Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 140, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 June 1917 — WOMEN’S WORK IS SUBJECT OF TALK [ARTICLE]

WOMEN’S WORK IS SUBJECT OF TALK

Miss Washburn Says It Will Parallel Greatest of All Wars. While some twenty women worked at bandage making, a few at knitting and a number of others who had come as visitors to the Red Cross room, Miss Mary Washburn gave a very interesting and instructive talk Thursday afternoon on the work of the Belgium and French relief and the present Red Cros.; activities. It would have paid every woman and man, too, in the county to have heard it and will doubtless inspire all to a greater endeavor to alleviate the suffering that will soon be keenly fc’t throughout America. . Miss Washburn, whose home is in Chicago, is spending a few days with relatives here. For the past two years she has been active in the relief movement in Chicago. At first the relief was for Belgium people but later it shifted to the aid of the wounded French soldiers. The Chicago headquarters has had a number of auxiliaries and their work has been extensive and they have nnj only supplied bandages, garments, blankets, etc., to the soldiers, but have secured funds to eare for the orphans, having a number of persons who have been caring for a French child by a contribution of 10 cents a day for one year. They have also procured ambulances at a cost of $1,600 "each, paid $425 to get them to France and SIOO per month to keep them in operation. There are at present 120,000 French children being cared for by American godparents and there are 70,000 more who need the same care. Miss Washburn said that the work of the Red Cross was not in futherance of the war nor an approval of the war but was a personal matter for the relief of suffering everywhere. “This is the greatest war of .all times,” said Miss Washburn,, “and we women are going to parallel ii with the greatest charity and relief work in the- world’s history.” Continuing she said that there are something like 800 field hospitals, back of the trenches and that practically all the bandages used are made by American women. Just before Christmas last year hundreds of “surprise” bags were made up for the wounded soldiers. Each bag contained comb, toothbrush, handkerchiefs, wash rag, soap, writing pad, pencil, sometimes a pockte knife or a razor on a game of dominoes or a puzzle. Some of the bags contained buttons, thread, safety pins, etc., and often each bag contained a letter from the girl sender The recipient had penned French notes to the donor, expressing his deep feeling of appreciation. Miss Washburn has spent considerable time in France, pursuing her art and sculpture training there, and has a deep reference for the French people and this fact gave a deeper meaning to her argument. Suggestions affecting the work so magnificently atken up by Rensselaer women will doubtless inspire the community to a greater effort in this great field of charitable performance.