The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., May 18, 1918, Image 8

About The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924

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These Disasters Have Been With Us Since the
Earliest Times, Ten Mentioned In the Bible -10,000,000
People Perished In the
Indian Famine of 1769.
Copyright, 1913, The International Syndicate. '
rx THE 0IGANTTC struggle now
engulfing the entire world one
of the weapons employed by each
combatant is to starve the other
into submission. Whilst trying in ev
ery conceivable way to cut of! supplies
to the enemy each is eager to obtain
and conserve their own resources so
as to stave off for an indefinite tims
the gaunt spectre.
Every war of any consequence has
brought its privations and many of
them have sunk deep into the hearts
of the people the pangs of hunger.
But famine and pestilence, which
usually go together, whilst generally
the Inevitable accompaniments of war
have come from other causes and
s some of the greatost calamities to a
people have been caused by want and
starvation not chargeable to arms or
to the ambition of some military ruler
or leader. The havoc and destruction
of these famines are harrowing and
heart rending, but a brief account of
them may not at this time be amiss,
when appeals are urgent among us
for economy and care in the use of
the necessities of life.
America's Work
America must feed her Allies in this
great war and unless we in this coun
try heed to the words of those in au
thority in the conservation of food
there may come a time when we will
find among us as uninvited guests
pestilence and famine the sisters of
war. It is estimated that we must
supply our Allies with at least 550,
000,000 bushels of wheat during the
coming year in order to feed their
men in the field and keep the health
of their civilian population in condi
tion for these people to manufacture
ammunition and supplies essential to
victory over the Germans. With our
present crop this will be impossible
unless we avoid waste and substitute
certain articles of food to take the
place of wheat and certain kinds of
meat for this too must be conserved.
So much has been written, however,
on this subject that it would seem
that the smallest child has come to a
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Activities Include Recre
ation for Our Soldier
Boys, Federal Cooper
ation, Red Cross, Lib
erty Loan,Rural Work,
etc.
Copyright, 191S, by The International
Syndicate.
CHAT THE American boys who
are weary of the camp and the
trench as they flght-their coun
try's battles in France may have
a "Blighty" to which they may go' for
rest and recreation, and. where they
may enjoy some few of the comforts
of home, will be the main thought and
topic of discussion among the repre
sentatives of the 2,000,000 women
members of the General Federation
of Women's Clubs when they meet at
the fourteenth hiennial on April 29
at Hot Springs, Arkansas.
To provide such a recreational cen
ter for their sons and 'husbands and
brothers in military service was the
reason for the creation of a War, Vic
tory Commission at the board meet
ing of the General Federation of
Women's Clubs held in Hot Springs,
Virginia, last winter. The fund set
for this provision was $250,000, and
the women of the board laid the foun
dation of that sum by "a contribution
of $5,000. Since that time the amount
has, grown proportionately with the
days and their need of patriotism,
and it will not be surprising if the
specified quarter of- a million runs into
a sum far greater and ,one that is
proportionate to the splendid title of
the commission set out to raise It,
' This big war effoVt for war relief is
the conjoint endeavor of the two mil-
'ion women from every State in the
Union represented in the General Fed
full understanding of the meaning of
food conservation. It Is a well known
fact that today there is not a child
living in Poland under two years of
age, while hundreds of babies are j
starving to death in Armenia and
many are dying from lack of nourish
ment -in Serbia. America is seeking
to save these little children as well
as to allay the pangs of hunger from
which their parents are suffering.
Usually the first cause of famine is
the failure of the crops. This may be
caused by too little rain or too much
rain, or by insect pests, earthquakes
or untimely frosts, or by the devasta
tions of farm lands through wars and
by the taking of farm laborers for
soldiers. War and famine breed pes
tilence, for dead bodies on a battle
field are a pregnant source of plague,
and when the human body is ill nour
ished it is an easy prey to disease.
