The Washington times., 1922-10-15

MANY important matters were
NA decided at the Red Cross
conference and much business
transacted-so much, IN fact,
that there was very little time
left for festivities. The big re-
ception in the Red Cross build
ing on Tuesday and q luncheon
for the insular and foreiea dele
gates at the home Of Mrs.
Thomas F. Walsh on .Wednes-
day were almost the only
functions of a general nature
on the calendar. But the
conference brought to, Wash
ington q grist Of men and
women who are leaders in the
social life as well as in the
philanthropic activities Of their
respective homes ike Sir
Claude Hill, president Of the
League of Red Cross Societies,
and women like Mrs. August
Belmont, of New York, and
Mrs. Henry Rea, and ther. was
bound to be an outcroppinr Of
entertaining for them individ-
ually and in small groups.
Mrs. Belmont, who before her
marriage was Miss Eleanor Rob-
son, an actress OF great beauty
and great talent. gave luncheon
to return some oE<the hospitality
shown her and had a number OF
her fellow-delegates a. guests.
Mrs. Rea also did some entertain
ing in a quiet way. Mrs. Rea is
the head Of one Of the divisions Of
the Red Cross-commission I
think. she and her co-workers are
called-and one Of the most inde-
fatigable workers for the cause.
Her home IL in Pittsburgh, but
Washington claims a proprietary
interest and pride In her, since she
lived here for two or three years
during the war and just afterward.
1t was she who put in the swim.
ming pool ut the Walter Reed Hos.
pital. which has contributed SO ma
terially to the happiness Of the pa.
tents, and for this and thousand
other kindnesses the boys at Wal
ter Reed call her blessed. ID"
TO Washington the Red Cross
is In a great measure personi.
fled In Miss Mabel Boardman. For
years the work OF this organiza-
ton has been her life work; and
every morning - excepting only
the period drying which, she served
as District commissioner-she has
been at her desk by o'clock. usu-
ally putting in an eight-hour day
in her office and not hesitating
about overtime when necessity
arose.
The beautiful Red Cross build
ing. a memorial to the heroic wom-
en- Of the civil war. is In no small
measure u monument to Miss
Boardman's energy and devotion:
and her name Is identified with the
society's greatest achievements.
Moreover, there was grace and
generosity about the way in which
she stepped down from the active
headship of the organization when
the wars emergency and the tire.
mendous demands upon the So
ciety made IL necessary to have an
organizing genius at the helm
the late Henry p. Dawson was the
man selected--which proved her to
be one Of the really great women
Of her time.
Next to Miss Boardman, Mrs.
John Allan Daugherty. head Of the
local division Of the Red Cross,
played perhaps the most important
part OF any Washington woman
in the conference. And Of the
men Judge John Barton Payne.
present chairman Of the American
Red Cross; and the Chief Justice
Of the Supreme Court come at
once to mind. Chief Justice Taft
was perhaps the most vitality in.
terested honorary president the
Red Cross has ever had-the Presi-
dent OF the United States being en-.
officio honorary president OF the