Letter from Clara Barton to May Wright Sewall.

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BARTON, CLARA JAN 21, 1889 [letterhead] - The American National Red Cross, For the Relief of Suffering by War, pestilence, Famine, Flood, Fires and other Calamities of sufficient magnitude to be deemed national in extent. The Association and is Auxiliary Societies operate under the provisions of the Geneva Treaty, promulgated at Geneva, Sitzerland, in 1864, and signed since then by all the nations of the earth, including the United States, which gave in is adhesion through President Arthur, in March, 1882.

- - [names printed in letterhead]

Washington D.C Jany 21 1889.

Mrs May Wright Sewell

Cor. See. N. C. W. (Indianapolis)

My very dear friend:

I hastent to reply to your communication of 17th [??rt] without loss of time in order that no misunderstanding possibly continue. I also include copies of the correspondence upon the subject [treated?] in your valued letter, the one of the letter received from Miss M. [Gulles'?]. The other my reply copied from our Press Book of that date. This was followed by a request that I entered myself with the societies of the [Women?] of the W.R.C. [?] of the G.A.R. - my reply to this was in "doing the thing" so far as I could. I met the ladies of the W.R.C. and I believe they joined the council. The other society I have no knowledge of. At the writing of my letter Aug 17. The cloud of yellow fever hung threateningly above our heads

Last edit over 4 years ago by cmanning
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in less than two weeks it [lr???] from that moment till the first of December we stood under our burden serving God and man as faithfully as in us lay. All the Hundreds of thousands of contributions to [Jacksonville?] and the Hundreds of thousands from the Government for the relief of the same were not a penny to us. Alone, unaided, and often reviled we have tried to do the Masters' work. The only body in all the fields that became responsible for ist own actions and, paid its own [helpers?], We are nearly [through?], but He who gave the command to labor in this vinyard alone knows how we have done it. We are tired, sore and heavy hearted, and no time for a step toward reorganization has yet been found, consequently no outside causes have been laid before our committee, and nothing has been Considered. You will observe that we did not "make application for admission", and did not even acept when it was made on the other side. of course no "fees are due" and no bodies "Treasury funds" are and for so good a cause and season, so low as ours. I must wait 'till my Red Cross hand gets out of my own packet where it has been more than a month before I can essay to keep up others funds. No

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matter how near and dear, as surely this [cause's?]

I shall still do as I said, and report the decision of our association when I get it.

I do not often speak of our personal matters as connected with my Association, but you my dar Mrs Sewell are clearly near to me and can take in even the crude hints I give.

Believe me with sincere affection

Yours

Cara Baron Am. [Chair?] of the Red Cross

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