Part 14
It is to the Rough Riders we go, and the relief may be rough but it will be ready. CLARA BARTON.
At the time of the Spanish-American War, in Cuba, Colonel Theodore Roosevelt personally accepted favors at the hands of Clara Barton, as President of the Red Cross. PERCY H. EPLER.
Keep the pot boiling; let us know what you want.
CLARA BARTON.
The first American War (Spanish-American), since the adoption of the Treaty of Geneva, has brought the Red Cross home to the people; they have come to understand its meaning and desire to become a part of it. CLARA BARTON.
Without the Red Cross, as one of our treaties, we could not in the Spanish-American War have floated a relief boat without danger of capture. CLARA BARTON.
The Red Cross of Spain has officially recognized in a most graceful and welcome manner its high appreciation and gratitude for the good offices we were able to render in line of our duty to its sick and wounded countrymen, during the late Spanish-American War.
CLARA BARTON.
CLARA BARTON’S TRIBUTE TO CUBA
After the Spanish-American war nearly 500 of the leading men and women of Cuba joined in inscribing their names together with the most touching tribute, and sentiments of appreciation, in a beautiful album to Clara Barton. In order to get their signatures it required five and one half years of time for the collection of the same throughout the Republic.
Miss Barton’s reply to the testimonial in part follows:
“I have watched the beautiful island since independence came to it as a proud, careful mother watches her child; have seen the steps, at first uncertain, grow to the sturdy strides of manhood, and the gem of the sea become a nation among nations and its destinies held by the same strong patient hands that so struggled for its life.
“It had learned endurance from suffering, drawn strength from adversity, courage from the proud ancestral nations whose blood is its own, and the memory of its untold woes has enveloped it in a veil of tender thoughtful justice to others that will form its brightest gem.
“God bless the new nation the world is glad to welcome. She is still the ‘Gem of the Ocean.’ My soul craves once more to look upon her beautiful face, and its grateful prayer forever goes up to Him who ruleth and guideth all—that He watch over her, keep her pure and true, and safe-guard forever her motto and watchword, ‘Cuba Libre’!”
NOTE.—If Cuba gets free, she must come to the United States, as she is too small to stand alone against the greed of great nations which will try to gobble her up for her riches, in soil and products. (Prophecy in 1874) Clara Barton.
LXXIII
Upon every line of Clara Barton’s life may be hung a thrilling story of perilous adventure and pathetic moving incidents.
“_Clara Barton and Her Work._”
Like everything in Corsica, my education was pitiful.
NAPOLEON.
Greatness is nothing, if it is not lasting. NAPOLEON.
Impossible! That word is not in the French dictionary.
NAPOLEON.
Drama is the tragedy of women. NAPOLEON.
I have fought like a lion for the Republic and, by way of recompense, it grants me permission to die of hunger. NAPOLEON.
Fortune is a woman. The more she does for us the more we expect. NAPOLEON.
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all. SHAKESPEARE.
The wicked flee when no man pursueth. PSALMS.
The thief doth fear each bush an officer. SHAKESPEARE.
Little sea-girt Corsica is weird, wild, soft and bewitching, strange, unique, but she had so much that one wearied of.
CLARA BARTON.
AT THE BIRTHPLACE OF NAPOLEON—THE CORSICAN BANDIT
At Ajaccio, on the Island of Corsica, there is still carefully preserved the house where was born Napoleon, in 1769. The island (a French Colony) is 114 miles long and 52 miles wide, and contains about 300,000 inhabitants; Ajaccio, the capital, about 19,000 inhabitants. Many of the street names, and statues of the city likewise, perpetuate the memory of the great military chieftain, as do other spots of similar historic interest in connection with his boyhood.
At Ajaccio, Clara Barton lived for some time. There she not only visited every place of interest but she also studied the character, and military strategy, of that masterful leader of men, as later she studied him in the city made by him “Paris Beautiful.”
For a time, until she regained her health, she lived _incognito_; later, she produced a letter from our U. S. Minister Washburn, then at the Court of Paris. When her identity became known she was overwhelmed with attentions from the natives, as well as from Americans, and attended many receptions given in her honor by that most hospitable people. Her experiences there were so numerous and sensational as worthy to become the basis for a great novel.
