In connection with Admiral Evans’ generous contribution the following letter from the Victor Talking Machine Company is of interest: “Admiral Evans has lately made for this Company a record of his farewell address to the men of the United States Navy upon the occasion of his leaving the fleet in San Francisco. We are sending to you in Admiral Evans’ name, our check for $400, which he wished you to use for the benefit of the Red Cross Society, in any way you may deem best.” RED CROSS FIRST-AID TEXT-BOOK BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS The Red Cross Society is becoming more and more practical, and is getting closer and closer to the everyday life of the people. In the past it has been distinguished by affording relief in times of great calamities, famines, epidemics, floods, fires and plagues, but, as the organization spreads throughout the country and becomes localized its merciful missions reach the thresholds of the schoolhouse and the home. It is now circulating a little pocket edition of “The American National Red Cross Text Book; a Manual of Instruction; How to Prevent Accidents, and What to Do for Injuries and Emergencies.” It was prepared by Major Charles Lynch of the medical corps of the United States Army, who distinguished himself as medical attache with the Japanese Army during the late war with Russia and has recently been detailed to make a special study of possibilities of Red Cross aid to armies in time of war. The book is published for the Red Cross Society, and is being circulated from the headquarters in the War Department with the hearty indorsement of Judge Taft, who was president of the Red Cross Society long before he was elected President of the United States. Brigadier General R. M. O’Reilly, surgeon general of the United States Army, writes the preface, in which he explains the necessity and the usefulness of the booklet, which, he says, “will serve to fill a place of its own in the ever-increasing movement for the relief of human suffering.” “Notwithstanding the many excellent works already in existence on first aid instruction,” continues Surgeon General O’Reilly, “none of the writers so far as I know, have given much thought to teaching the prevention of accidents. While this subject is necessarily treated rather briefly here, at least enough is said to call attention to the importance of prevention as contrasted with cure, and, for this reason, it seems to me peculiarly appropriate that this book should have the indorsement of the Red Cross, as the beneficent mission of that association, like that of the good physician in treating disease, should be to go deeply into causes which are responsible for the physical sufferings of humanity, rather than resort solely to palliative measures.