tion. In 1914, before war was declared, the words
"venereal diseases" were relegated to the advertisements of quacks and
patent medicines. When the war ended, virtually every young and old man
and woman knew the meaning of the words and the miseries that come in
their train. So it was with other details of the care of the human body,
with sewage problems, with the grave community question of pure water,
with the use of intoxicating beverages, and with other problems
inter-woven with the health and happiness of humanity.

Among the leaders in this wide-flung campaign of education was the
American Red Cross. Starting with a mere nominal membership before the
war, its roster rose to the mighty total of more than 28,000,000
American men, women and children when the war ended. More than
$300,000,000 was poured into the American Red Cross treasury. In
addition to these contributions of money, came the free services of
millions of Americans, mostly women. Red Cross workshops dotted the
land, and from these came bandages, sweaters, comfort-kits, trench
necessities, clothing for homeless refugees, and a vast quantity of
material aid in every conceivable form. American Red Cross workers
during the war knitted 14,089,000 garments for the army and navy. In
addition, the workers turned out 253,196,000 surgical dressings,
22,255,000 hospital garments and 1,464,000 refugee garments. Sewing
chapters repaired old clothing and sent it overseas to the orphaned and
the widowed, and millions of Americans learned the sublime lesson of
sacrifice through the Red Cross--a lesson that left its imprint upon
America for generations.

The work of the American Red Cross extended through many lands. It
followed the flags of the Entente Allies into Palestine, Mesopotamia,
India, South Africa, and other battle-grounds. Its work on the western
front was a miracle of achievement. In Russia through the Red Terror of
the Revolution the workers of the American Red Cross went serenely about
their tasks of mercy, relieving the hungry, aiding the sick, and
clothing the ragged peasants.

Henry P. Davidson left the firm of J. P. Morgan & Company to devote his
administrative genius to the affairs of the American Red Cross. Other
men and women of rare executive ability joined in the free tender of
their services to the work of the Red Cross.

While the organization strove mightily against famines, wounds and
disease overseas, it was suddenly confronted during