Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-08-07
By John Clagett Proctor

THERE are ever so many people
in this and other countries
who know that there is such
L an organization as the Amer
lean Red Cross. because they have
received its helping hahd-its BENEFITS
in times Of urgent need and distress.
These people, and those who have
wisely and periodically contributed to
its great work. need not be told OF
the aims of this patriotic society and
the scope of its activities, for as con-
tributors to its fund or as recipients
Of its aid and bounty they know from
personal contact nearly all that can
be said about it.
But there are many in this great
land Of prosperity who know substan-
TALLY nothing about this worldwide
institution that seeks to follow up ma
tional and international calamities and
the horrors of war. caring for the
wounded, the widowed and the
orphaned. Sometimes they read in
the press Of the arrival of the Red
Cross at the scene of flooded district
or some horrible holocaust. with food,
clothing, doctors. nurses, medicine and
tents for i'll and manned sufferers.
Sometimes, even. the Red Cross brings
undertakers and collins for the dead.
But few, in reading of these tragic &C.
counts, ever ask themselves where
the funds for all this prompt and EN-
Gent help come from.
The Red Cross has grown to be a
big charitable business organization,
where everything is done like clock
work. Indeed, to be useful. 1t must
always be on the alert, for no one
knows when or where it will be needed
next, or what the occasion will be, or
the scope Of the requirements. In
cases like the Johnstown flood, the
San Francisco fire or the burning Of
Baltimore it is too late then to ask
for donations to its treasury, and 80,
throughout the country. about this
time of the year. what Is known as
the Roll Call occurs. Here in our own
city plans are now being made for
the 1888 call, and for this purpose
Edgar Morris. our well-known fellow
citizen, has been made chairman.
T Asst year the funds collected to
carry on this SPLENDID work were
satisfactory for the purposes needed
but as the needs are annually in
creasing, so does it become more and
more necessary to secure additional
donations over and above the amounts
received the previous year.
OF course, the American Red Gross
Is national and international in its
scope, and since it is the philanthropic
agent of all public-spirited men and
women in America, all should help to
keep it going However. here in WASH
ington, we are in peculiar position
or on the spot as some would say
for here the American Red Cross was
founded and here it has its magnificent
headquarters, and naturally the people
of Washington have, or should have
in it. an event greater pride than any
other place In the land. Indeed, the
birth and growth of this society is
interesting and marvellous.
The District of Columbia Chapter
American Red Cross, had its beginning
in March, 1905. though much of the
pioneer work of the organization had
preceded this by many years, wher
Clara Barton was at its head.
This enthusiastic, indefatigable
woman, though born in oxford. Mass.
became virtually Washingtonian, fol-
she came to this city in November
1854, and with the exception of few
years when out Of the city on duty OF
resting up she resided here or close by
In Maryland. Like many another sue.
cessful person, her career began with
teaching school, but this she gave UP
In 1854 to come to Washington, where
friends soon secured copying for her
to do from the Patent Once. She die
this at home, 10000 words daily being
her task.
At this time the Commissioner OF
Patents was Judge Charles Mason Of
Iowa, who also made Washington his
home Miss Barton's work also in
cluded the preparing Of the me.
chanical part of the annual report
for the printer. and the commissioner
being attracted by the excellence OF
her work, appointed her, in 1855, clerk
in charge of confidential desk at the
salary Of 400 year.
IN THIS way she became the frs
woman to receive an appointment In
the Government departmental serv-
ice, and We are told she made very
good one. But her Government posi-
ton was no more certain then than II
would be today. or seemingly so, at
least. and when the Buchanan admin
istration came into power and Will
liam D. Bishop became the Commits
sioner Of Patents, she was let out OF
the service
But the separation thus enforced
upon her was not wasted, for Miss
Barton continued to improve her
knowledge of French. literature and
art, before she was reinstated, which
was not long. In 1861. when the war
: began, and the 9Th Massachusetts,
: Volunteers from her own State arrived
in Washington after their exciting
encounter passing through Baltimore
she left her desk, feeling that her
country needed her elsewhere. But
the patriotism thus demonstrated was
In a sense rewarded, for she was con-
tinued on the pay roll throughout the
war, fellow clerk named Edward
Shaw working overtime in order tc
. keep up her desk.