co-operation of local authorities elsewhere in the State, and cottages
have been erected as follows: Four in South Bend, four in Terre Haute,
six in Evansville, three in Lafayette, and negotiations are pending for
supplying Richmond, Fort Wayne, New Albany, Frankfort and Huntington.
The branch erects the cottages and the local authorities maintain them.
In every case it has proven an effective stimulus to local aid by the
municipality and private charity.
NEW YORK
_Ferryboat for Red Cross._
Miss Mary Harriman, eldest daughter of E. H. Harriman, has taken one of
her father’s Erie ferryboats and turned it into a man-o’-peace to fight
tuberculosis. She has presented the boat to the Brooklyn Committee on the
Prevention of Tuberculosis and the Brooklyn Red Cross Society.
It will go into commission as a part of the Red Cross Navy on July 1,
when its flag will fly over an anchorage off Brooklyn.
Hammocks, steamer chairs, and other conveniences of out-in-the-air
sleeping will be arranged for the accommodation of 300 men, women and
children. Three meals a day will be served on the boat.
_Resolution of the International Association of Accident Underwriters._
Mr. A. E. Forrest, president of the North American Accident Insurance
Company of Chicago, presented the following resolutions, which were
unanimously adopted:
_Resolved_, That the International Association of Accident
Underwriters, in convention assembled, herewith voices its
profound admiration for the magnificent work of the American
National Red Cross in its efforts for the relief of suffering
and distressed humanity and for the prevention of disease;
_Resolved_, That we extend to the officers and members of
the American National Red Cross our heartfelt co-operation,
and earnestly recommend that not only the companies and
associations, members of this association, but that all
branches of insurance interests will, so far as lies in their
power, promote its humane labors by a liberal use of the Red
Cross Christmas stamps;
_Resolved_, That the thanks of this convention are herewith
tendered to Miss Mabel T. Boardman, a noble woman, whose ardent
labors in the cause of humanity sheds such bright lustre upon
American womanhood, for the charming compliment which her
letter addressed to this association so graciously conveys; be
it further
_Resolved_, That the thanks of this convention are herewith
tendered to Mr. Max Cohen, editor of _Views_, Washington,
D. C., for embodying this appeal from one of the greatest
instrumentalities for a higher and finer civilization in
his interesting and instructive address pertaining to the
presentation by this association of its George E. McNeill medal
in rewarding acts of heroism in the saving of human life.
WHAT THE CHRISTMAS STAMP IS DOING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
By GEORGE B. LEIGHTON.
[Illustration]
New Hampshire is a small State, but its people have the same interest
in advancing the methods of living and the same desire to be abreast of
the times that people of other States have. The motives which govern its
people are as high minded as in any other State, and a great deal that
has been said in regard to the political shortcomings of the State are
not in accordance with the facts. The people of New Hampshire became
interested in the Christmas stamp idea, and, so far as they were able,
have seemingly accomplished a good deal to be proud of. The New Hampshire
Federation of Women’s Clubs, through the then president, Mrs. Lorin
Webster, took a deep interest in the Christmas stamp campaign of last
December, and largely through their efforts we had in bank something
over $1,300. Naturally, many people who had helped in selling the stamps
felt that they should have a part of the funds for particular cases of
tuberculosis in which they were interested, but the officers of the Red
Cross took the position that these funds were to be used for general
rather than for special work, believing that in the end more good would
be accomplished. As there are no tuberculosis societies in the State of
any prominence, although one exists in name, we decided to spend this
money on rather new lines. We believed that the way to exterminate a
disease was to prevent, so far as possible, new cases. To accomplish this
end a poster was prepared, which is indicated in the cut, and it has
been very generally circulated through the State, being placed in all
schools, mills, railway stations and places of public meeting. In the
distribution of this poster the Women’s Clubs assisted materially. All
together, some 8,000 of these posters have been distributed and requests
are coming in continually for additional copies. The poster states in
concise language three conspicuous factors or conditions in the campaign
against tuberculosis, that the disease is contagious, that it is curable,
and that it is preventable. The Boston & Maine Railroad, which operates
practically the entire railway mileage in New Hampshire, has taken a
deep interest in this matter in that they have placed the placards in
all of their stations and have instructed their agents to see that they
are not defaced or removed. This assistance has been most helpful. The
railway even went further and placed the placards in its stations in
other States, for it has a considerable mileage in Massachusetts, Vermont
and Maine. The result of this has been that numerous requests have been
received from Massachusetts, from people interested in the tuberculosis
campaign, for those posters, as they have seen them in the other States.
