American National Red Cross; Red Cross and Red Crescent
chilluns," borrowed for the occasion, in the hope of getting an extra
supply, not knowing that we already knew the full number and ages of
each family. The system adopted by the Red Cross of first quietly
getting its information complete, and then going to work, knowing what
to do and how to do it, showed its value in preventing imposition, which
must always be met with to some extent, in all charitable work. In this
way 3,400 garments were repaired and given away in this district,
besides shoes, hats, etc.
While the sewing was in progress in one tent, I helped attend the cases
in the hospital tents, and made daily calls when necessary on patients
who were unable to come to me. My experience in Hahnemann Hospital,
Chicago, fitted me for this part of the work. In all this work the lack
of suitable supplies had to be overcome. As soon as our busiest season
had passed and the sickness had abated, I opened a free school in one
room of our house, expecting to teach reading, writing and arithmetic to
ten pupils. The attendance rose almost immediately to forty and we gave
up another room to the use of the school, and I had one of the older
pupils assist me with the younger ones. To Mr. Proudfit, of Morristown,
N.J., are due our thanks for his generous contributions, enabling us to
purchase slates, books and other school supplies.
WAREHOUSE AND SHIPPING DEPARTMENT.
In introducing the dual reports of Dr. E.W. Egan, I imagine that I
realize something of the feeling of the Queen of Sheba when she
proclaimed that the half had not been told. The practical, unswerving
and unique method of procedure pursued by Dr. Egan with these thousands
of ignorant, hungry wards and waifs would constitute an interesting
study for the most advanced philanthropist. The problem, as he tersely
states it, of how to make thirty thousand dollars feed and shelter
thirty thousand people a year, was not easily solved; and yet, largely
under his original calculation and undeviating faithfulness to his own
plans, it was solved, and how successfully, all the years from that time
to this have testified. The medical aid which he established among these
poor, deluded sufferers was as if an advanced clinic from his _Alma
Mater_, Jefferson College, or the University of Pennsylvania, had been
suddenly opened in their midst. The old dislocated joints, broken bones,
tumors, internal diseases, carried about and dragged on through years of
pain, disappeared; they literally took up their beds and walked. Their
faithful hearts, like their eyes, followed him in admiring confidence,
as with hurried step and quick glance he passed among the distributers
of the warehouse; and if he told them that a pound of meat and a peck of
grits was enough for a week--all they could have and must be
supplemented either by work, if obtainable, or fish or game, if it could
be caught--there was no complaint, no demur: "The doctor said so, and it
was all right."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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