Woonsocket High School - Quiver Yearbook (Woonsocket, RI)

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8 the quiver o THE RED CROSS In the summer of 1859, the Austrian army was defeated by th? combined forces of France and Sardinia in a great battle at Solferino in northern Italy. For days after the bloody struggle, thirty-five thou sand men lay dead and disabled on the field of battle without adequate care or aid. The battlefield was visited by Henry Dunant, a wealth) man from Switzerland. He was so greatly moved by ail the suffering around him that he no.t only gave his own services in aiding the few surgeons who were on the field, but also, when he had returned to his home, kept the vision of it ever before him. He lectured and sent out circulars urging people to unite and form a worldwide society for the care of wounded soldiers on the battlefield. A conference was held at Geneva, where eleven nations pledged active aid and support, and agreed that all its members, helpers, and hospitals should be free from molestation on the field of battle. In order to protect the workers of the society, a badge was adopted: a red cross on a white background. This design, which resembles the Swiss flag, was chosen out of courtesy to Mr. Dunant. It was not until 1882 that the United States, through the efforts of Clara Barton, joined the other nations in this work for humanity. The ked Cross Association of America was formed, however, not only to care for wounded soldiers, but also to relieve the sufferers in any great calamity, such as famine, flood, or pestilence. Within a month after the establishment of the Red Cross, a forest (ire broke out in Michigan, devastating the homes there. This was the first emergency in which the Red Cross was called upon for aid, and eighty thousand dollars was sent in answer to the call. After this, the Red Cross helped during floods along the Ohio, dreadful cyclones in the West, and a great drought in Texas. In May, 1889, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was flooded by the breaking of a dam. Clara Barton went to the scene of disaster and did all in her power to alleviate the suffering and w'ant of the people. In 1893, a great hurricane occurred in the Sea Islands off the coast of Carolina where the people are poor and ignorant negroes; and the Red Cross, with Miss Barton again leading the movement, went to aid those miserable people. For nine months they were directed by the Red Cross, until peace and order were restored. To this day, many of t!i.e children who are born there are named “Red Cross’’ and “Clara Barton.” The American Association of the Red Cross was reorganized in 1893 as the American National Red Cross, but not until twelve years

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THE QUIVER 7 In winter, the great winds, sweeping up the valley, grip the tree. Iwisting the writhing limbs into grotesque shapes. Sometimes a great bough is snapped off with a noise like that of a pistol shot. The old Irec cannot survive many more winters, but thanks to the stranger’s thoughtfulness, it has fulfilled its mission in the world. HELEN J. THAYER, ’18. A STATE CREED BY THE PUPILS OF ENGLISH 1 B. We are proud of Rhode Island, of the beauty of her scenery: her hay and her ocean shore; her wooded hills and winding rivers; and her glacial deposits, second in interest to those of no other state. We are proud of our forefathers, who fought and bled for their Country, their principles, and for us. We are proud of Roger Williams ;ml of he belief in religious freedom, for which he stood. We are proud that our state was the first to declare itself free from Great Britain’s tryanny. We revere the memory of Rhode Island’s heroes, of Gen. Greene, Gen. Burnside, Commodore Perry, and of all who 1 ave responded when our nation called. Wre honor the Grand Army of the Republic. We pledge ourselves to do our best to retain for our commonwealth the high standards of our forefathers. We are proud that our state has been first in so many things: in building the first cotton mill; in establishing the first Sunday School; in giving state pensions to its teachers; and in having the first open-air school. We remember with pride that a Rhode Island skipper was the first man to carry the Stars and Stripes around the world. W: b:lieve in Rhode Island, in her government and in her laws. We believe in Rhode Island’s flag and honor and revere it. We believe that Rhode Island is progressive and wish to see her at the front in every worthy cause. We believe in the importance to the world of Rhode Island s industries, especially in the great variety of goods manufactured along the banks of the Blackstone River, which, in proportion to its size, supports more mills than any other river in this country. We believe in Rhode Island’s schools and in the steadfastness of her boys and girls, her future citizens. We pledge our allegiance to our state, which, from the beginning, has been a refuge for those who were persecuted in their home lands. We pledge ourselves to obey her laws, to uphold her honor, and to do our best to become good and useful citizens.

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THE QUIVER 9 later did its membership exceed three hundred persons. In 1900 the society was incorporated hy an Act of Congress and placed under government supervision. The association is now required to report to the War Department on the first day of each year, giving an extended account of all its work. A new charter was granted, and the Secretary of War, William H. Taft, was elected president of the association. Since its reorganization, the work of the Red Cross has been extended and much improved. During the time of the Japanese famine, it contributed a quarter of a million dollars. For the relief of those who suffered from the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 1905, it gave over twelve thousand dollars. After the great earthquake in California, it distributed three million dollars. Aid was sent to China and Russia for the relief of sufferers during the great famine. And now, finally, the great European War found us with six thousand competent nurses and the necessary number of surgeons ready to icspond. The American Red Cress has rendered in Belgium and elsewhere greater continous help than has ever been given in any foreign war by any Red Cross of a neutral power. It is a pity that the dreadful continuance of the war is beginning to exhaust the funds so generously contributed by the Americans. Miss Mabel T. Boardman. who is perhaps the most active worker for the cause, says that the American Red Cross has always been respected by the armies in the trenches, and that it has won the love and gratitude of the warring nations from the very beginning. Thus this noble work grows. The Red Cross is ever the first to offer succor wherever there is great distress. No other society has done so much for suffering humanity. ANNA B. LA FOND, 17. Culled from a theme: “His uniform consisted of about ten buttons, and they did shine.” Miss Merrill to H. C------d (who is whispering behind her hand to others, who answer her in the same way) : “Miss C d, I fear you are spreading the Hoof and Mouth Disease in here. Miss P------k was talking about a book report one day. She in- formed us that the man in the story married a woman. German translation: “The poor woman saw her sun coming up the road.” Teacher: “Give the principal parts of bring.” Pupil: “Bring, brang brung.”