The people in the good commonwealth of Massachusetts have been obliged to
confess that they have had to come to New Hampshire for a very important
suggestion in this work. The more the writer familiarizes himself with
the tuberculosis campaign the more he is impressed that if the disease
can be eliminated it must be done by informing practically every citizen
of the State how to avoid contracting it, and we believe that what we
have accomplished by this poster has been or will prove to be successful.
The superintendent of public instruction in our State, Mr. Morrison,
grasped the idea of the importance of this poster early in the campaign,
and he prepared a letter to all his subordinates directing them to place
the poster in the schools and to see that attention was directed to them
by the teachers. Again, Rev. R. E. Thompson, head of the New Hampshire
Sunday School organization, felt the importance of this work, and he,
too, prepared a circular letter to be sent to 600 superintendents and
teachers in the State requesting them to put a placard in all Sunday
Schools and direct attention to it. Copies of the poster were sent to the
different granges throughout the State. The posters have been printed on
cardboard, measuring 19 × 12½, and they cost, with envelopes, about a
cent a piece.
In addition to this form of publicity the New Hampshire Branch has
prepared two bulletins, one being a reprint of Rev. Elwood Worcester’s
article which appeared in the _Ladies’ Home Journal_ for March, 1900,
on the class method of treating tuberculosis. This has been circulated
gratuitously throughout the State. The conditions seem to be such in
our State that in a good many communities the class method ought to
accomplish much. Again, we prepared as Bulletin No. 3 an article issued
by the Boston Association for the Relief and Control of Tuberculosis,
which treats in a very simple manner of the essentials of right living
and clean living. This bulletin is also being distributed gratuitously.
So much as indicating how the campaign has been carried on through the
assistance of printer’s ink, but we have in addition secured the services
of Mrs. Duryea, whose duties are to go about the State and tell of the
class method of treating tuberculosis. The method of procedure is that
she communicate with the officers of the local Women’s Club, some of
the medical men and other prominent citizens, to the end that a meeting
will be arranged, and at this meeting she tells of what has been done in
Boston at the Massachusetts General Hospital in curing those afflicted
with the disease.
We have found, regrettably, that the doctors in some of the smaller
communities have not sufficiently studied the apprehension of the disease
in its early stages. The State Board of Health has recognized this and is
endeavoring to bring before the profession means and suggestions so that
all of its members may have the latest word on this subject. The State
of New Hampshire has directed, and is about to open for the treatment
of patients, a sanitarium situated in the northern central section of
the State, but this sanitarium will accommodate very few cases, and for
this reason our campaign has been largely to interesting communities in
establishing tuberculosis classes.
The death rate from tuberculosis in New Hampshire has decreased
materially in the last ten years. It has dropped from considerably
over 1 death per 1,000 of population to less than 1 death per 1,000 of
population. A study of the report of the State Board of Health shows that
the death-rate is higher in proportion to the population in that part of
the State nearest the sea than it is in the western or Connecticut valley
district.
We feel that we can not as yet consider our work anything more than
begun. It is a campaign of education, and when considered from this point
of view we feel that we have accomplished a great deal. Unquestionably,
a very much larger number of citizens know certain things about
tuberculosis than they did six months or a year ago. Everybody must know
these facts before the work of publicity is fully accomplished.
We have made an open offer of financial assistance to any tuberculosis
class or summer camp that is established, and in the coming years a much
larger amount of money can be distributed in this way.
RED CROSS NURSES’ DEPARTMENT
_Miss Delano’s Appointment._
The Red Cross can not fail to be greatly pleased by the following
announcement:
Miss Jane A. Delano, of New York, has been appointed Superintendent of
the Army Nurse Corps. Miss Delano was formerly Superintendent of Nurses
at the Bellevue Hospital in New York, and is President of the National
Association of Nurses. It is probable that an attempt will be made at the
next session of Congress to enlarge and organize the Army Nurse Corps.
