The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-10-17
CALHOUN WILL BEGIN RED CROSS
 ROLL CALL ON ARMISTICE DAY

sven to scores of daily callers at the 'er1e service office One of the results of the campaign against illiteracy being waged by the t;ed Cross was the establishment of | night school for pupils above the school age, which was opened last week in the Ahniston Manufacturing Company community house. More than two dozen pupils enrolled on the first night, Mrs. Mary Morgan Smith, a welfare worker of note, will have charge of the school, with the active support of Miss Schopke. In speaking of the illiteracy cam paign of the Red Cross. Miss Schopke said: While the primary purpose of he American Red Cross is to prevent aisease, relieve suffering and minister 70 the stricken, it is g notable fact that it's labors do not end there and that the results it is achieving are by no means confined to the field of pub
 ile health. The question of illiteracy, for instance, a question that particu- larly concerns the south. is one that does not fall properly into the pro- vince of the Red Cross, yet during the past few months the Red Cross has Itaken a distinctive part, too. which in this case perhaps no other organiza-
  fully filled. I refer to illiteracy among soldiers demobilized from service. The United States government through the federal bureau for vocational train ing provided these means to educate themselves for the trade or profession of their choice to better their old posi- tions in the world held before they en- tered the service Or to overcome the handicap of crippled arms, wooden legs and lost eyesight by learning new business possible despite their af- flictions. But providing the training was only half the battle, the other half was in providing the students. Many men were not aware of the ex- ;stences of such an opportunity or had l,heard of it only casually. Others wished to take the training, but did not know how to go about it. Still more were in frame of mind to pass it up,' either through ignorance of its real value, mere indifference, lack of ! ambition or any one of a hundred req sons. To such the Red Cross proved itself true friend. We are told by the federal board for vocational train l ing that 75 per cent of the applicants
 received during the past month were sent to it by the Red Cross. which | seted as the intermediary between the
 board and the men. furnishing informa- Son, giving advice and oftentimes urging an indifferent or Respondent soldier into seizing the chance which meant for him a new foothold on life.
 Had it not been for the Red Cross thousands of men would have fallen
 back into the old rut and other thous-
 ands, crippled and despairing, would
 have lost all hope and happiness. Not
 only do they owe the Red Cross debt
 of gratitude. but so too, does the pub
 lie. Considering the real value or
 such service as this. one does not hesi-
 tate to urge for the Red Cross the ut
 most support of all individuals and
 com munities in it's peace time pro-
 pramme. The after-care of soldiers and
 sailors. particularly in the matter of
 emergency in our national life. The
 Red Cross filled a role in that emergen-
 cy promptly and voluntarily as
 none would have filled it. Other emer-
 gencies will arise in the future, and
 we can look to the Red Cross, if proper
 ly supported now, to meet them with
 equal success"
 Mrs. vann and Mrs. E. G. Polk, the
 chapter secretary attended the Red Cross conference in Birmingham last
 week, returning with renewed entha asi- asm and determination to make the fourth roll call an overwhelming suc-
 cess.
 A most interesting event. gwen unuer
 the auspices of the Calhoun county Red
 Cross will be a demonstration of lire
 saving and first aid by Conimodore
 Longfellow, national Red Cross work
 CT, who has recently given demonstra-
 tions on the Great Lakes to huge audi
 ences. His lessons in Anniston will be
 given at the swimming pool at the
 Country Club.
 It is hoped that no worker in the
 +oI h,-f ha officials
 of the Red Cross chapter to lend help
 ing hand in making the fourth Red
 Cross roll call brilliant success will
 refuse.
 It is a tribute to the generosity of the
 American people: it is tribute to the
 spirit of Americanism that when, dur ing the war, the Red Cross needed funds t, carry on it's great work of mercy, the people of the United States gave with such liberality of their time and means,