Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-04-29
Oh. GRENFELL TELLS
OF WORK IN LABRADOR
Humble and Uneducated Fisher.
men Accomplish Many Things
Which College Graduates Can
not Do and Show Christian
Spirit of Cooperation

The keynote Of real living Is in the !
effort to give an much as we con, rather |
than In attempting to get as much as
we can. according to Sir Wilfred T. Gren- ,
fell. the Labrador physician, whose illus
tratcd lecture in the university gym
nasium last Friday was full of the spirit
of service. Mrs. John A. Waterman. presi-
dent OF the Athena club. under whose
auspices the lecture was given. declared
in introducing the speaker that each
prominent personality represents some
trait of character. and that DR.. Grenfell
represents service. The large audience
last evening was ready to agree with
this characterization, after they had
heard what had been done in Labrador.
For. while the speaker did not sound his
own praises in the least, the story Of
the developments In Labrador cannot
he told without the personality of Sir
Wilfred T. Grenfell entering into the
telling.
A large number of views taken by DR..
Grenfell himself of scenes with which
he was personally acquainted were shown
upon the screen, and explained by the
speaker. In this way the story of what
has been done by the deep sea fishermen
Of that country unfolded itself to both
the eye and the ear of the audience. 1t Is
thrilling story, simply told, but
breathing a message Of self-sacrifce. love
of the honest toll which brings results. an
overwhelming desire to bring comfort
and cheer to people who have known
very little of what these words mean.
In few Introductory paragraphs be-
fore the pictures were shown, DR.. Gren-
fol nj Of ho to 90 IN la
He said that. after leaving medical
school, he felt that he wanted to 60 to
some place where no medical men were at
work. where his services would mean more
to the people than they would to stay in
London and work with hundreds Of other
physicians. Among the deep sea fisher
men Of Labrador. he found such a place
as he had been looking for. Absolutely
no medical care had ever been known to
these people. Disease had come among
them Many OF them had been afflicted
If their bodies were strong enough to
pull through. they lived and in time re-
covered. If not. they died
Among these humble fishermen, many
Of whom could neither read nor write,
DR.. Grenfell started his work. Though
these people were classes uneducated,
there were many things which they could
do which graduates of universities cam
not do. The speaker described at one point
in the lecture how men could neither read
nor write built large ship which stood
the test and received a flrst-class rating
from the L!oyds
The speaker also praised the spirit Of
brotherly love which these people display
toward each other. He told Of several
instances where he had gone to places
as a stranger and had been treated as an
honored guest, every possible courtesy be-
ing shown him, and he was not allowed
to pay thing for anything which was
done for him. The Christian spirit Of CO.
operation and helpfulness was manifest
everywhere. he said. much more so. he
feared. than in a large number Of COM
munities where the majority Of the peo-
pie were professed Christians.
/ II men to-day only believe that we are
dignified with something moro than the
tendency toward getting good things and
! keeping them, piling up riches and things
to eat, then we are getting nearer the
ideals of Christ. said DR.. Grenfell. He
emphasized throughout his talk the fact
that the only life worth living is the life
Of doing for others, the life Of helpfuness
cooperation, brotherly love.
DR.. Grenfell also declared that he was
a great believer in prohibition. and said
adopted prohibition will aid England and
other countries to clean out the saloon
which has been a great detriment to the
advance of civilization and good living
conditions In many countries. He saic
that the people of Labrador were, nor
mally, a temperate people. but that the
saloon had attracted many. not so mucf
because they wanted to drink. but be
cause 1t offered an attractive place II
which to spend their time. and the!
drank as n matter of fairness toward those
who kept the places open. This difficult,
was put out Of the way when clut
house was built for the men to go tt
and spend their time In attractive anC
wholesome recreations, so that thu
saloons were no longer patronized. Pro
hibition now rules in Labrador. and thu
people are very much better off hnan
cially and In other ways.
DR.. Grenfell first went to Labrador 1,
1892. The pictures which he showed las
evening Indicated the development of tn,
work since re flrs: went there. Their
were views OF the hospitals which hat
been built, OF the ships which he hat
used In his travels, OF the huge iceberg
which the mariner In that section has Il
encounter. OF the people themselves, o
the dogs which the speaker said ne ha'
come 10 .ove like human se,ngs whicl
had been very close to him. He SAT-
that these dogs had several times save.
his life.
With each picture. Or. Grenfell has al
interesting story to tell, and the view
mentioned above are only n few of III
numerous collection which he had gath
cred in the long service among tn
Labrador people. 1t was a most interest
Ing lecture and the large audienc
showed It's appreciation by several burst
Of applause.
One statement OF the speaker whic
was generously applauses was that. 4
spite of all the attempts 10 cause a brea
between England and America, throug
the press srd otherwise. this would hav
no lasting effect, for England and Amer
lea are too closely united by numerou
ties 20 come to any open break fror
this time on. DR.. Grenfell declared tina
he was sure tina. these two countrie
would work togsther for ;he good OF tn