Famines Of The Bible
Ten famines are recorded In the
Bible, the one in which Joseph played
a part being the most noted. Another
is found in the book of Ruth, in the
story of Ruth and Naomi. Again in
the book of Kings it is recorded that
during a famine just before the Chris
tian era cannibalism was practiced,
human beings being boiled and eaten.
Roman Empire
The early history of the Roman
Empire is filled with accounts of the
catastrophes caused by the trium
virate, war, pestilence and famine.
During the fifth century there was a
failure of crops and people became
so crazed with the pangs of hunger
that hundreds committed suicide by
throwing themselves In the Tiber. It
was while this famine was at its worst
that a knight of low origin named
Maclius began importing corn and
selling It at a low rate. Naturally
this won him the favor of the people
and the upper classes became suspic
ious of his work, believing that he
meant to win the people and try to
make himself king and they had him
summoned before the dictator of
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eration of Women's Clubs. Many oth
er topics of timely interest will be
discussed during the ten days' meet
ing, and a wonderful harvest of war
time effort and activity will be placed
at the disposal of the 9,000 federated
clubs which will be represented.
Standardized Dress
Standardized dress is another sub
ject which will come before the Gen
eral Federation as a whole, at its Hot
Springs convention. The effort to per
suade women to adopt a form of dress
which will make for economy, sim
plicity and greater efficiency along all
lines of effort should carry its special
appeal in war-time, and the subject
will be stressed by those women who
have presented it and demonstrated
its practicability and beauty for the
past decade. Standardized dress does
not imply a uniform or anything ap
proaching a uniform, but it does imply
a uniform basic pattern upon which
may be built .gowns of every fabric
ana ror every purpose in woman's
realm.
In referring to the subject of stand
ardized dress, Mrs. Josiah Evans
Cowles, President of the General Fed
eration of Women's Clubs, said re
cently:
"Has the time not come for us to
definitely proclaim and take our stand
in favor of standardization of dress
for women?- This need not imply a
uniform, nor that we shall all look
exactly alike; rather that certain rules
must be obeyed, certain principles
known and followed, while individual
adaptation is made. It ought to mean
more beauty as well as more freedom
far actual expression of ourselves. In
the solution of this problem it will be
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THE BEIDGEPOET TIMES:
OF THE PAST
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Rome. Maclius refused to appear
and when found in the crowd near
the forum he was killed by an officer
of the guard.
Pestilence, . war and famine were
brought to Rome by the Gauls some
fifty years later. For a time the Ro
mans held the citadel in the' face of
hunger after the city had been de
stroyed. The invaders failed to bury
the dead and disease spread through
the camps of both the siegers and the
sieged.
About 23, B. C, Rome had another
famine caused by the overflow of the
River Tiber and Augustus Caeser be
came the pioneer in relief work. He
is said to have sent his grandson to
collect food at various ports on the
Mediterranean and then fed the poor
free of charge. He attempted to guard
against future disasters by building
good roads and ships whereby sup
plies could be brought in quickly in
case of famine. During the ten years
period between 78, A. D., and 88,
A. D., a famine swept over Italy dur
ing which thousands of persons died
each day despite the facilities for
bringing in food. There was also a
great earthquake during which Pom
peii and Herculaneum were buried
beneath lava and ashes. Africa and
Syria suffered from famine about the
same time when locusts came in great
numbers and destroyed what little
crops had been saved. A disease so
dreadful accompanied the famine that
a noted historian writes that the vul
tures even refused to feed on the dead
bodies, thousands of which remained
unburied. This famine seems to have
been- general for It extended even to
England.
During the tenth, eleventh and
twelfth centuries Egypt was visited by
several great famines and in one year
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necessary to have- the mutual under
standing and cooperation of those who
design, .make, sell and wear garments.
"There are hundreds of club women
throughout the country wearing the
dress which was presented at the Bi
ennial in New York," said Mrs. Cowles.
