Clara Barton: A Centenary Tribute to the World's Greatest Humanitarian / Founder of the American Red Cross Society, Author of the American Amendment to the International Red Cross Convention of Geneva, Founder of the National First Aid Association of America

by Charles Sumner Young

XCVIII

Last words of Clara Barton: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. Let me go! Let me go!

Percy H. Epler, Author.

A diagnosis of Clara Barton’s illness was made a few months before she passed. The report of the Doctors was that every organ in her body was perfect—heart, lungs, stomach—every organ functioning as in her youth. The Author.

This morning’s papers (Tuesday, April 23, 1912) are filled with startling stories to the effect that Miss Barton died of a broken heart, caused by a clique of Washington politicians and ambitious society people. That she died of a broken heart, so caused, is a fact. W. H. Sears, Secretary to Clara Barton.

Considerable comment was caused at the funeral of Clara Barton by the absence of any representative of ——, or of the American National Red Cross, the organization which Miss Barton founded; neither were there any flowers from either the organization nor the White House in evidence. Rockford (Ills.) Register Gazette.

Governments are but the voice of the people. Clara Barton.

The Government of my country is my country, and the people of my country are the government of my country as nearly as a representative system will allow. Clara Barton.

The Government which I thought I loved, and loyally tried to serve, has shut every door in my face, and stared at me insultingly through its windows. Clara Barton.

The humanity of peoples is beyond that of Governments.

Clara Barton.

Ingratitude! Thou marble-hearted fiend, more hideous when thou showest thee in a child than the sea monster.

Shakespeare.

Of all the anguish our Heavenly Father calls us to endure—none pierces more keenly, nor wounds more deeply, than the sting of ingratitude. Clara Barton.

Dear Clara Barton! I hope that somewhere she is reaping a glorious reward of her life-long heroism and self-sacrifice. Mrs. La Salle Corbell Pickett.

Clara Barton will still live as a potential force for good, and coming centuries will see her labors carried on even as they were carried on while she directed them in person.

Springfield (Illinois) News.

Sublime, O Life, when in Easter balms did cease,

When shadows of thy sunset hour bore thee “peace.”

E. May Glenn Toon.