The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-11-15
The Changing Times



this part of Maine was called Canaan,
II Eunice Farnsworth Weston, wife of
the first settler, was Ill Mary Mrs /
john White and the other women of
the section would go and care for
her and attend to her household du-
ties. Even within the memory OF
those now living it was customary to
go and set up" with anyone who was
i'll. This Setting up" was supposed
to help the unfortunate family out
through the night. Things had pro-
crossed, you see. so that the house
hold were expected In some way to
get through the daytime. 1t was al
lowed that they must have chance
TO rest at night and so the neighbors.
or members of the fraternal order
or church. took turns in caring for
the sick brother or sister at night
There were advantages about these
ancient methods There was sym
pathy in this neghborly care, the
passing of which may well be regret
ted by everyone. Such customs have
not entirely disappeared, and yet they
are now so little practieed that they
have ceased to be an important fac
tor in our present day life. 1t is not
that we have become entirely hard
hearted, but cur habits have changed
and we prefer to care for our un-
fortunate friends and neighbors in
another way.
If the home is a wealthy one the
family. at its own expense of course,
in case of serious illness, usually pro-
vide a trained nurse. Thus the pa
tient receives the most perfect atten-
ton. The same care can be provided
at much less expense and very much
less trouble by transferring the afflict-
ed one to a hospital and this is often
done. So illness or accident, in
wealthy or well-to-do families, causes
the general public very little concern.
Even the hospital plan just referred
to. however, adds to the family budget
an expense of twenty or thirty dollars
week This. with the other I'M
avoidable expenses of illness, is a
serious matter in the average house
hold and entirely out of the question
in families of moderate means. 1t
therefore follows that in far more
than half of the homes at the present
day illness, oftentimes reducing and
HOiuclllntS tHilttiN CAtiHSulSllluS lHC
income, creates a serious emergency.
There is nothing more universally
admitted than chat such situations
must be met cheerfully and fully. If
we were utterly thoughtless and sell
fish we would of course overlook an
attempt to forget the plight of our
neighbor. but even then our own well
being would he so much put in jeo-
pardy as to cause us ultimately to give
heed. The scourge of illness no long
er concerns solely the family in which
1t occurs. Differing with the nature
of the disease, but never entirely alb
sent, is the menace to the rest of the
community. Sickness, neglected and
uncontrolled, has a relentless way of
Furnishing a community in which it
occurs. and if we would be healthy
and we'll ourselves we must, perforce,
see to it that others who are i'll are
cured as speedily as possible. Thus
self-interest. the dictates of humanity
and comfortable conscience, all de-
mand chat We become 'our brothers
keeper and, in these days, as above
suggested, we have a tendency to do
it by proxy This has led to the in
cTedSl0S importance u lHp lNeu CTDSb
the world over OF course the above
refers almost entirely to its local
activities. This is we'll because they
attract perhaps the least attention.
When a world horror like the Japan
csc earthquake comes to our attention
we take it for granted that the Red
Cross will rush to the rescue and we
stand ready to contribute about what
is asked to back them in their effort.
We do not realize so keenly that hour
by hour. day by day. and week by
week. this same organization, right
among us. is carrying on a work,
which if less spectacular, is not less
essential
The Red Cross is one of the few
activities which is universal in its
appeal. A man may have one among
the many fraternal orders in which
he rightfully centers his principal in
terest He may be member of a
church and for that reason give that
religious belief his principal services,
He may be affiliated with a political
party and consider that he can best
serve his country by striving to make
its tenets universally accepted. When
we come to the Red Cross. the public
school. Coburn Park, and the public
library, an entirely different situation
exists. These activities demand, de-
serve and expect undivided allegiance
and support from all Their service
is universal and their support must
be upon some broad plan.
There is no citizen of Skowhegan,
or of the world for that matter who
has been during the past year, entire
ly beyond the benefits of Red Cross
activities There should not be even
one household in Skowhegan unrepre-
scented by Red Cross membership. In
most families it is not too much to
ask that every member should join
People of means will find lasting sat
isfaction in contributing substantial
sums from their abundance.
Where prudence and the family fin
ances dictate that the donation shall
be small, the satisfaction should be
the same and the gift will be not less
gratefully received.