VII

The life of Clara Barton should be familiarized to every child.

Woonsocket (R. I.)Call.

Learning to ride, Clara, is just learning a horse.

Brother David(“Buffalo Bill”) in 1826.

How can I learn a horse, David?Sister Clara.

Catch hold of his mane, baby, and just feel the horse a part of yourself—the big half of the task being.

Brother David.Heroines of Service.

Love me, love my dog.Heyward’s Proverbs.

The one absolutely unselfish friend that a man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, and the one that never proves ungrateful, or traitorous, is his dog.Senator Vest.

We are two travellers, Roger and I—Roger’s my dog—so fond, so unselfish, so forgiving.John Townsend Trowbridge.

I have seen many friends in my travels,Some friends whom the world would call game,But the friendship of my old dog RogerWould put all the others to shame.William Devere.

I have seen many friends in my travels,

Some friends whom the world would call game,

But the friendship of my old dog Roger

Would put all the others to shame.

William Devere.

I would rather be a dog and bay at the moonThan such a Roman.Julius Caesar.

I would rather be a dog and bay at the moon

Than such a Roman.Julius Caesar.

Every dog has his day, why not I?Dogs are very much like people—I am Preacher Smith’s dog, whose dog are you?Abbie N. Smith,“Bobtail Dixie.”

Every dog has his day, why not I?

Dogs are very much like people—

I am Preacher Smith’s dog, whose dog are you?

Abbie N. Smith,“Bobtail Dixie.”

A horse! a horse! my kingdom for a horse!Shakespeare.

O for a horse with wings.Cymbeline.

Champing his foam, and bounding o’er the plain,Arch his high neck and graceful spread his mane.Sir R. Blackmore.

Champing his foam, and bounding o’er the plain,

Arch his high neck and graceful spread his mane.

Sir R. Blackmore.

A good rider on a good horse is as much above himself and others as the world can make him.Lord Herbert.

I die,—but first have possessedAnd come what may, Ihave been blessed.Byron.

I die,—but first have possessed

And come what may, Ihave been blessed.Byron.

Aspiration sees only one side of every question; possession, many.

Lowell.

How senseless is the love of wealth and treasure.Guarini.

Remember not one penny can we take with us into the unknown land.Seneca.

A dog is a real philanthropist, his whole existence is living for others. The best “war-scout” known is the Red Cross dog, wearing the insignia. In a dog Miss Barton found a congenial spirit. Her first ownership was a dog, and known by the name of “Button.”He was medium-sized, very white, with silky ears, sparkling black eyes, and a very short tail. “Button” was Clara Barton’s guardian in the cradle, her playmate in childhood.

Some little dogs are very good,And very useful too:—

Some little dogs are very good,

And very useful too:—

“Button” would try to pick her up when she fell down, sympathize with her in her troubles,—ever unselfish, helpful, loyal.

Clara Barton’s second individual ownership was “Billy.” “Billy” was a horse. She said he was high stepping; in color, brown; of Morgan ancestry, with glossy coat, slim legs, pointed ears, long black mane and tail, and weighing nearly nine hundred pounds.

Ownership endowed “Billy” with wonderful characteristics. He could trot, rack, pace, single-foot,—a Bucephalus worthy of world fame. “Like beads upon a rosary” she would countand recount the joys of memory, memory of her saddle horse, and she on his back, riding like mad, at ten years of age. He had many characteristics, doubtless, that she didn’t recount. As a horse is known to be “a vain thing for safety” “Billy” could probably run away, get frightened at a shadow, senselessly “kick up” and “smash-up,” as do other horses. But fun is in the danger; the greater the danger to life and limb the greater the fun. “Billy” would not stand over her to guard her, nor help her up when she fell down, but was useful and gave her pleasure. “The true, living love is love of soul for soul,” hence mankind loves, in return for love, only what gives love; but mankind also pretends to lovewhat it can force to serve man’s purpose. The dog spirit and the horse spirit satisfy the longings of human nature—all the world loves a dog and assumes to love a horse.

