for they had forgotten to fill the gaso.
line tank. and as they could not even
use fiashlight it was necessary for them
to stop until dawn. They wrapped Their
army blankets about them and crouched
IN the ground short distance from
their car, and here they heard the hun
If French airplanes and the chug of the
German air machines coming nearer an6
nearer and then the sounds faded int
the distance. Passing on toward the
Il