Miss Delano has long been deeply interested in the Red Cross and has been
for some time a member of the New York State Branch Committee on Nurses.
She will be appointed a member of the Red Cross War Relief Board and be
made the Chairman of its Subcommittee on Nurses. By this arrangement the
whole system of the Regular Army Nursing Corps and Red Cross Nursing
Corps will be placed under one head, so that in case of war the plans
for Red Cross nursing assistance will fall into complete accord with the
demands of the Army Medical Service. Miss Delano will, therefore, be not
only fully advised as to the regular nursing strength of the Army Corps,
but will know exactly the status of the volunteer aid of the Red Cross
Nursing Corps.
At the annual meeting of the Federation of Nurses, held last June
at Minneapolis, a resolution was passed that the Alumnæ Association
of Trained Nurses of the United States affiliate with the Red Cross
according to the plan outlined by the War Relief Board. This plan
provides for a Subcommittee on Nurses of the War Relief Board, the
committee of fifteen to consist of a Chairman, who is to be a trained
nurse, two other trained nurses, an Army surgeon, and a Navy surgeon,
and one other person, all members of the War Relief Board, six trained
nurses selected from a list submitted by the Nurses’ Alumnæ Association,
and three other persons, all to be appointed by the Chairman of the War
Relief Board.
CALIFORNIA.
The lectures of the Nurses’ Auxiliary of the California Branch, of which
Mrs. L. L. Dunbar, President of the Children’s Hospital, is Chairman, and
Miss Frances S. Hershey, Secretary, have continued uninterruptedly. Miss
Katherine Brown, Superintendent of Nurses at the Children’s Hospital,
and Miss Killiam have been very active in this work, as well as Miss
Eisel and Miss McCarthy. The lectures at the Heynemann Overall and Shirt
Factory, at the noon hour, have proven very interesting and profitable,
both to lecturer and the class. They have found the work mutually
enjoyable. This auxiliary has also undertaken a course of lectures at
the request of the Young Women’s Christian Association. Notices of these
lectures have been posted in the retiring rooms of the large department
stores. The Branch is planning courses in home nursing and hygiene for
the Chinese women of the city of San Francisco.
PENNSYLVANIA.
_Work of a Red Cross Nurse._
PHILADELPHIA, July 30, 1909.
Captain JOHN S. MUCKLE, _President, Pennsylvania Branch,
American National Red Cross_.
I have the honor, in compliance with your request, to hand you
the following report in reference to my aid to the injured at
the collapsed building at the northeast corner of Eleventh and
Market streets, Philadelphia, on Thursday afternoon, July 15,
1909:
I was walking west on the north side of Market street, between
Tenth and Eleventh streets, about 1 o’clock, with my mother,
Mrs. D. S. Baxter, when I heard a terrific crash, followed by
clouds of dust. I left my mother standing on the sidewalk and
ran in the direction of the disaster, and on my way left my
hat in the saloon of the Bingham House, southeast corner of
Eleventh and Market streets, and then ran over to the collapsed
building and saw two injured women being taken away to a
hospital from the sidewalk in an automobile. As I entered the
ruins I was stopped by a city policeman, and stated to him that
I was a Red Cross nurse, and the officer immediately let me
pass into the collapsed building. I found a projecting joist,
which I hung on to and dropped into the cellar, where I saw
two men; one was already dead, and the other, H. W. Fickis, I
called to and he answered. By this time a police officer and
a doctor of medicine joined me, and we three tried to remove
the above two, but found it impossible. I then turned to help
others, and succeeded in bringing one, Martin L. Lewis, to the
surface, and stuffed my handkerchief into the cut in his head
and took him to the Hahneman Hospital in a patrol wagon; then
returned to the building and continued removing those I found,
James Haggerty, Thomas Devine, Peter Nelson, and James Noble,
dressed their wounds, and sent one, James Haggerty, to the
Hahneman Hospital, and the others to Medico Chi Hospital, in a
patrol wagon. By this time they had removed the man I had seen
in the cellar, H. W. Fickis, put him in the patrol wagon, and
I dressed his wounds and took him to the Hahneman Hospital.
