Getting Together | Page 6

Relief
enterprises of every kind. German Relief Societies? Yes, throughout the
United States there are eleven German and Austrian Societies
altogether; but they are all under purely Teutonic management, as a
glance at the names of their supporters will show. America, as such,
stands aloof from them.
"Let us have a look at the purely British Relief Societies, which
naturally will interest you most. There is The American Women's War
Hospital at Paignton, Devonshire, directed by Lady Paget, herself an
American, and supported by American contributions. It is a far cry
from America to Australia, but there is an Australian War Relief Fund
in America. Then take the British War Relief Association of America.
This Association occupies an entire floor in a lofty building on the
busiest stretch of Fifth Avenue. All day and every day they work away,
cutting surgical dressings at the rate of nine thousand yards a week.
They also collect and despatch comforts of every kind, from motor

ambulances to antiseptic pads. The rent of their premises is eight
thousand dollars a year; but they get the whole place free. Their
landlord, an American citizen, has given them that floor for the
duration of the war, as his contribution to the fund. Isn't that pretty fine?
Again, there is an American branch of your own Prince of Wales' fund.
There is a United States Guild for British Soldiers' Comforts; there is
an Indian Soldiers' Fund Committee, and many others. These, as you
see, are purely pro-British organizations, but naturally your country
also benefits under all general schemes of Allied Relief. Last summer,
for instance a great bazaar was held in New York in aid of Allied War
Charities, and over half a million dollars were cleared. Another bazaar,
held more recently in Boston, raised over four hundred thousand
dollars. Another, in Chicago, was equally successful. And so the tale
goes on. France and Belgium, of course, receive the lion's share of
American sympathy, as being invaded countries, but I have told you
enough to show what we are trying to do for Great Britain too. We are
somewhat handicapped, however, by the fact, firstly, that Great Britain
is not exactly what one would call a gracious receiver of benefits, and
secondly, that the man in the street over here regards your country as
too fabulously rich to require relief of any kind. But after all, it is the
spirit of good will which counts, and you have all ours.
"Well, the list which I have shown you will give you some idea of the
big forces which are working for you over on this side. But big forces
are made up of little forces. As we say in this country, it is the little
things that tell. All over America I could show you little sewing
meetings and social gatherings which have got together for the purpose
of preparing clothing and medical comforts for the Allies. Even in
cities like Milwaukee and Cincinnati, which have the reputation of
being overwhelmingly Teutonic, there exist very efficient and plucky
Allied Relief Societies which are carrying on in the face of open
hostility. There is hardly a village or township that does not possess
such a society. You have a song in England about 'Sister Susie Sewing
Shirts for Soldiers.' Well, over here in the States, your cousin Susie is
doing precisely the same thing. She is doing it so extensively that it has
been found necessary to establish a great clearing house in New York
to deal with the gifts as they come in, sort them out, and forward them

to their destinations. The Clearing House also knows where to stretch
out its hand for particular commodities. For instance, if there is a
shortage of absorbent cotton, the Clearing House sends an appeal to
Virginia for some more, and Virginia sends it. Here is a copy of the
monthly bulletin. They appear to have been busy. You notice that
during one period of seven days last month, this Clearing House
handled over a thousand cases of material a day.
"Yes, a clearing-house like this calls for some organization and labour.
Who supply that? A number of American business men, each of whom
has decided to run his business with his left hand for the present,
leaving his right hand free for War Relief.
"Besides gifts in kind, these same organizations send gifts in money.
Between seventy and eighty of the leading clubs in America have
formulated a scheme under which members who feel so disposed may
have five dollars or so debited to their monthly bill, to be devoted to
Allied Relief work. During the last three months about eighty thousand
dollars has been raised and distributed by the Clearing House from this
source.
"Our Relief work is both collective