The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1918-01-25
A PEEP INTO THE ocALA AND
NEW YORK RED CROSS
WORK ROOMS

The Ocala Red Cross work room is
delightfully."- situated on the top floor
in the federal building, and is well
lighted and ventilated, steam heated,
and. taking into consideration the
small band of faithful workers and the
lack of equipment. it is simply Won
derful the amount of standard surgi-
call dressings that are made and sent
tc headquarters every month, Mes
danes Ottmann and Stiles. the direct
ors, have done splendid work. The
standard dressings made here and In
the county auxiliaries will compare
very fvorably with the dressings made
in the large work rooIss of this sOun
try
If few faithful women can do this
much. what would not all the availa-
BILE women do working two or three
hours twice a week? If one woman
can make two muslin bandages or
twenty-five gauze dressings in three
hours. what would not two hundred
women do in the same time?
The greater number Of these dress
ings are sent to Europe and each
dressing, after being used the first
time, is washed, sterilized and used
over and over again until it is worn
out 1t is said that the need is so
great that old newspapers or anything
else available are pressed into ser
vice
The Red Cross work is the biggest
thing now in the world and has a
larger membership and more active
workers, principally women. than any
other organization It's membership
includes all religious denominations.
politics. creeds and nationalities, who
lay aside all personal differences and
opinions to cooperate in one mighty
effort to stop the bleeding wounds and
to alleviate the suffering caused by
this worlds mad war as we'll as civ
ilian disasters.
We who are so far away from the
war centers do not fully realize the
self sacrifice. enthusiasm and untir-
ing work of the women at those plac
es. nor do we catch "the spirit" or
solemnity of it all.
New York Work Rooms
PalatiaE houses. clubs. churches and
other places have been converted into
schools for instruction or work rooms
Women and men have given their i'm
mense collections Of art to be sold to
raise funds for this cause.
In the Whitelaw Reed brown stone
mansion many women are being train
ed in the various branches of the
work The music room, banquet hall
with carved panelled walls and cell
i1gs, reception room and basement are
thronged daily with enthusiastic WON
en- who will be sent to France and
other places as rapidly as they can
qualify,
The main Red Cross work room oc
large building on Fifth avenue. which
is open from 10 a. M, to 10 p. m, dai-
ly. except Sunday, and is equipped
with all the latest labor saving devic-
es. comforts. etc The elevators are
continually going up and down. filed
to capacity with workers who come
and go all the time.
We will take a peep INTO this room.
One catches the spirit at the first
glimpse of the ensemble: three or
more hundred shrouded in white with
white, gray blue or red wells form
ing beautiful sisterhod. which adds
dignity and solemnity To the great
cause for which they are working.
In a large city every pracaution is
taken and & perfect system of surveif.
lance prevails in order to prevent enc
mics doing damage TO the dressings.
All are required to register and give
their address. which is looked into
before you are given q permit and
ushered into the cloak room. where
maid relieves you of your wrap,
bag, and shrouds you in lOng-sleeyed
apron that reaches to the bottom OF
YOUR dress, then drapes your head
with a VEIL the hands apethorOughly
washed in the lavatory before you are
permitted to enter the holy of no
lies" inside the ratings which divide
the room into several parts.
The utmost care is used in handling
the dressings; nothing is left uncover
ed for any length of time Efficient
instructors are ever ready to assist
at the various long tables covered
nth 1arly Uroau r,1hhny. clOfh where