My last injured man, Albert Creen, I sent to the Jefferson
Hospital in a patrol wagon. In dressing the wounded I used my
handkerchief and underskirt, and when these gave out used the
bandages I found in the patrol wagon. After I had taken and
sent about twenty-two injured to the hospitals, and the dead,
six, were removed, I returned to the collapsed building and
helped the firemen and police officers and workmen who were
cleaning up the debris, as they were alone, no one having
remained to help them. I stayed in the collapsed building until
the very last person had been removed. Through the courtesy and
kindness of Mr. George W. B. Hicks, Mayor’s statistician, I was
taken home in his automobile late that night. I hand you a copy
of a letter from Hon. John E. Reyburn, Mayor of Philadelphia.
Very truly, yours,
MARGARET B. SIMON,
_American National Red Cross Nurse No. 604_.
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR,
PHILADELPHIA, July 15th, 1909.
Mrs. MARGARET B. SIMON, _Philadelphia, Pa._
MY DEAR MRS. SIMON: In a report of the terrible accident at
Eleventh and Market streets this afternoon when a building of
the United Gas Improvement Company collapsed, imprisoning in
a mass of wreckage a large number of people, special mention
is made of your heroic action in offering early aid to those
seriously injured.
The Red Cross badge justifying your membership in a great
organization gained you immediate entrance to the heart of
the disaster, and all agree in saying that you proved by your
splendid work and helpful sympathy your right to be considered
an honor to the great order.
I think it due to you that public recognition should be made of
your brave and successful work in a time of extreme excitement
and danger; grateful for this new reason to be proved not only
of the Red Cross but of the women of Philadelphia.
I am, yours, very truly,
JOHN E. REYBURN,
_Mayor of Philadelphia_.
_Letter from President of the Red Cross._
THE WHITE HOUSE, WASHINGTON, August 5, 1909.
Mrs. MARGARET B. SIMON, _Louden and Camac streets,
Philadelphia, Pa._
DEAR MRS. SIMON: Through the President of the Pennsylvania
Red Cross Branch I have learned of your brave and helpful
action on July 15, at the time of the serious accident caused
by the collapse of a building in the city of Philadelphia. As
President of the American Red Cross permit me to express to
you its sincere appreciation of the services you gave in the
capacity of Red Cross nurse in rendering first aid to so many
of the victims and at so much risk to your own life.
The knowledge that the society has enrolled so courageous,
faithful and valuable a nurse as yourself is a great
satisfaction to its officers and an inspiration to its nursing
corps.
Sincerely yours,
WM. H. TAFT.
_Reunion Program._
Following is the program of the First Annual Reunion of the nurses
enrolled in the Pennsylvania Branch of the American National Red Cross at
Philadelphia, September 18 to September 25, 1909:
Saturday, September 18—Reunion.
Sunday, September 19—Attend service at Christ Church (11 a. m.).
Monday, September 20—Call on the Hon. John E. Reyburn, mayor of
Philadelphia, at the City Hall (12 noon). Afternoon, visit places of
interest, institutions, etc.
Tuesday, September 21—Visit Philadelphia hospitals. Afternoon, visit
places of interest, institutions, etc. Evening, Keith’s Theatre, as the
guests of Mr. B. F. Keith, through the courtesy of Mr. H. T. Jordan.
Wednesday, September 22—Visit Philadelphia County Prison, Tenth and
Reed streets (morning), and Eastern Penitentiary (afternoon). Evening,
reception given to the nurses by the “Colonial,” at Logan, Pa.
Thursday, September 23—Trip on the river. Assemble at Race street wharf
at 2 p. m. (A boat has been placed at our disposal through the courtesy
of the Hon. Henry Clay, director of public safety of the city of
Philadelphia.)
Friday, September 24—Call on Mrs. John S. Muckle, wife of the President
of the Pennsylvania Branch, at her summer home “Windrush,” in Germantown.
Train leaves North Philadelphia Station 12.26 p. m. for Queen Lane
Station.
Saturday, September 25—“Atlantic City.” Train leaves Broad Street Station
at 9.40 a. m.
FIRST AID DEPARTMENT
CALIFORNIA
_The Red Cross and the Dragon._
BY WILLIAM LATHROP MCCLURE.
