The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-06-06

A joint committee of the two organ
izations of women met to select a day
for the presenting of the window and
they fixed upon the anniversary of the
opening in 1899 of the first peace con-
ference at the Hague. In a sense, the
window is a war window, and yet its
dedication in a way is to the cause of
peace.
Some years ago congress authorized
the erection in Washington of a build
Ing which was to be used by the work
ers of the American Red Cross. 1t
seems fitting that the first meeting of
the two great organizations of ome
representing the North and the South
and dedicated to concentrating the
sacrifices Of the war between the
states should have been held in a
building erected as the inscription over
one of its portals proclaims: IN Mem
DRY of the Heroic Women of the Civil
War;"
How the Windows Were Provided.
The cornerstone of the Red Cross
building was laid in 1914 and the
oil uIlule was COLuDlCltd just vi LtC
eye of Americas entrance into the
World war. The plans called for
three great Illuminated windows to
break the white marble facade of the
building. 1t was the suggestion of
Miss Mabel T. Boardman, secretary of
the American Red Cross, that the
Woman's Relief corps In the North and
the United Daughters of the Confed-
eracy In the South should each erect
one of two of the windows.
The money quickly was raised and
orders were placed for the windows.
In the case of these two windows first
emplaced the women of the South
raised the money for one and the
women of the North raised the money
for the other. They were acting at
the same time but not Jointly, for each
had a separate "window mission to
perform.
When the question of raising the
money to meet the cost of the great
middle window was presented for an
swer 1t was a Mississippi woman, Mrs.
A. McKimbrough, who made the sug-
gestion that the women of the North
and the women of the South should
unite in its erection. This suggestion
was adopted enthusiastically by the
women of the two sections and the
great central window has been en-
placed In the presence of a gathering
of women representatives of two Sec
lions of the country which once en-
gagged in war, one against the other.
This new stained glass window pre-
sents a striking portrayal of a medic
val Red Cross knight rescuing a
wounded companion. The knight
stands in the center of the window
and forms its chief figure. Other de-
tails of the window lend themselves
readily, if subordinately, to the gen.
eral scheme of beauty and effective
ness.
Memorial Trees in Washington.
Trees today are doing memorial
duty in the capital of the nation. 1t
Is recognized that one almost certain
way TO save trees from. vandalism is
to dedicate them to the memory of in
dividual American patriots. Within a
few days 80 additional memorial trees
have been planted in this city, TO add
to the great number already casting
their grateful shade over the warming
earth.
Officials of the state government of
Massachusetts and the mayors of SO
cities of the Old Commonwealth came
here recently to plant a tree for each
city in memory of Abraham Lincoln.
These trees are now taking root and
developing their foliage near the great
marble memorial recently erected in
honor of the rail splitter President.
1t was left to the members of the
American Legion to evolve a beautiful
plan to honor the memory of the men
of the District of Columbia who fell
in battle. Sixteenth street, once re.
named the Avenue of the Presidents
but now simply Sixteenth street again,
Is lined with magnificent trees from
Lafayette square all the way to the
point where the street ascends to the
crest of a commanding hill, then to
pursue its level way for a space until
it dips down into a beautiful valley.
Tree for Each Dead Hero.
The ~Legionnaires of the District un.
dertook the work of planting hardy
trees along the newer part of Six.
teenth street, the part which has been
extended from the point where the
section of denser population ended in
the days not long gone. These trees
have been growing for three years and
they are sturdy specimens of forest
growth. Each tree is dedicated to the
memory of a man who gave his life
for his country in the war which
closed Armistice day, and at the base
of each is a tablet bearing the4name
of the hero in whose honor it was
planted. On Decoration day a flag
with a cluster of peoples is attached
to each tablet.
This memorial plan of the Legion
raires of the District attracted wide
attention, and now il is reported that
Legion posts throughout the country
have taken the idea unto themselves
and are setting out trees in memory
of the fallen dead.
A tree makes a noble monument,
and If it is properly chosen and prop
erly treated it will grow and thrive
through several generations. 1t can
always be replaced without great cost /;
it is always beautiful and it always