How Honolulu Cared for the American Troops [pp. 463-466]

OVERLAND MONTHLY
A. Hall, and the Red Cross Society of
Hawaii was formed. The following officers were appointed:
President, Mrs. Harold M. Sewall;
vice-presidents, Mrs. S. B. Dole and
Princess Kaiulani; secretary, Mrs. F. R.
Day; treasurer, Mrs. P. C. Jones; chairman of finance committee, Mrs. S. M.
Damon; chairman of executive committee, Mrs. C. M. Hyde; chairman of visiting committee, Mrs. A. F Judd; clharman of sewing committee, Mrs. EJ. Wv.
Jordan; chainrman of flower comriittee,
Mrs. J. L. Walker; chairman of entertainment (co lnittee, Mrs. Sidney AI.
Ballou; chairman of nurses, Mrs. C. 13B.
Wood.
In consequence of Mrs. Day's departure for the States, Mrs. C. B. Colper
has been appointed secretary in her
stead.
The officers with the chairmen of committees constitute a board of managers.
The advisory board consists of Mrs. W.
G. Irwin, Dr. Clifford B. Wood, and Dr.
Charles B. Cooper.
Two pleasant rooms in the Masonic
Temple were generously offered the Society, rent free; the offer was appreciated
and would have been gratefully accepted,
had not Mr. W. G. Irwin tendered the
use of two larger rooms in his new building on Nuuanu Avenue on the same
terms. The new rooms were, on the
whole, more centrally located, and here
the Red Cross Ileadquarters were finally
established. A generous firm of lumber
merchants presented a sign-board and an
equally generous painter decorated it
suitably, and there it hangs, a fine large
sign. plainly visible to average eyes at
least half a block off.
The place chosen for the temporary
hospital was the pretty cottage on Beretania street known as the"'ChildGardlen."
Rent for one month was given us, and
the work of fitting tip the place was at
once commenced. The pretty schoolroom was transformed into a pleasant
hospital wnard, and the large lanai, or
wide veranda, made a convenient reception and dining-room. with space for
safe, refrigerator, and oil stove. A
trained nurse was engaged with two boys
from the Kamehameha School for assist
ants, beside a Chinese cook. Some furniture was given, some loaned, and some
was purchased. The Princess Kaiulani
gave a dozen beautifully made sheets.
Drugs and many necessary hospital appliances were given by the firm of Benson, Smith & Co., who also made up
prescriptions without charge. Grateful
acknowledgment is also due the medical
men of Honolulu who heartily gave their
services, and whose helpful counsel was
an essential element to the success of the
work. Ladies met at headquarters and
made three dozen sheets, as many pillow-cases and twenty-five night-shirts;
and when the second lot of transports
came, the little hospital was ready for
occupancy.
The community has well sustained its
reputation for generosity. Headquarters
have been furnished with chairs, tables,
two sewing machines, and gifts of flannel, sheeting, cotton cloth, etc., have
been sent in, while many are the acts of
kindness which cannot be specified,
though they are by no means forgotten.
Among the entertainments given for
the benefit of the Society were delightful
illustrated lectures by Mr. Burton
Holmes, a concert by the Honolulu
High School, a meet of local wheelmen
at Cyclomere Park, which was generously placed at our disposal for one
evening free of charge. Nor would we
forget the baseball game, though the
gate receipts were seriously diminished
by the arrival of some very attractive
transports. The players did their part,
it was the public who proved fickle, oi
whose desire to give hearty welcome to
the coming guests became, for the moment, uncontrollable.
The Society has received from membership fees, $6oi; from cash donations,
$I,348.7I; from monthly pledges, $33,
and from entertainments $527.60, making the total cash receipts $2,5IO.3I.
From materials given and purchased 450
flannel bandages have been made, which
are distributed among the transports for
hospital use as they are needed; I -50
denim pillows have been given to soldiers on different ships; I25 mosquito
nets are waiting now for chance to send
them to Manila to be added to the Red
464