Going to the smart new office building of the Canton Bank, passing shops
filled with the weird and bizarre merchandise of the Orient, passing
blouse-clad forms shuffling by on heelless boat-shaped sandals—truly, I
think, this cannot be the old Chinese quarter of San Francisco. These
are clean streets, these buildings are handsome, this public school is
of concrete faced with bright blue tiles and filled with smiling little
Chinese men and women. Sanitary? Yes, but still picturesque. Soon this
ancient race will weave exotic mystery and charm about steel-girdered
walls and balconies will bulge with great globular lanterns of oiled
paper swinging in the wind. For some days to come Chinese ladies with
“lily feet” will look down over their tulips upon the crowded street,
and wish for the Good Lady Festival that they may wear their brocade and
gold abroad, even as “other” women.
[Illustration: NEW CHINESE QUARTER. SAN FRANCISCO.]
But the old order changeth. New China does not brook the “cycle of
Cathay.” And here, in the Canton Bank Building, under the wing of the
American National Red Cross, has grown a flourishing offshoot of the
Grand Legion of the Red Cross, of the California Branch, that has, in the
vernacular of the street, “made good.” For a while—a short while—it was
contented to be one detachment: then it became a twin; now its membership
has reached about the hundredth mark, with supporting members. We watch
this changeling with surprise. It needs no nursing.
[Illustration: THE CHINESE RELIEF COLUMN OF THE CALIFORNIA RED CROSS.]
Saturday evening, March 27, 1909, saw the hall of the Chinese
Presbyterian Church so crowded that a burly policeman had the doubtful
pleasure of turning away visitors of both races. Inside was filled with
merchants and their families—the men on one side, the women and children
on the other. The Consul, in a robe of biscuit brocade, followed by
his suite, entered and aroused the interested glances of Caucasian and
Oriental alike. Like flowers, bloomed from the dark blue background of
the bloused and trousered women, a parterre of babies in cap and gown of
purple, blue and rose. Tiny ques and tiny sandals, smiling faces, and not
a whimper the long evening through.
Under the guidance and by the gracious courtesy of Donaldine Cameron,
a noble friend of Chinese womanhood, a choir of Chinese young ladies
sang the “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Later the audience rose to the
“Star Spangled Banner,” most beautifully rendered by Miss Wong in a
clear mezzo-soprano. The program—partly interpreted by Mr. Wong, partly
in Chinese—closed in a glory of flashlight, the sudden burst raising
pandemonium among the baby choir, who were “velly much ’flaid.” A small
dog smuggled in under the blouse of Lee Ching, a real boy, supplied the
necessary bass for the tiny Celestial singers.
Organized by Dr. G. H. Richardson and the writer, the welfare of this
successful detachment has been splendidly nourished by Dr. Mark Neumann,
the Medical Director. From occupying the “parlors” of the Chinese Native
Sons of the Golden State, its members became ambitious to have quarters
of their own. Dr. Neumann donated his waiting room. On one wall hangs the
Dragon and the Stars and Stripes about a Red Cross on a field of white.
On another the portrait of President Taft; on the third, beautifully
written in Chinese characters, the By-laws of the Legion and the Proposed
Women’s Auxiliary. Often a silk-trousered Chinese lady, with polished
hair ornamented by fine workmanship of jade and gold, sits before these
by-laws studying them seriously, beginning at the upper right hand corner
and reading downward.
[Illustration: THEATRE WHERE THE CHINESE HELD AN ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE
BENEFIT OF THE RED CROSS.]
Most remarkable will be the evolution of a Women’s Auxiliary to the Red
Cross Legion; most remarkable to those best acquainted with Chinese
life and character. It is an emergence from sheltered living, a setting
aside of a custom scarce permitting a Chinese young lady to appear upon
the street. One does not even talk to a Chinese gentleman about his
household. But there is a precedent. Chinese ladies are going about the
streets of the great ports of New China obeying the calls of humanity and
the voice of recent ideals of social development and service. For China
has a Red Cross.
A Chinese merchant rarely calls upon a male physician for his family, but
an up-to-date woman physician is welcome in the families of the educated.
Favorable as is one’s impression of the prosperity, intelligence and
generosity of our Chinese friends; the advantages of enlightened
medical knowledge and sanitary science among them in San Francisco, not
to mention the vast interior of the Chinese Empire itself, cannot be
overestimated.