New Britain herald., 1927-12-20
CHRISTMAS GREETING
 FROa TORR|D AFRICA
Flowers Are Blooming, Birds Singing, Miss
 Cowles Writes

It seems odd to Miss Ruth C.. CoWies, k. N.. who IS d missionary nurse unuer the American Board of torelgn Missions in Johannesburg, Africa, to send Christmas greetings when the weather is sizzling hot and the world ill her part of the globe IS at It's greencst. "EVcrythng is gay with blossoms and bird songs" writes Miss CoWles, whose American home is at 99 Forest street this city. where lives her sister, Helen l.. Cowles, a brother Raymond E. Cowles and her aunt. Mrs. Marcus White. We are reminded that De- cember 25 is at hand.' Miss Cowlcs continues. "by the eager expectation Of TOO children, who are being just s good as they can be, and attend ing Sunday school with alarming regularity 'jes fore Christmas
 Miss Cowles is third generation missionary and prior 10 her going to the field did private and district nursing in America. She was born in New Britain but spent most of her early years in Africa with her missionary parents. Then she came back to America for her education and attended Oberlin college and New York Post-Graduate hospital. She was connected with the Instruc- tive Nurse association in New Red ford, Mass, when in 1925 she start cd back 10 Africa as district nurse for women and children in the 50- mile mining section of Johannes- burg. 4 year ago she was trans ferred 10 Johannesburg where she is doing remarkable work building up dispensaries. district nursing. ma ternity service and clinics for young and old. Since last May the clinics cared for 2,660 men. women and children. Fables" says Miss Cowles, 'are babies the world over. and the Wee brown ones are just as appeal ing as their little white brothers and sisters"
 One of the more recent develop ments in health work. for which Miss Cowles is responsible, is the es- tablishment of q clinic for school children. The introduction of health programs among the teeming sec tions of Johannesburg has included a recent fly campaign. Rev. F.. Phillips who Is another social service o,,,, J1.r.1 ,1 showed moving pictures on the dan ger or flies, 10 large audiences of both groWn-ups and children. This was supplemented by posters and hiers. Finally the school children were offered three prizes for 'hos" who brought Tn within llnited time the largest number or dead flies. "It was my pleasant and odi- ferrous task 10 measure th" corpscS thus collectcd," writes Miss CoWl"S. One of our schools was very slow in working for the prize and upon inquiry. I learned that many of th" parents had forbid the children fo kill flies for fear they would suffer lICl'l sore eyes.
 Here in America where SC much effort and money gre hoine expended annually to protect the motherhood and childhood of the nation. it is difficult to realize the conditions that confront women and Childtcn In such q city as Johannesburg. The training of Zulu women and nurses and the building up of hos pital for women meets q dcsperat" need in this great sore spot Of the gold coast where GS3 out Of every thousand Zulu babies never grew up: and where within shockinglv large nurber of native babies were born on the streets of Johannesburg because there was no place where the poor mothers could go.'
 Friends and sunnortcrs of Miss Cowles' work In New Britain will take snecial pleasure at this season when the thoughts of the world are turned towards a little babo. in real izing what their money and prayers are doing in Africa.
 
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