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A STORY OF THE
RED CROSS
 
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 CLARA BARTON From a photograph taken in St. Petersburg in July, 1902, showing the decorations conferred upon her by the Czar and the Empress Dowager
CLARA BARTON

From a photograph taken in St. Petersburg in July, 1902,
showing thedecorations conferred upon her by the
Czar and the Empress Dowager
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A STORY OF THE
RED CROSS
GLIMPSES OF FIELD WORK
BY
CLARA BARTON
FOUNDER OF THE AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS
AND PRESIDENT, 1881-1904
 
Logo
 
NEW YORK
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY
MCMIV
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Copyright, 1904, by
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY
 
 Published, June, 1904
 
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PREFACE
Since the foundation of the Red Cross in America, many direfulcalamities have afflicted the country. In each of these visitations theRed Cross has acted in some degree as the Almoner—the distributer andorganizer—of the bountiful measures of relief that have been poured outby the American people.
Its work has been accomplished quietly and without ostentation. All therelief has been administered—not as charity—but as God-sent succor toour brothers and sisters who have been overwhelmed by some mightyconvulsion of the forces of nature.
The wreckage has been cleared away, the stricken people have beenwisely, tenderly, and calmly guided out of panic and despair on to theroad of self-help and cooperative effort to restore their shatteredhomes and broken fortunes; and then the Red Cross has retired as quietlyas it came, and[Pg vi] few, outside of the people immediately concerned, haverealized the beneficent powers of help and healing that have fallen likea benediction upon the stricken wherever that sacred symbol of humanityhas made its way.
It is my thought that a brief account of the work of the Red Crossduring the past twenty-five years will be of interest to the Americanpeople. In a volume of this size it must of necessity be but a briefoutline, sufficient, however, to convey a clear impression of what theRed Cross really means to every individual in this great country ofours.
To the thousands of American men and women whose generous bounty hasmade the work of the Red Cross possible, to the stricken and distressedwho because of it have been helped back to life and hope, and to all thefriends of the great, universal humanity which it typifies, this smallbook is lovingly dedicated.
Clara Barton.
Glen Echo, Maryland,
    May 15, 1904.
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CONTENTS