In hearing of the cannon’s roar one afternoon, an officer galloped up asking, “Miss Barton, can you ride?” “Yes sir.” “But you have no saddle—could you ride mine?” “Yes sir, or without it, if you have blanket and surcingle.” “Then you can risk an hour.” An hour later the officer returned at breakneck speed—and leaping from his horse said: “Now is your time Miss Barton; the enemy is already breaking over the hills.”

Oh! not all the pleasures that poets may praise,—Not the wildering waltz in the ballrooms blaze,Nor the chivalrous joust, nor the daring race,Nor the swift regatta, nor the merry chase,Nor the sail heaving waters o’er,Nor the rural dance on the moonlight shore,—Can the wild and fearless joy exceedOf a fearless leap on a fiery steed.

Oh! not all the pleasures that poets may praise,—

Not the wildering waltz in the ballrooms blaze,

Nor the chivalrous joust, nor the daring race,

Nor the swift regatta, nor the merry chase,

Nor the sail heaving waters o’er,

Nor the rural dance on the moonlight shore,—

Can the wild and fearless joy exceed

Of a fearless leap on a fiery steed.

Romance enters into ownership of pet animals. Probably “Button” wasjusta dog and “Billy”onlya horse. But one has said that the right of ownership is the cornerstone of civilization. Ownership of what is worthy of love at least enriches character—contributes to the happiness of human existence. If the Father of his Country was right, that the object of all government is the happiness of the people, then the love of animals serves a very high purpose.

With the first “gold dust” suddenly acquired, an illiterate Western miner built on the desert a stone mansion. He ornamented it with gold door knobsdoor hinges of silver—the doors opening but to golden keys.

Yet some there be that by due steps aspireTo lay their just hands on that golden key,That opes the palace to eternity,—To such my errand is:—

Yet some there be that by due steps aspire

To lay their just hands on that golden key,

That opes the palace to eternity,—

To such my errand is:—

Where human beings throng, and men and women suffer, Clara Barton built a structure and ornamented it with a RED CROSS on a white ground—the emblem of service to the suffering. With unusual earning capacity for seventy-five years, and at all times practicing greatest economy, Clara Barton’s ownership at her passing was but $21,000. The Glen Echo Red Cross home that had been used, free of cost to the RED CROSS, was valued at $5,000. While the owner lived she continued to keep it as a charity center—a home for the homeless and indigent—ex-soldiers, civilians, children.

In her closing years she had, therefore, for her own personal and exclusive use in money and realty, not to exceed $21,000. This was nine thousand dollars less than the value of her property when she first became interested in Red Cross work. “Mere money,” she said, “never separates me from my friends. I don’t care for money; I wish only not to become an object of charity, and to be a burden to my friends when I am unable to work for others.”

BIRTHPLACE OF CLARA BARTON, NEAR OXFORD, MASSACHUSETTSOn March 14, 1921, the title to the Barton Homestead was transferred by Carl O. Carlson to The Woman’s National Missionary Society of the Universalist Church. It is now known as The Clara Barton Memorial Home. Mementoes, Red Cross literature and all else possible to obtain that appertain to Clara Barton’s life work will be assembled here and become a part of the Memorial. The homestead consists of the house where Clara Barton was born, and eighty-five acres of land. It was dedicated as a shrine for the public, October 12, 1921.Arrow points to the room where Clara Barton was born. Size of the room 8 × 10 feet. Ceiling 8 feet high. Clothes closet 5 feet 2 inches × 2 feet 5 inches. Two windows each 4 feet 5 inches high × 2 feet 3 inches wide. Two sashes in each window; six panes of glass in each sash.

OFFICERS OF THE W. N. M. A. PRESENT AT THE DEDICATION OF THE CLARA BARTON MEMORIAL ON OCTOBER 12, 1921.Left to Right: Mrs. Bertram O. Blaisdell, Trustee; Mrs. Ethel M. Allen, Rec. Sec’y (now President); Mrs. Marietta B. Wilkins, President; Mrs. Fred A. Moore, Literature Secretary; Miss Susan M. Andrew, Trustee (Chairman Clara Barton Guild).

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