"This dress evidenced the expression
of artistic principles in a common
sense gown." Among the arguments
which will fce put forth in -the present
biennial is that which declares that
standardization of styles would affect
not only an artistic improvement in
women's dress and a vast national
economy for consumers but would
gradually turn non-essential labor to
essential uses, conserve material and
whether in war or peace would elim
inate from the garment industry many
distressing elements such as lack of
continuity of employment and busi
ness hazards in style.
Department Of Federation Work
The General Federation of Women's
Clubs carries on its work through
eleven separate and distinct depart
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half a million people in one section
fell victims to starvation. There was
a revolution and many people became
brigands and robbed the few who
were able to secure a small amount
of food. There was a reign of terror
and the peasants were unable to farm
the land fearing the bands of bandits
who held sway in the country. Cats
and dogs were sold for food, the peo
ple paying unheard of prices for meat
and even human flesh was eaten. One
historian tells us that people let down,
ropes, to which great hooks were at
tached, from their windows and
caught up people who were walking
on the streets. After drawing them
up they killed and cooked them and
then sold the human flesh for food.
Property changed hands rapidly by
deaths and in one instance a single
house passed to thirty different rela
tives in a single month.
England And France
England too has suffered from fam
ines and during the eighth century
there was a dearth of food which led
the people to practice cannibalism.
Again in the eleventh century about
half the population died of starvation.
In 1069 the lack of food was so great
that people sold themselves into slav
ery in order to obtain enough food to
live.
While all these things were going
on In England, France was suffering
from famine as well. During the
tenth and eleventh centuries some
forty or fifty famines are recorded.
During one of these, when starvation
was at its height, fanatics declared
that the end of the world was at hand.
People deserting their homes and
shops, went on pilgrimages. The sea
sons changed, the summer was cold
and there was oppressive heat during
lAeGenens
t
ments. These are: Art, Civics, Civil
Service, Reform, Conservation, Edu
cation, Home Economics, Industrial
and Social Conditions, Legislation,
Literature and Library Extension,
Music and Public Health.
The coming of the war to the Unit
ed States made no change in the char
acter of these' eleven departments 'of
work, but in every one the range and
scope have been broadened, the pur
pose intensified. All are imbued with
the one end, namely, the winning of
the war. "Our object," said Mrs.
Cowles in a recent conversation, "is,
first and foremost, to be of utmost
service in time of need; second, and
quite as important, to keep alive in
every community the sense of law and
order, the security of the persona!
elements that must rebuild society
when the tumult of war is past. -
"The record of war service present
ed " at the different state federation
meetings throughout the country Is
great in volume and comprehensive in
extent," said Mrs. Cowles. "It must
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the winter. From.-1030 to 1032 there
were no crops raised and people died
of starvation by the thousands and
remained unburied because the living
were too weak to perform this "office.
Human flesh was found on the market
stalls but this was too expensive for
the poor people who lived upon roots,
grass and clay. The forest wolves be
came so hungry that they came into
villages ; and devoured the helpless
people and it seemed that France was
doomed, but when the fields once
more blossomed with grain the people
took courage and for a time food was
abundant, .then came the Crusades
when an attempt was -made to drive
the Mohammedans out of the Holy
Land, and during the first crusade
famine and plague caused the death
of about 100,000 persons in one year.
During the thirteenth century both
England and France suffered serious
ly from a scarcity of food and about
the middle of the fourteenth century
the Black Death, a dread disease Im
ported from -China, .swept over both
countries and carried off thousands,
and both lands were upset .by revolu
tions and riots. Just before the French
Revolution excessive taxation, brought
about by the extravagance of the
French Court and the failure of the
crops caused a famine in that country
and riots were frequent. Madame de
Maintenon was accused of speculating
in corn and her carriage was mobbed
by a. hungry crowd who were trying
to reach the king at Versailles.
