South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-12-22

interest play so large and important
a part as IN the Home Service SET
ton. Doing its work in an unpre-
tentious manner which does not
tend 20 bring il 10 the attention Of
the public to any great degree. the
section is accomplishing an ncalcu-
liable amount of good in helping 20
maintain the morale of the men in
the service. To feel that the loved
ones at home are being watched
over by an organization as big and
efficient as the American Red Cross
society is in itself a most comfort
ing thought TO the soldier. and
hen he receives letters from his
family i'm which glowing tribute is
paid the Home Service workers for
all that has been done by them, it
is not to be wondered at that he be-
comes a staunch supporter of all
the society's activities.
Few realize how many and varied
are the demands/upon the alI-seeing
and understanding visitors sent out
by the section to call upon TIE sol
dier families I'm need Of assistance,
material or moral Every situation
which has ever been used in plots
for the so-called human interest
stories has been encountered by
these workers i'm the course OF their
Visitauons and TO their inestimable
credit il may be said that every
testimonial from the man i'm service
and the people at home bears wit
ness TO the fact that the section has
met each difficulty squarely and has
won.
Some Interesting Incidents.
Several most interesting instances
Of the accomplishment of the Home
Service section have been reported
from the local branch OF the serv-
ice, which has its headquarters in
room OF the court house Among
them are these:
I. The wife of private and her
little 3-year-old son were, under or
binary circumstances. able TO live
on the $40 allotment and ALLOW
ance received. But the unforeseen
occurred. Forty dollars a month
does not allow a very great margin
for extras, and the doctor called i'm
advised that the child be taken 10
the hospital The mother was sick
with worry until the Home Service
section stepped i'm and. as she said,
took the place Of the boys father in
strengthening things out for n r.
2. The work goes into the country.
and even there the Red Cross visit
or goes. In one case the soldier left
his mother and sister on farm.
which they had secured just a few
months previous to his induction
into service. He had started his
crops. and the women were manag-
ing to carry on" for him, until
sickness came Then they were
helpless. and il letters TO the soldier
they magnified their troubles until
ne worried so much that he became
inefficient Finally he took his
troubles TO the Red Cross at camp.
who promptly referred matters 10
the home county A friendly woman
wps found who went out and stayed
with the two invalids for two
weeks. and the man secured a fur
Tough, was able 10 come back and
pick up the tag ends of the farm
work, until conditions again We're
normal
Girl Kept in school.
g. In one case a I4-year-Old girl !
who had a brother in service came /
TO the office with her troubles. She /
had Just reached the age where she !
could no longer be kept i'm school |
by law, and could secure a labor !
permit provided her support was
needed in the family: and her par |
ents decided this must be done
that they needed her help and that I
she must 20 to work. She was get |
ting along nicely I'm school and was !
so Interested it nearly broke her |
heart 10 think she couldn't finish /
high school. she said her brother /
who was i'm the army told her he T!
wanted her TO go through school /
and she knew she could earn more I
later if she did. In this case the /
parents were seen and the visitor /
soon gained their consent TO allow /
the girl TO finish her school Later /
the brothers allotment TO his par
ents was Strengthened out and S140 I
or four months pay came at one I
time The parents We're just as /
happy as the girl then because she
hadn't given up her school work \
for even a year.
This work isn't charity; its just
friendly. helpful service in trying 10
take that husband. father. or broth
er's place. who was called away for
the cause OF liberty.
4. Before the L. 5. went into the 4
war. some of the South Bend men
who were anxious 10 help the fight \
for democracy. enlisted i'm the arm
les of the allies The husband of
young woman of foreign birth. join
ed his former country's ranks. and
left her here with "a two-year-old
child. He was under the impression
that he could send her home enough
from his pay 10 keep things going,
but discovered after reaching France
that his pay was too meager TO al
low him any balance for the folks
at home. The letters he wrote home
were quite touching full of discour-
agement. res retting the fact that he
had left them since he couldn't send
money. He succeeded i'm making
his wife fee. as blue as he did and
r1,o q ,,-f-7ff~c of The I~rL account