In view of an apparent misunderstanding of the influenza
conditions in this community, the effect of which may deprive sufferers of help
which is so greatly needed, and because I am in a position to speak from
personal knowledge, I feel justified in making this public statement. The
situation is much more than our people appear to believe, and demands more
serious attention than it has received. Last Monday I began a personal
investigation, with the aid of Health Officer Lentz, particularly in West Hickory,
and found houses where the entire family was in bed and possible a small child
or the husband who could not cook or prepare necessary food for the others.
Working under no association but only moved by the desire to
relieve distress, Judge and Mrs. Cline, Officer Lentz and I have since last
Monday devoted our entire time to obtaining food and delivering it to the most
needy. In our work, Mrs. Hutchinson of West Hickory has been our constant and
invaluable aid; she goes into each home with words of cheer and brings out
dishes and carries in food. She has a heart of gold which suffers with and
serves her people. The graded school teachers have aided us mightily in the
cooking department of the high school building. Without them much that has been
done could not have been accomplished.
But we should not shut our eyes to the fact that the disease
is increasing—not abating. Nothing but harm can come of our saying conditions
are better when they are not. Only yesterday we found families of from two to
10 persons in bed or helpless. We have seen the father and mother sick in bed,
with a little child in with them or on the floor, without a soul to even hand
them a cup of water. We have stood in the yard helpless while the spirit of a
child took its flight. We have called at the stricken home where a little body
lay unattended. Women get up prematurely and try to wash or cook and they die.
I say these things plainly because our people would make
haste to aid the stricken ones if they knew, but only those who go and see can
really know. Many have sent contributions of money and food-stuffs and the
amount is increasing daily. But these sick people need help in their homes and
this I cannot provide, much to my sorrow. If only there were volunteers to go
and lend a hand much suffering would be relieved and perhaps lives saved. I do
not assume to speak for either the Red Cross or the Community C. Working not
under either organization, we assumed this work by no authority, save that of
human sympathy. I ask no help for myself or my co-workers. I do ask for these
stricken people.
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