“The Pope gave his blessing to the American Red Cross, expressing his gratitude and high appreciation of the work of that association.” Mr. Parrish’s letter to the President follows: ROME, January 15, 1909. Hotel d’Europe. HONORABLE WILLIAM H. TAFT, President Red Cross, Washington, D. C. My Dear Mr. Taft: I was this morning received in audience by the Pope, to whom my sponsor, Monsignor Ugolini, explained in succinct form the generous activity of the American Red Cross in connection with the sufferers in the recent earthquake in Calabria and Sicily. The Pope then gave his blessing to the American Red Cross, and while expressing his gratitude and high appreciation of the work of the Association, desired that his benediction might be known to its members. In seeking to fulfill this request, I know of no better method than to thus simply state the fact to you. Yours sincerely, (Signed) SAMUEL L. PARRISH. AMERICAN RED CROSS RECEIPTS BY STATES FOR ITALIAN EARTHQUAKE RELIEF TO MARCH 13, 1909, WITH PER CAPITA CONTRIBUTIONS ACCORDING TO CENSUS OF 1909. Attention is particularly invited to the remarkably generous contribution of California. Mills per capita New York $316,836.57 43.53 California 200,996.82 135.34 Illinois 97,475.04 20.21 Missouri 40,809.42 13.13 Connecticut 39,459.66 43.43 Massachusetts 37,061.45 13.21 New Jersey 31,417.38 16.67 Wisconsin 26,934.83 13.01 Rhode Island 24,048.65 56.11 Pennsylvania 19,416.51 3.08 District of Columbia 16,538.90 59.33 Maryland 16,496.16 13.88 Ohio 14,343.97 3.45 Washington 13,734.76 26.50 Michigan 12,450.49 5.10 Iowa 10,749.98 4.81 Indiana 9,285.00 3.68 Utah 6,506.00 23.50 Virginia 5,892.95 3.17 Maine 4,269.75 6.14 New Hampshire 4,054.84 9.85 Alabama 3,907.77 2.13 South Carolina 3,902.32 2.91 Texas 2,109.68 .69 Nebraska 2,002.30 1.87