ans over the island, in which efforts the Red Cross joined. But
the people of Cuba solved the question themselves--by a general adoption
in their own homes--and orphanages in Cuba became a thing of the past.

Thus our work on that distressful field closed, after nearly two years
of such effort as one would never desire to repeat. The financial
management of that field, so far as the Red Cross was concerned, was
done under the attorneyship of the Central Cuban Relief Committee of New
York, whose reports are models of accuracy and accountability, and to
which any person desiring information may be referred.

Cuba was a hard field, full of heart-breaking memories. It gave the
first opportunity to test the cooperation between the government and its
supplemental handmaiden, the Red Cross. That these relations might not
have been clearly understood at this initial date may well be
appreciated, but that time and experience will remedy this may be
confidently hoped.

Through all our discouragements the steady hand and calm approval of our
great head of the army and navy was our solace and our strength. And
when at length it was all over, his hand could trace for his message to
his people the following testimonial, what need had one even to remember
past discouragements, however great? It was as if the hand of the martyr
had set its undying seal upon the brow of the American Red Cross. What
greater justification could it have? What greater riches could it crave?

"In this connection it is a pleasure for me to mention in terms of
cordial appreciation the timely and useful work of the American Red
Cross, both in relief measures preparatory to the campaigns, in sanitary
assistance at several of the camps of assemblage, and, later, under the
able and experienced leadership of the president of the society, Miss
Clara Barton, on the fields of battle and in the hospitals at the front
in Cuba. Working in conjunction with the governmental authorities and
under their sanction and approval, and with the enthusiastic cooperation
of many patriotic women and societies in the various States, the Red
Cross has fully maintained its already high reputation for intense
earnestness and ability to exercise the noble purposes of its
international organization, thus justifying the confidence and support
which it has received at the hands of the American people. To the
members and officers and all who aided them in their philanthropic
work, the sinc