The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1919-01-24
Red Cross-An Open Door

When the war was drawing TO a
close, many asked question. aloud
> or silently-"What about the Red
Cross The rather general answer
seemed to be that we couldn't do
without it. We did not know exact
ly how to express it, but we felt the
Red Cross had given us son. ethine o
we3 wanted to keep. The anc: ont
miracle of the giver becoming rich
had been wrought anew for us.
Before the war there was no per,
sontor agency that could speak to all
of ;ns. We We're Republican; Demo-
craft Catholic, Protestant. black.
white; we were every different ting
under the sun. Today, Elliott, East
New Market, Crocheron-no place so
remote but has its Red Cross organ1-
zauon, and it's people have subscrib-
ediin thought as we'll as money to
ceEtain ideas.
Through the Red Cross we have
done for our neighbor across the
sea what we had never done for our
own country, because We were not
organized to do it: We wept for the
HOMELESS and destitute, and better
than tears, we sent them food, cloth
ing nurses, doctors. money, to builu
hohes, hospitals and orphanases.
Vel today, in Dorchester, iitt'e
child can die-has died within the
year-without nurse or doctor Why
should not our Red Cross stay with
us TO minister at home as abroad, to
stand as an expression of our unity,
our Fellowship, our help and protec-
tiop to those who need it at home?
IF we needed added argument for
a permanent and locally useful Red
Cross, we found it, and are still find
ing 1t, in the present epidemic. The |
writer's own small community pass
ed Through its worst trouble without |
realizing what its Red Cross could !
andeshould do. We know now we |
should have found nursing help at !
home or through other Red Gross
branches. We did not lack money TO
aid--we lacked a vision of our re-
sponsibilities. 1t is matter of
general interest to know exactly
what other places have done. Or
Middle and Upper Hooper's Island we
know that the Red Cross and indi-
vidaals as well have rendered ser
vice. When there is time, full ac-
counts should be published for .he
benefit of all. There is never enough
coufage our souls.
In our cities, a nurse, doctor,
hospital, are within the
reach of every one. Let our Red
Cra4s take the initial step of MAIN
tafa}ng in our county a trained
nnT&, not for Cambridge alone, but
to aome to every part of the county
- - - iaaa.. .1hat her called or
mdre willing to learn now. We see
wfly classes in home nursing would
be worth while, and why all nurses
trained and untI aimed should be reg
istered Some of us believe now it
is ia wrong plan to turn our cows out
to pasture while our children die for
lack of milk.
The open door before the Red
Cross has another outlook, differing
| hot nf nnrSin0 and
medical care. Our papers have pub
lished many accounts of the death
Of one or both parents. where little
children have been left. Many of us
know personally of such cases. There
ksurely will be loving homes for some
of these children, but who is to make
sure, and who is to look out for those
hot-so fortunate? There is no
branch of the Children's Aid Society
in our county. If our Red Cross
could feed and clothe and shelter the
orphans of France and Belgium what
will it do for those of its own coun-
| try? Can it not act at least as
watchful guardian for these children
to see that they lack nothing needful
to help them become good and useful
men and women One beauty of the
Red Cross is that it is everywhere.
| So it would be a simple thing for
each branch to list the orphaned
children in it's district and report on
their present situation. Then plan
could be made for a kindly oversight
of them in the future. IT ten or
twelve years from now young people
in our midst should be excusing Jack