Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-09-17

has done for the war-stricken refu-
gees of the invaded countries of
Europe.
1t was a new idea in Red Cross
work, and 1T required sanction from
headquarters before 1t could be put
into effect, but Mrs. Jennings did not
hesitate either for lack of authority
or over the fact that the duties she
proposed to undertake would require
endless work and constant effort on
her own part and for her associates.
She saw the need; that was enough
to prompt her motherly heart to act.
So a letter was written to the
Pennsylvania headquarters, asking
permission to extend the home serv-
ice work to persons outside the Fed
eral war service zone, and the an
swer came back promptly that the
American Red Cross noted with in
terest the pioneer work the Har-
risburg Chapter proposed to under
take. and extended to it full au-
thority to go as far as it liked.
IKE the Widows Cruise
The next step was to procure an
appropriation for the work, and the
Chapter set aside $500 for the ex-
pertinent.
''It was like moving in the dark"
said Mrs. Jennings to-day. I'VE had
to map out an entirely new field of
activity, and $500 seemed like tiny
sum under the circumstances. But
our fund has been like the widows
cruise. 1t is almost as large now
as when We started some months
ago, Notwithstanding that thirteen
cases, many of them requiring major
operations and prolonged
hospital care, have been treated or
are about to be. When we need
for some such case it is
always forthcoming from some one
of the good people of Harrisburg,
and so we are going right ahead,
that somehow the expenses
we incur will be met. We are glad
that Harrisburg Chapter is pioneer
Ing in this direction and hope to see
the work extended to all parts of
the country"
Mrs. Jennings paid a high compli-
ment to Miss Ringland, the secre-
tary, upon whom much of the de-
tail falls. She 1t was who arranged
l conference of influential Red
Cross workers of Dauphin county as
TAR east as Hummelstown and Lin
slestown, the whole upper end, the
w est 0nOT6 anu COuuty,
which constitute the Harrisburg dis
.rict, and every one who attended
vas instructed to look out for cases
'equiring medical attention or any
,ther kind of home service in their
ocalities. The result has been re-
Mrs. Jennings, Miss Ringland and
Miss Mary Kelker have person
lily visited every home reported,
md in some cases had to make
:hree or four trips before they were
lble to accomplish what they set
,ut to do. Mothers either could not
Zee their children taken to a hos
oital, or the motives of the visitors
we're misunderstood. or the children
themselves were opposed. These
Ind other obstacles had to be over
,ome, but slowly the kindly, moth
srly attitude of the Red Cross work
srs won the day, and the work has
been made a great success.
The same loving consideration
hat has prom oted the service Is re-
iponsible for the Withholding of all
names of those benefited. But of
he cases and the results. Mrs. Jen-
,y the hour.
One of the first cases reported
vas from the lower end of Perry
County. There Mrs. Jennings and
Miss Ringland found little child
suffering from terrible burns, her
ace disfigured. her eyes slowly fail
ng and her arms stiffened so she
could not move them from the elbow
iown. Bright of mind, attractive of
manner and cheerful of disposition,
his little sufferer is now one of the
model patients in a great hospital at
where her sight Is
being restored, the awful sores on
1er face are being heal I'd and she
s able to move her arms Under her
pillow Is a little pocketbook and a
mirror, which are her treasures.
For weeks the nurse did not know
The had the looking glass, which the
little girl had concealed to watch
1er own progress toward recovery,
md every sign of improvement has
brought with 1t fresh cheer and
you. are much better. Myrtle"
laid Mrs. Jennings on a recent visit.
'Oh, know. am" said the little
,hild. Every day + examine my
face. and some time ] hope to be