Ruskin.
Clara Barton’s affection for dumb animals showed itself in almost every letter. Rev. Percy H. Epler.
Nature teaches beasts to know their friends. Coriolanus.
Asoka, Ruler of India, about 300 years before Christ, organized hospitals for the treatment of animals. Lajpat Rai.
Clara Barton had some reward in the fact that every human living thing that knew her loved her. Roanoke (Va.) News.
OR GOD WOULDN’T HAVE MADE THEM
Just back of the old Red Cross house at Glen Echo, the hills slope somewhat abruptly about 100 feet down to the Chesapeake and Ohio canal. The canal is still in use, with its locks intact, the boats plying day and night up and down between its banks. The canal is historic—one of the oldest in the United States. It is of unusual interest because the first construction work was under the supervision of George Washington, he being the President of the canal company. The canal was operated long before railroads came into use in this country. From the Red Cross house forest trees and thick underbrush cover the slope of the hills down to the canal.
One day Miss Barton had a distinguished guest, who wanted to stroll down to the edge of the canal and have her tell him about it. Miss Barton accompanying him, they made their way slowly through the growth of ferns, tall brakes, thick underbrush and dead timbers. On their way a “cotton tail” jumped out from the brush. The visitor suddenly pulled out of his pocket a pistol to kill the rabbit but Miss Barton protested, saying: “I do not permit wild animals to be killed around my place. These animals are my friends; I am very fond of them.” The visitor, disappointed in not enjoying the “sport” of killing, tried to convince his hostess that the squirrels, rabbits, muskrats and other such animals would injure her fruit trees, destroy her flowers and ruin her garden. Miss Barton mildly responded: “I suppose they do, but they also must do some good in the world too, or God wouldn’t have made them.”
LIX
All creeds in need of help enlisted Clara Barton’s sympathies and received her cordial assistance. Harriette L. Reed, Past National Secretary, Woman’s Relief Corps.