Branksome Hall - Slogan Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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30 The Branksome Slogan The Red Cross In 1859 Henri Durrant, a Swiss author and philosopher, stood on the blood-stained battlefield of Solferino and saw some forty thousand men dying in agony, uncared for and unattended. With a groups of the local peasants and villagers, he did what he could to alleviate the suf- ferings of these soldiers, realizing all the while, the crying need for trained assistants, and he determined, then and there, that he would devote his life to finding ways of aiding the wounded in times of battle. Little did he realize the world-wide approval with which his eff ' orts were to be received or, that eventually, those war-time plans were to become the basis for a peace-time program. Durrant had been much impressed by Florence Nightingale ' s re- ports from the Crimea, and by her suggestion that volunteers should be organized to help army doctors in time of war. Adopting this suggestion as the key-note of his program, the Swiss philosopher ' s first step was to secure the interest of a group know n as the Geneva Committee of Public Utilities. This committee was so enthusiastic regarding Durrant ' s ideas that they encouraged him to visit different countries of Europe in order to impress the governments with the need for action. On Durrant ' s return to Switzerland the Geneva Committee of Public Utilities invited the governments of the civilized nations and also a number of philanthropic societies to send representatives to a conference at Geneva, with the result that, in 1863, the conference met and, unanimously, endorsed a group of proposals which Henri Durrant in- troduced. In 1864 an International congress v aa held in Geneva and the resolutions and recommendations of the Conference of 1863 were ac- cepted and set forth in the Treaty of Geneva . Great Britain was represented at this congress and was one ' of the original signatories of the Treaty, Durrant ' s suggestion that a red cross on a white ground be the distinguishing sign of the society was adopted as a compliment to Switzerland whose national flag is composed of a white cross on a red ground. The Treaty also provided that the neutrality of ambulances and military hospitals should be recognized as long as they contained sick and wounded, and that protection should be afforded to persons and houses sheltering the sick and wounded. It was decided that the new organization be directed by a com- mittee composed of Swiss, and called the International Red Cross Com- mittee of Geneva. This group is the custodian of the Treaty which bears the signature of the original sixteen nations who agreed to it in 1864, Since that date, forty-five additional nations have joined the organi- zation.

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The Branksome Slogan 29 of sunlight died, we paused for a moment at the top of a hill, the vast country side stretching out before us. Suddenly there came to each of us a feeling of pride. This was Canada, our country; it is ours and we belong to it! Lost in this thought, we leaned on our ski poles for a moment and there went up to heaven at least one prayer of thanks for the freedom and the beauty that is ours. After dinner that evening sleigh-rides were organized and, as the horses ' hoofs cut the crisp snow, the clear starlit sky looked down on a sleigh, full of singing girls, all gloriously happy. A merry barn dance rounded off the evening and we sank into our beds too tired even to talk, and with a few soft good nights, the whole cabin slept. Another glorious dawn came, and another happy day, filled with laughter and spills and sunshine. But this week-end like all good things came to an end, and at six o ' clock that evening the trucks were at the door and our brief winter holiday was over. Once again, we were in the smoky Toronto station, a tired dis- pirited group, but when a sudden, dreamy look came into our eyes, you would have realized that we were still up in snow-covered Muskoka, living it all over again. JOAN ARCHIBALD (Form V A). To a Pekinsese Dog Small strange dog with turned up nose. Sitting there in haughty pose. Thou wast stolen in days of old From Peking palace midst jewels and gold. A foreigner decreed thy fate. And through the palace with thy mate He crept, in deepest hours of night. Fearful, lest thou betray his flight. He brought thee to a strange new land, Different from that palace grand, And cared for thee with patience great. Thee and thy very haughty mate. Throughout that land thou now art spread. In many mansions thou dost tread. Eyeing all with look of scorn. Knowing well where thou wast born. Small strange dog with turned up nose. Sitting there in haughty pose. Thou wast stolen in days of old. From Peking palace midst jewels and gold. RAE CAMPBELL (Form V A) .

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The Branksome Slogan 31 It was in 1870, during: the Franco-Prussian war, that the first British Red Cross Society was; formed. In 1872 Durrant read a paper in London upon the movement. His first words were these, — Though I am known as the founder of the Red Cross it was an Enghsh woman to whom all the honour of that convention is due. What inspired me to go to Italy during the war of 1859 was the work of Florence Nightingale. In 1896, the Canadian Red Cross Society was organized. This was brought about by Doctor George Sterling Ryerson who had served as a medical officer during the Riel Rebellion, and, to mark the whereabouts of his medical workers and their equipment, he had hastily got together a Red Cross flag made out of square of white factory cotton on which was sewn a red cross. This, the first Red Cross flag ever flown in Can- ada, has been carefully preserved and may be seen in the museum of the Toronto Public Library. During the great war, thousands of people set to work under the direction of the Red Cross. In Canada alone contributions of money and materials amounted to about thirty million dollars. Before the Great War was over, it was apparent that the work of the Red Cross would have to continue indefinitely, and so in 1919 a gathering of medical and public health authorities was held at Cannes, France, with the result that the Red Cross was asked to continue the work carried on during the war. To promote co-operation between the different societies, the League of Red Cross Societies was formed, to endeavour to relieve suffering and to assist in promoting the health of the people of the world. The influence of the peace-time program of the Canadian Red Cross has been felt throughout the whole Dominion. To the veterans in hospitals, it has meant the realization that they are not forgotten. In isolated frontiers, it has established Outpost Hospitals and Nursing Stations which have cared for more than three hundred thousand patients. To thousands of crippled children, it has brought assistance; to a million and a half Red Cross Juniors, it has been an inspiration for better health. It has given help to many victims of disaster beside pro- viding Home Nursing Instruction and Nutrition Service for women and girlsi in various sections of Canada, and Visiting Housekeepers to look after needy families during the illness of the wife and mother. Through these services and many others, the Red Cross Society has helped vast numbers of people. It has grown into a gigantic organization, a wwld-wide boon to humanity, but still having the same objective with which it began — ' The mitigation of suffering throughout the world. PEGGY PURVIS (Form IV A).