The American Red Cross Bulletin (Vol. IV, No. 4, October 1909)American National Red Cross
History
The American Red Cross Bulletin (Vol. IV, No. 4, October 1909)
American National Red Cross
American National Red Cross -- Periodicals; Red Cross and Red Crescent -- Periodicals
For the first few weeks we were all compelled to do emergency work, the
doctors to treat the wounded, the rest of us to secure flour, rice, and
water for the throngs of homeless people. But now the attention of all
of us is directed to construction work, providing for the industrial
needs of the sufferers, rebuilding wherever possible and reorganizing
the agricultural work of the peasants. For the orphan children homes
are being established, chiefly by the missionaries, and for the widows
whose livelihood has been cut off by the killing of husbands, fathers,
and sons, the establishment of embroidery, rug making, and silk culture,
the materials and tools furnished by the relief committees, the wages to
be paid daily to the earners. Where many men have survived, the common
trades of carpentry, masonry, stonecutting, tailoring, and weaving
may be reestablished by a sufficient financial backing from relief
societies. There is also great need of men to specialize in relief work
and administer the large funds required. Missionaries can not rightly
give up all their regular work, nor can navy officers nor consuls, but a
few American volunteers, such as those sent to southern Italy and Sicily
after the earthquake, could do a wonderful amount of good.
Perhaps the most effective and wide-reaching relief work thus far has
been done by Dr. F. D. Shepard and his wife in the large villages of
Hassan Beyli and Baghche. This American surgeon could use to excellent
advantage a staff of young men from the homeland. The work of the Beirut
Relief Committee in providing hundreds of the men who survived the Kessab
attack with tools and implements, so that they might commence earning
a living at once, deserves note as a typically American plan, financed
chiefly through the generosity of the American National Red Cross. To
avoid pauperizing the people is one of the most difficult feats. Here in
the city of Aintab, where there has been practically no loss of life, but
great economic loss and resulting increase of poverty, I have furnished
some of the unemployed weavers with twelve looms for six months. Twelve
stonecutters, who were out of work since April 16, I have set to work
digging pits or holes in the limestone of the hospital grounds, so that
trees may be planted in the pits next spring. The earth is only a few
inches deep here.
Although the American people have helped very generously, the work
of relief has only just begun, and a more thorough effort to put the
people here on their feet again and to make kindly provision for all the
helpless persons, the old women and little children, requires large plans
and large appropriations from such societies as the American National Red
Cross.
_An English Woman’s Heroism._
Mrs. Doughty-Wylie, wife of the British Vice-Consul, in a letter to her
mother, describes with the vividness of an eye witness the horrors of the
last days of the rule of the late Sultan, Abdul Hamid.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account