The Life of Clara Barton, Founder of the American Red Cross (Vol. 2 of 2)Barton, William E. (William Eleazar)
History
The Life of Clara Barton, Founder of the American Red Cross (Vol. 2 of 2)
Barton, William E. (William Eleazar)
American National Red Cross -- Biography; Barton, Clara, 1821-1912; Nurses -- United States -- Biography
Through all these years the tenderness springs to my heart and gathers
in my eyes as I recall the kindly and affectionate intercourse of
months, without one break, that grew up between us. And although some
have been called to higher service and greener fields, I am confident
that none of us will ever seek on this side a better, more trusted,
kindlier association than were found in these.
If it be desirable to understand when to commence a work of relief,
to know if the objects presented are actually such as to be benefited
by the assistance which would be rendered, it is no less desirable
and indispensable that one knows when to end such relief, in order to
avoid, first, the weakening of effort and powers for self-sustenance;
second, the encouragement of a tendency to beggary and pauperism,
by dependence upon others which should be assumed by the persons
themselves. It has always been the practice of the Red Cross to watch
this matter closely and leave a field at the suitable moment when it
could do so without injury or unnecessary suffering, thus leaving a
wholesome stimulus on the part of the beneficiaries to help not only
themselves individually, but each other.
Seldom a field, or any considerable work of relief which may have
attracted public notice, comes to a close that there does not some
person or body of persons arise and propose to continue the work
under some new form, but using the former well-established sources of
supplies; to put out new appeals to old patrons, detailing great need,
newly discovered, and thus keep the sympathetic public forever on the
anxious seats of never-ending pity and help. We have been compelled to
guard against this at the close of every long-continued field, notably
Johnstown, where it became necessary for the citizens to organize a
“Home Relief” to keep sensational strangers off the ground, and their
well-arranged “Benevolent Union” of to-day is the result.
The Sea Islands were no exception, and at the last moment of our stay
a well-drawn petition was discovered (for it was to be kept concealed
until we were gone), and was checked only by the vigorous aid of the
Charleston “News and Courier,” of June 25, 1894, always our stay and
friend in time of trouble.
ARMENIA IN 1895 AND 1896
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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