Ireland too has had her share of
famines and in several of them Amer
ica has been among the first countries
to give relief. The one of 1822 was
be recorded and kept as a part of
the history of the General Federation,
for, however difficult life may be at
this time, it is inspiring to realize
that we are taking an active part in
its making. It is my firm belief that
the General Federation of Women's
Clubs is a more intensely active or
ganization than any other in the
world, and that its complete organiza
tion makes-it one of the most efficient
working war organizations ot women
in the country.
Connections Made By Federation With
The National Government
While the women's clubs of the
country are endeavoring to carry on
their normal club work in a normal
way, the. General Federation has made
connection in nearly every one of its
departments of work with the Na
tional Government. As one instance,
thewhole federation is placing itself
solidly behind the Federal Children's
Bureau in -its intensive child welfare
campaign which was inaugurated on
April 6. The topic, "The Children's
Tear of 1918," with its program of
work outlining the saving of 100,000
of the 300,000 American babies who
die every year, is to be given one full
day's discussion at the biennial under
the leadership of Mrs. Cowles, who
will serve not only in her capacity of
President of the General Federation
of Women's Clubs but also in that of
director of the Child Welfare De
partment of- the Woman's Committee
of the Council of National Defense.
At this all-important meeting Miss
Julia Lathrcp, Chief of the Federal
Children's Bureau, will be a prom
inent speaker as will also be Dr.
Jessiea B. Peixotto, professor of So
cial Economy at the University of Cal
ifornia, who has taken a few months"
furlough " to lend a hand in the na
tional baby-saving campaign of 1918.
small as compared with the suffering
which occurred in 184S, 1846 and
1847, when the entire potato crop of
the land rotted. During these years
the deaths from starvation and dis
ease superinduced by lack of proper
nourishment ran into hundreds of
thousands. Although both America
and Great Britain were prompt in
their relief work the population of
the Emerald Isle began to decline
from that time falling from over
eight millions in 1845 to less than five
millions today.
During the Franco-Prussian War
Paris suffered from lack of food owing
to the great numbers of refugees who
flocked to the city as the Germans ad
vanced. Dogs, cats and even rats were
sold as food and at such prices as
were prohibitive to the poorer classes.
When the garrison finally surrendered
to the Germans, the whole city was
in a starving condition. . The distress,
however, was relieved by foreign na
tions in a short time.
China, India And Russia
China has been a prey to famines
for centuries, usually caused by inun
dations which ruin the crops. That
country is so densely populated that
hundreds can die without being
missed. They are fatalists and when
pestilence comes they will spend their
last coin for rice and even sell their
daughters into slavery for a mere pit
tance, but they will not riot for food.
It is a well known fact that during
the great Chinese famine of 1906-1907
over a quarter of a million of starving
Celestials camped beneath the walls
of a city in which the warehouses
were filled with rice and wheat. They
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Cooperation Or 9,000 Clubs In The.
Red Cross And Liberty Loan
The General Federation as a whole
has raised very large amounts of
money for various war purposes.
Practically every one of the 9,000
clubs in the Federation have cooper
rated loyally with the Red Cros in
its wonderful mission of mercy, and
the same may be said in connection
with the Liberty Loan, patriotic edu
cation and home and foreign relief
work.
The Home Economics department of
the General Federation has lined up
closely with the Department of Agri
culture in its food production and con
servation program; covering the sub
ject in more than one of its depart
ments. To quote Mrs. Cowles: "Our
food conservation program necessarily
embraces the problem of food production,-
not alone thaMv of conservation
by proper handling and elimination of
waste, but Its transportation, distribu
tion, sale and use. Food production,
as we cover it in our department. Is
not merely a narrow agricultural ques
tion, but goes on to matters relating
to soil, water supply, preservation of
forests, irrigation and of drainage.
"Its transportation carries us into
the realm of road-making, ,not only
the main highways of the country but
the by-ways in every little community
as well,' said Mrs. Cowles. "Reach
ing the point of distribution, it be
comes a civic concern, and here legls
la tionxenters, because there is need
of safe-guarding against new legisla
tion that mav be introduced which
seeks to control prices and to Increase
profits at the expense of the consum-J
er. inus ao tne various departments
of our work cooperate with every
great movement of today."
