Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-10-21

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LETTER FROM FLeRENcE NIGHTINGALE. ! :.
The following letter from Florence Nightingale
contains some interesting reflections upon the.
mestion of woman's work -s'
LONDON, Sept. Is, lS66.-To Lemuel Moss
NV Dear Sir: | could not do what you asked
me to do in your kind letter Of July 18th, viz ::
Give YOU information about my own lite; though
E could it would be to show how womalS
yerv ordinary ability has been led to God-by
strange and unaccustomed paths-to do IN his
service ghat He did in hers. And if could
tell you all, you would see how God has done
all and nothing. L have worked hard, very
bard-that is all-and have never refused
God anything, though, being naturally very
shy person, most OF my life, has been distaste.
fu to me. | have no peculiar gifts. And |
can honestly assure any young lady, if she will
but try to walk, she will soon be. able to run
the appointed course. " But then she must
first learn to walk, and 50 when she runs she
must run with patience. Most people dom
even try to walk. IL 10 81 . d.
ID lst.a But would also,sa to all young ladies
who arecalled to any peculiar vocation, qualify
yourselves for it as a man does .tor his work.
Don't think you can undertake it otherwise. =
No one should attempt to teach the Greek Ian.
guage until be is master of the language: and
this he can become only by hard study.
I'd. If you are called to mans work, do no t
exact a Woman's privileges the privilege OF In
accuracy, of weakness ye muddleheads Sub
nit yourselves to the rules OF business, as men
4 do, by which alone you can make Gods busi-
ness succeed; for lie has never said that lie
will give his success and His blessing to inefi-
ciency to sketching and unfinished work.
ists3d. It,has happened to me more than once
to be told by women (your countrywomen,) }
"Yes, but you had personal freedom" Moth
pg can we'll be further from the truth. [ ques-
tion whether God has ever brought any one
through more difficulties and contradictions
than have had But / imagine these exist
less among you than among us, so l will say no
more.
4th But to all women | would say, lookup
on your work, whether it be an accustomed or
an unaccustomed work, asupon trust conGded
to you. This will keep you alike from discour-
agement and from presumption, from ldleness
and from overtaxing yourself. here God
leads the way He has bound Himself to help
you to 60 the way. ~
| have been nine years confined a prisoner to
my room from illness, and overwhelmed with
business. Had I more faith-more of the
faith which I protest. should not say Cover
whelmed,' - for it sail business sent me by God:
and l am really thankful to Him, though my
sorrows have been deep and many, and He still
This must be my excuse tor not having an
swered your questions before.
Nothing with the approval Of my own judg-
ment has been made public, or l would send
it. L have a strong objection to sending my
own likeness for the same reason. Some Of
the most valuable works the world has ever
seen we know not who is the author Of /
do not urge this example upon others, but it is
a deep seated religious scruple In myself. l do
not wish my name to remain, nor my likeness.
That God alone should be remembered l WISH
-. If could really give the lessons of my life
to my countryWomen and yours Indeed l fam
look upon us all as one nation)- lessons of
my mistakes as well as. of the rest---I would;
utfor this there is no time / would only
say, woodwork in silence at first, in silence
for years-it will not be time wasted Perhaps
n all your life will be the time you will after
wards find to! have been best spent, and it is
very certain that without it you will be no
worker Y ou willino produce one perfect
work, but only botch in the service OF God.
Pray believe me, my dear sir, with great
truth, ever your faithful servant, ~ Ia
FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE.
Have you read Bakers Sources OF the
Nile, where he says he was more like dom
key than an explorer. That is much my case,
andil believe is that of all who have to do any
unusual work. And [ would especially guard
young ladies' from fancying themselves like lady
superiors, with an obsequious following OF
QlSplDinc. how, orb Ioa work !
A New EXCITEMENT IN ENGLAND. In the
lake country in England there is a ruin called
Dlston Castle, once the seat Of the Earl Of
DerWentwater. A lady claiming to be Count
ess ot=Derwentwater has just arrived at CHS
castle with retinue of servants and wagon
oad OF chattels, has fitted up temporary quar-
teFSS among, the ruins and announces her inten-
uon to abide hencetorth in the baronlal castle
u ner ancestors. She is q singular person, at
ures herself in an Austrian military uniform,
~earsla sword by her side. and defes the law
yefs VINO have sought to eject her. 1t hap
pence, unfortunately for her pretenslons, that
.ae dead Earl in whose name this queer Count
eSs Claims the property, was attainted Of treason
ana beheaded on Tower Hill after the rebellion
Vi oll5;5Ghis blood thus legally corrupted, his
estates we're confscated and granted By the
C:loWn to the Commissioners of Greenwich Hos.
tltal, IN whose posSession they still remain,
anu who derives no 'inconsiderable part Of their
teveaue thereffom.Q Some of the London pa
'Psfslnslst that the new Countess is mad as
narch hare andsall agree that curious suit
oi1aW oinW will follow. Butt if "Amelia, Countess
SperWentwater,'' y is insane, there is method il
asl ssa MADNESS, for she has certainly taken pos
sssss session Of the property in business7like
iae st. Louis Republican publishes an alb
'!leot OF the will Of the late Mr.. Isaac Walker,