From the back door of her hotel a path led out into a forest of wildness and rare beauty. Describing the wood, by way of comparison, Clara Barton said: “The wood of Cuba is beautiful in quality, but hard to burn; in Corsica, one may take the green, wet wood and make a blazing fire.” By the side of the house were terraces on which were orange trees, loaded with the golden fruit. A little strategy secured what oranges Miss Barton wanted. She would take her blue bandana, put a franc in it, tie the ends of the bandana with a stone mason’s cord, then let it down from her room on the fourth story of the hotel to a little girl living in a rude hut. The back of the hut was against a precipitous stone cliff, the living quarters of the girl’s family being partly in the hut and partly in a chamber blasted out of the rock, as frequently occurs on the island. The girl would fill the bandana with fruit then, the signal given, Miss Barton would pull the fruit through the side window to her sick room.
All Americans in Europe are supposed to have money. Clara Barton there alone, unsuspecting and unguarded, was not protected against theft. A native bandit one evening sneaked into her room and demanded her money, or her life. With her usual presence of mind, and fearlessness in imminent danger, Clara Barton at the top of her voice cried out: “Now, boys, come on; I’ve got him!” Quicker than it takes to tell it, the bandit jumped through an open window in one corner of the room, and escaped into the forest.
LXXIV
Clara Barton, beloved by every one who knew her. HON. PETER VOORHEES DEGRAW, U. S. Fourth Postmaster General.
And memory turns to him fondly Whom we call by the name of Friend!— CARL F. ROSECRANS.
The chiefest of human virtues,—loyalty to friends.
C. S. YOUNG in _The Richmond Terminal_.
The better part of one’s life consists of his friendships.
A. LINCOLN.
Friendship and love Take second place to loyalty and honor. CALDERON.
Friendship is necessary to life. BISHOP WM. F. MCDOWELL.
Friendship’s the wine of life. YOUNG’S _Night Thoughts_.
Friendship is a sheltering tree. S. T. COLERIDGE.
No man is useless while he has a friend.
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.
Our wisest friends are life’s best book. CALDERON.
Poor is he, and beggar, that hath no friends at all. GRACIAN.
The face of an old friend is like a ray of sunshine through dark and gloomy clouds. A. LINCOLN.
The friends thou hast, and their adoption tried, Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel. SHAKESPEARE.
And can true friendship be tested, if not in the hour of misfortune? The Mayor of St. Petersburg to Clara Barton.
WHEN CARES GROW HEAVY AND PLEASURES LIGHT
It became incumbent upon Clara Barton to write tens of thousands of autographs, and inscriptions in books. As a philosopher, many such inscriptions are interesting and instructive. Characteristic of her is the following inscription which she wrote in a book presented to a personal friend:
My Dear General and Friend:
When life’s track has grown long, and the road bed flinty and hard; when the cares grow heavy and the pleasures light; and the tired soul reaches out for help, may you find those who will be as loyal and faithful to you as you have ever been to me.
Fraternally, CLARA BARTON.
You have bound yourself so closely round my heart, Friend of mine, That it seems as if our paths could never part, Friend of mine! Oft the vine forsakes the wall Stars have e’en been known to fall, You are not like star nor vine, Friend of mine!
LXXV
The Red Cross Organization has been built up largely by the heroic work of Clara Barton. FREDERICK H. GILLETT, Chairman (1900) House Committee on Foreign Relations; now Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Honor to whom honor is due. ST. PAUL.
Never did an organization select so wisely and elect so judiciously as did the National Red Cross Association when it chose Clara Barton to preside over its beneficent work.
Johnstown (Pa.) _Democrat_.
In Cuba, the Red Cross Society snatched thousands from the grave and made the sufferings of other thousands much lighter. But for Clara Barton America would today have been a stranger to the Red Cross and its beneficent work. DOCTOR HENRY M. LATHROP. Author of “_Under the Red Cross; or the Spanish-American War_.”
Miss Barton’s well-known ability, her long devotion to the noble work of extending relief to suffering in different lands, as well as her highest character as a woman, commend her to the highest consideration and good will of all people.
PRESIDENT WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
Officers and men unite in saying that too much praise cannot be given those noble Christian women, Clara Barton and her assistants, for their gentle care, their tender solicitude and untiring efforts in aiding and comforting our sick and wounded soldiers. They came as ministering angels to the suffering army at Santiago.
GENERAL JOHN J. PERSHING (in 1919).
A RED CROSS RED LETTER DAY
For thirteen years Clara Barton had tried to secure from Congress and the President a National Charter for the Red Cross. The bill had been before the 56th Congress, and passed. It was then before the President for his signature. He sent for Miss Barton. She went, accompanied by a few personal friends. They were at the White House, at the appointed hour. After a few moments of waiting, the President came into the room, receiving Miss Barton in a beautiful manner. He put his left arm around her, and holding her right hand in his said:
“Miss Barton, I have long wanted an opportunity to thank you for what you did for my boys in Cuba.”