Club Chairman In Every Camp
The Public Health Department of
the General Federation has placed a
chairman in every camp and canton
ment throughout the country to co
operate with the authorities in their
lines of endeavor, and the department
of Education is actively functioning in
not only carrying on its work along
normal routes, but In performing in
tensive constructive work along voca
tional and Americanization lines.
-The Washington State Federation
IliilllilHIIIIil
did not clamor for the food within but
merely sat outside and patiently await
ed death. The Red Cross has dohe
excellent work in relieving these peo
ple and just before the outbreak of
the present war they were engaged in
some engineering work with the assist
ance of the Chinese Government,
which was expected to prevent these
inundations and the spoiling of the
crops. It has nqt been completed as
yet.
India has been scourged by famines
from the earliest times and plague
runs rampant during these periods of
starvation. The number of people
who die at these times is staggering
for the records show that In the great
famine of 1769-1770 ten million peo
ple perished. Failure of the crops
owing to the peculiar climatic condi
tions of the country is the cause.
Even as late as 1876-1878 more than
five million of India's people starved
to death. Caste, the curse' of that
land, is one of the great difficulties
in solving thft famine nrnhlftm flnrt
hundreds will starve before they will
touch food cooked by people of an
other caste. Great Britain has tried
in various ways to save the people
from these pestilences but the race
traditions are preserved with such fi
delity by the native that they would
rather die than give up their fanatical
ideas the inheritance of ages.
Russia, whose wheat fields spread
over such a large part of the earth's
surface has suffered from famine
many times and as late as 1911 the
sufferers of that land ran into the
hundreds of thousands. People lived
on weeds and roots and a bitter bread
made of acorns. America lent her
assistance in this famine. Happily
today, although we are facing a crisis
which seems unbelievable in the pres-'
ent age, we can by a patriotic perse
verance in food conservation, by the
elimination of waste, keep out those
twin sisters of warfamine and
pestilence thereby shutting off a
repetition of the scenes through which
I the European countries have passed
in by-gone times.
i AvnMnia nt -nrViat iq heinc done
in connection with camp work. Wash
ington club women are working vig
orously in every city and town adja
cent to mobilization camps, cooperat
ing closely with the National Commit
tee on Training Camp Activities in
keeping the towns clean and ; moral,
looking after the environments of
camps as their conditions relate to
both the boys and girls of the com
munities. The Minnesota Federation takes the
lighter view of soldier life, and at a
recent Federation meeting it urged the
clubs of the State to supply mandolins,
guitars.) zithers, and especially phono
graphs in abundance. In referring to
this branch of the Federation work
an officer, on his way to France, said:
"Give the boys music, the best music
and all the music you can."
Rural Club Work ' V
. While the work of the federated
clubs in the cities has been great, as
was to be expected, that in the coun
try places has touched the high wa
ter mark in the splendid response
made by the thousands of small clubs
in the outlying country places
throughout every section of the coun
try. These women's clubs in small
places have purchased many Liberty
Bonds and donated liberally to the
Red Cross, to the T. M. C. A. and
the T. W. C. A.
The State Secretary for Tennessee's
Federation of Clubs writes that
through the organization of federated
clubs in every part of Tennessee the
women of that State have been earl"
and late at their posts of duty as the
call for service of its women has gone
forth. The women of Tennessee stand
ready to help in any movement for the
betterment of the country and to as
sist the Government at a moment's no
tice. From the Nevada Federation of
women's clubs comes the word: "Our.
women are meeting all demands mada
upon them and are always ready and
anxious to do more. Many ;of our
clubs, especially in the smaller towns.
devote tneir enure uiecuugs m i
Cross work. In the larger cities separate-,
organizations are maintained,:
but the clubs are ready at all times to
share their part of the burdMk" 4
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