itude manifested by the Russian Government and people we were
glad to feel that a slight return had been made to Russia for past
favors in our own peril, and a friendship never broken.

The Department of State at Washington, under date of January 11, 1894,
forwarded the following:

"I have to inform you that on November 7, 1893, the American Minister at
St. Petersburg received from the nobility of that city, through their
Marshal, Count Alexis Bobrinskoy, an address to the people of the United
States. This address, which is in the English language, embodies in
terms fitly chosen the thanks of the Russian people to the American for
the aid sent to their country from our own during the famine period of
the past two years. It is beautifully engrossed and its illumination
embraces water-color drawings which render it a most attractive work of
art.

"The document, which is superbly bound and enclosed in a fine case, was
duly forwarded to this city by the American Minister at St. Petersburg,
and will be given a conspicuous place in the library of this
department."

In so general an uprising of relief no great sum in contributions could
be expected from any one source. The Red Cross felt that, if no more, it
was glad to be able to pay, by the generous help of the city of
Washington, the charter of a ship that conveyed its
corn--$12,500--besides several thousands distributed in Russia through
Tolstoi and American agents there.

We paid the cost of loading, superintended by Mr. Tillinghast in person,
whose financial record shows the exact cost of transportation. All this
was done in connection with the State of Iowa. Our home record showed,
when all was finished, a field closed with a small balance in our favor,
which we had no active call for. By the advice of one of the best
personal advisers, bankers, and friends that the Red Cross has ever had,
this small sum was placed in bank, in readiness for the next call.

VI

THE SEA ISLAND RELIEF

This little timely provision, advisedly made, was none too much or none
too soon.

On the 28th of August, 1893, a hurricane and tidal wave from the
direction of the West Indies swept the coast of South Carolina, covering
its entire range of Port Royal Islands, sixteen feet below the sea.
These islands had thirty-five thousand inhabitants, mainly negroes. At
first, it was thought that all must have perished. Later, it was found
that only some four or five thousand had been