She replied: “Mr. President I deeply appreciate your thanks, but I could not have done what I did in Cuba if you had not stood by me so nobly.” Then the President said:—
“Miss Barton, I am proud of this opportunity to sign this bill.” Miss Barton then introduced one by one her friends to the President. With his usual graciousness, he chatted for a few moments with his guests, then sat down at his desk where Secretary Cortelyou had placed the bill. With a plain steel pen he signed his name: “William McKinley, June ,” and then stopped, looked over his desk and asked, “Captain where is my calendar?” An old soldier looked high and low but couldn’t find the missing calendar. The calendar was standing on one corner of the broad, flat-topped desk, in another part of the room. Seizing it, one of the party tore off “June 5th,” and placed it before the President. He said “thank you, sir,” then signed “6th, 1900.” Rising from his seat, and extending his hand, he said: “Miss Barton, I will make you a present of this pen.” Graciously appreciative Miss Barton replied: “I thank you, Mr. President. I will preserve it in the archives of the Red Cross as a treasured memento of this occasion.”
LXXVI
As a nurse in the Civil War Clara Barton performed invaluable service. Pueblo (Colo.) _Star Journal._
Clara Barton in the theme of her address here, “The Ministering Angel,” urged the organization of Nurses’ Associations and Training Schools for Nurses. Atlanta (Ga.) _Constitution_.
The great war-nurse, friend of the world. The loftiest eloquence could give her none that more clearly expressed the keynote of her life. Grand Rapids (Mich.) _Press_.
Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain that they may live. EZEKIEL.
Nothing is impossible to Organized Womanhood,—united in aims and effort. CAROLINE M. SEVERANCE—“Mother of Clubs.”
American nurses are covering their profession with a glory that will live forever is the report that comes from France.
AMERICAN RED CROSS.
The nurse is proud to be chosen from millions of women anxious to care for the sick, as the representative of American womanhood.
AMERICAN RED CROSS.
Thirty-two thousand graduate nurses have said to the American Red Cross, “We are ready, use us.” AMERICAN RED CROSS.
Profane histories are three-fourths filled with the details of battles and sieges, and almost silent as to any provision for the sick and wounded. CLARA BARTON.
There were probably surgeons and nurses long before there were military chieftains. CLARA BARTON.
Agrippina, wife of the General, distributed clothing and dressings to the wounded. CLARA BARTON.
Courage of the soldier awakes the courage of woman. EMERSON.
Scarcely had man made his first move in organizing the Red Cross when the jeweled hand of royal woman glistened beside him, and right royally has she done her part. CLARA BARTON.
Women are, by nature, much better fitted for nurses than men can be. CLARA BARTON.
Had there been need for them, the Red Cross could easily have recruited an army of twenty-five thousand nurses from the flower of American womanhood. CLARA BARTON.
Large organizations of women, the best in the country and I believe the best in the world, have faithfully labored with me to merge the Red Cross into their societies, as a part of woman’s work.
CLARA BARTON.
I have wrought day after day and night after night, so sorry for the _necessity_, so glad for the opportunity,—ministering with my own hands and strength to the dying wants of the patriot-martyrs, who fell for their country and mine. CLARA BARTON.
To the army of nurses, brave, generous and true who, either as auxiliaries at home or as nurses in the field, made up that magnificent array of womanhood ready for sacrifice on the altar of humanity and their country—no words of mine can do justice.
CLARA BARTON.
Three great conflicts were seen by Miss Barton, and her career is an example to thousands of women who today are trying to heal human suffering. Buffalo (N. Y.) _Express_.
PATRIOTIC WOMEN OF AMERICA SELF-SACRIFICING
Nursing in war is of comparatively recent origin. While it is recorded that Fabiola, a patrician Roman lady, founded a hospital in A.D. 380, and 600 nurses in the early part of the fifth century were in the hospitals in Alexandria, nursing in war hospitals dates from the Crimean War; and on the battlefields, from our Civil War. The Crimean War gave the first real impulse to this humanitarian work, and the Civil War gave added luster to the glory of this work of humanity, as did the Franco-Prussian War and the Spanish-American War. But the late war broke all records; now, war-nursing will continue until “Nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn to war any more.”
The true disciples of humanity in war are the nurses, wearing the sign of the Red Cross and whose sacred mission it is to bind up the soldier’s wounds and “To heal all manner of sickness and all manner of diseases.” In the World War, reports show that there were approximately 11,600 American Red Cross nurses in service over-seas.
