Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 64, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 March 1918 — WHAT CAN WE DO? [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WHAT CAN WE DO?

The Red Cross, the American Fund* for French Wounded, and other war relief societies are co-operating in France to care for the French, and Belgian women who are now being driven back into their own countries after their deportation into Germany. It is reported that they are In rags and destitute, and the relief societies are doing all they can to fit them out with the bare necessities and decencies of life. The Chicago Tribune makes the following appeal:

“To give the required help the American Fund for French Wounded, 60 East Washington street, Chicago, has devised a Martha Washington kit. The kits are to be sent at once to France, and each refugee as she makes her weary way back to her. beloved land is to be given one of them. The directions for these kits follow: “The cost of these kits is to be kept within $4. One yard of shirting will make the bag. The width of the goods makes the length of the bag. It is run up on the machine. The bag is French seamed with the last seam on the outside all the way around. Turn in the bag at the top two inches, with ohe inch heading—and an inch casing for the tape. There is a double drawstring of tape. When the bag is packed the free end is neatly doubled over and pinned do.wn with two safety pins at the back, making it compact and safe for shipment. “The kit contains the following articles, some of which may be made at home or purchased as the furnisher of the kit desires: “One canton flannel nightgown. “One heavy chemise. “One .pair of drawers. “One pair of black stockings and one pair of white. “One rough towel. “One washcloth. “One comb. “One cake of soap. “A ‘housewife,’ which, contains one spool of white, and one of black thread, black darning cotton, thimble, six safety pins, dozen assorted buttons, one and one-half yards of tape, five needles, hairpins, plain pins. And in the ‘housewife’ Is a card stating that this is a Martha Washington kit ■ent in ’memory of Mrs. Washington, who was a friend of Lafayette. “In each kit a stamped, addressed envelope is put so that the one who

receives the gift may acknowledge It to the sender. A personal word of cheer and hope and friendliness may be inclosed, too, if the sender wishes.”