Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1919-12-04

uIinS tuc neu OEOSS Work pFOmlnenCl!
before the people, through the col
umns Of the local papers, writing
history Of the Order, and giving in
teresting accounts Of work done her,
and in other fields. After she left
town, and until her successor wa.
elected, Mrs. W. P. Webb and Miss
Georgia Biggs filled her place most
efficiently. Mr.. Isaac S. London, in
| the Fall of 1917, bought out our two
weekly papers, combining them un-
der one management. In December
1917, he was elected Chairman of the
Publicity Committee. The columns Of
his paper have ever since been open
to the Red Cross, and he himself
ready to serve it at all times in any
way.
The First Aid, through Mrs. w.
Steele Lowdermilk, an efficient and
experienced graduate nurse, formed
two classes, under DR.. w. P. Webb
and DR.. L. D. McPhail, beginning les
sons as soon as the necessary books
and charts could be procured. These
classes met twice week in the
Academy, which was turned over to
the service of the Red Cross during
the whole Summer vacation of 1917,
by the Superintendent, Mr.. L. J. Bell,
and were taught by lectures, ques-
tions and answers, and by practical
demonstrations when possible, little
Annie Webb volunteering himself to
be practiced upon, and being present
at every lesson. Both classes finish
ed the book, but for lack of self-con-
fidence, nobody was willing to attempt
the examination.
The Entertainment Committee, I'M
der the supervision Of Mrs. A. G. Cor
pening, put the Auditorium in readi-
ness for all meetings held in the in
terest of the Red Cross, or other War
Work, procuring and displaying ap-
propriate posters and flags. This de-
partment was supported entirely by
voluntary donations of money from
individuals, and from hostesses at
any kind of social function. The Yad-
kin River Power Company furnish
ed, free, all the lighting, and the
Opera House Company, the audito-
rum.
The Sewing Room was opened May
oath, 1917, and kept open six days in
the week through 1917, afterwards,
five days. Supervisors were appoint
ed for each half day, and cutters to
serve on certain days of the week.
Work was begun at once on Govern
ment orders, cut by standard Red
Cross patterns, Of materials author
lied by Headquarters. The sewing
was all done in the sewing rooms, and
the duty of each supervisor, who al
ways sewed, too, was to see that all
work was correctly and neatly done.
The Cutting Committee served until,
in February, 1918, Headquarters be-
gan to send out allotments of cut gar
ments. Owing to misconception of a
letter from Headquarters, our Chap
ter did not use its part of money re-
ceived from first war drive, it being
all turned in, and our local work was
paid for entirely by our 80 per cent of
dues, voluntary contribu-
tions of money and materials from in
dividuals, mills and merchants, and
proceeds from number of different
sorts of entertainments gotten up for
the purpose. Whenever it has been
necessary to buy anything, the mer-
chants have sold to us at wholesale
prices, and with the exception of four
the sewing rooms have been
given free.
The Knitting was begun at the
same time, but progressed slowly, as
almost everybody had to learn to knit,
and there was also, much difficulty in
getting the wool. Mrs. Russell,
Chairman of Knitting, taught classes
Of knitters in her home, till the work
ers became proficient, since which the
knitting has been done in the homes.
This department has also received
many voluntary gifts of money.
The Mangum Branch, under the SUI
pervision of Miss Nan Little, and
Mrs. F. L. Stanback, helped splendidly