The total number of nurses employed: Army Nurse Corps, Regulars and Reserves 22,854 Navy Nurse Corps, Regulars and Reserves 1,500 Nurses assigned directly under the Red Cross for service overseas 604 Nurses assigned to U. S. Public Health Service in this country—extra military zones, essential war industries plants; marine hospitals 284 ——— Total 25,242
The cost for operation for June 30, 1917–July 1, 1918, was $197,180.00.
Total assignments of Red Cross nurses in foreign activities: To the Army 17,931 To the Navy 1,058 To the U. S. Public Health Service 284 To the Red Cross nurses 604 ——— Total 19,877
The Red Cross has furnished equipment to approximately 12,000 nurses and lay women personnel engaged in foreign war service, and to nurses in cantonments and naval hospitals in this country, at an approximate cost of $2,000,000.
Personnel equipped by the Red Cross for overseas duty, from the beginning of the war to December 31st, 1918, at the following cost:
Army $2,031,120.00 Navy 60,120.00 Red Cross 138,960.00 ————————————— 12,546 nurses—Total cost $2,230,200.00
As to the work of the American Red Cross Clara Barton says: “History records the wonderful achievements of the Red Cross, the greatest of relief organizations, though it cannot record the untold suffering which has been averted by it.” As to the Red Cross war-nursing, she says: “There can be no estimate of the misery assuaged and the deaths prevented by the unselfish zeal and devotion of the nurses of the Red Cross.” In prophecy she says:
And what would they do if war came again? The scarlet cross floats where all was blank then. They would bind on their “brassards” and march to the fray. And the man liveth not who could say to them nay; They would stand with you now, as they stood with you then,— The nurses, consolers, and saviours of men.
LXXVII
Clara Barton started the Red Cross alone.
Boston (Mass.) _Transcript_.
Miss Clara Barton, the American Red Cross is your society alone, and none other we will patronize. G. MOYNIER, President, International Red Cross Committee, Geneva, Switzerland.
The total expense connected with the acceptance of the Treaty by this Government, in addition to the personal service of more than five years, was defrayed individually by Clara Barton. Red Cross Committee (in 1903). House Document No. 552, Vol. 49, 58th Cong.
If we heed the teachings of history we shall not forget that in the life of every nation circumstances may arise when a resort to arms can alone save it from dishonor.—We must be prepared to enforce any policy which we think it wise to adopt. CHESTER A. ARTHUR, The President. (In advocacy before Congress of Clara Barton’s Red Cross Measure).
Legislation by Congress is needful to accomplish the humane end that your society has in view. It gives me, however, great pleasure, Miss Barton, to state that I shall be happy to give any (Red Cross) measure which you may propose careful attention and consideration. JAMES G. BLAINE, Secretary of State (in 1881).
The first official advocate of the Red Cross measure, and fearless friend from its presentation in 1877, was Omar D. Conger, now Senator from Michigan, then a member of the House.
CLARA BARTON (Sept. 6, 1882).
In 1877 Monsieur Moynier, President of the International Red Cross Committee, decided to make a further effort to obtain the adherence to the Treaty by our Government. For this purpose a special letter was sent to Miss Barton to deliver to President Hayes. MABEL T. BOARDMAN—In “_Under the Red Cross at Home and Abroad_.”
In 1869 Clara Barton went to Geneva, Switzerland. She was visited there by the President and members of the International Committee for Relief and of the Wounded in War, who came to learn why the United States had refused to sign the Treaty of Geneva.—Years of devoted missionary work by Miss Barton with preoccupied officials and a heedless, short-sighted public at length bore fruit. MARY R. PARKMAN—Author of “_Heroines of Service_.”
Miss Barton, I trust you will press this matter upon our present administration with all the weight of your well-earned influence. Having myself somewhat ignominiously failed to get any encouragement for this (Red Cross) measure from two administrations, I leave it in your more fortunate hands, hoping that the time is ripe for a less jealous policy than American isolation in international movements for extending and universalizing mercy towards the victims in war. DR. H. W. BELLOWS (Nov. 21, 1881).
Later—Miss Barton, I advise you to give it up as hopeless.
DR. H. W. BELLOWS (Ex-Chairman U. S. Sanitary Commission).
Miss Clara Barton, I thank you in the name of all of us (myself and colleagues of the International Committee).—Thanks to a perseverance and zeal which has surmounted every obstacle. Wishing to testify to you its gratitude for the services you have already rendered to the Red Cross (in securing the adherence of the United States to the Treaty), the Committee decided to offer to you one of the medals which a German engraver caused to be struck off in honor of the Red Cross. Please to regard it only as a simple memorial, and as a proof of the esteem and gratitude we feel for you. G. MOYNIER, President Red Cross International Committee.