St. Paul daily globe., 1892-02-07

suggested that each guest should write
on Slip OF paper the name connected
with the war which he believed would
be most illustrlous through future ages.
All wrote as requested, the ballots were
collected by the prOpOSer of the move
ment, were opened and read amid en-
thusiastic cheers, for every one of them
contained the name of Florence Night
ingale.
The result has proved the truth of
that evenings prophecy; whole gen.
Grafton has passed since then, and who
thinks of the dead and gone generals
who fell at the storming of the Mala-
kotf? The elocutioniSt' gives the
Charge of the Light Brigade" without
knowing who obeyed the bitter blunder;
the military student may recall the hero
of Kinglake's history-the beloved Rag
lan--and possibly some veteran dimly
remembers the great commander of the
gray hosts Of the Vladimir, but the
sweet name of Florence Nightingale is
dear in almost every home where the
English language is spoken.
Ancient Scutari, the largest CITY on
the Asian shore of the BoSphorus, is
overlaid with history, far-reaching and
full of association which stirs the deep
waters of memory. 1t was the haunt of
hordes in the mythic period; they are
forgotten. Persian satrap and the West
ern Crusader encamped on the heights;
they are not mentioned now; nor is
piouS Godfrey or imperial Constantine:
but every tourist is pointed to the vel
low building used as Turkish barracks,
where the world has learned how divine
a woman may be in ministry to men.
In Constantinople it was my good
fortune to know an English woman we'll
acquainted with the subject of my
sketch, who left England when she was
about thirty-SiX years old. Said my in
formant: II have often seen her i'm the
midst of suffering, and where misery
and despair were deepest she was sure
to be found. Her figure was slight and
graceful, her manner dignifed, her face
beamng with tenderness for the sol
dlers, who biest her as she went by.
Her fortitude at surgical operations
passes belief. Once when the agonies
of patient in the hands of surgeons
put to flight his attendants, Miss Night
ingale turned around and with grave
rebuke called to the trembling fugi-
tives: Come back! Shame on YOU as
Christians, shame on you as womeni'
And her courage, joined with what the
French call the giftof command. brought
the timid nurses again to their duty.
''She was always on her feet. 1 never
odW llCl SCaLCu Uut Ill q COuHCll OF
surgeons, who hated her because she
broke through their routine and refused
submission to regulations
From the bloody heights of Inkerman
900 wounded were sent to Scutari. She
demanded mattresses, stores for the sick,
locked in the custom house or living i'm
che ships in the iiarbor, aud was told
three days was the shortest time in
which they could be unloaded and dis
trieuted, and the rules of the service
could not be transgreSSed to save even
LOCO men. She hastened to the maga-
zine, told the sergeant Of the guard who
she was. and asked if he would take an
order from her. He replied lie would.
She commanded him to, break down the
door, for the men would arrive in few
hours and no beds were ready. That
Incompatible woman stood all day, or
dering, arranging, distributing, in the
midst of unSpeakable misery, her ap-
pearance everywhere sign of good
comfort. and SO touched with heavenly
charm that virtue seemed to go out from
her garments in the press of The crowd.
The brief space allowed me will not
hold half | have to tell. Night was her
accepted time. When the attendant
and medical officers slept. and silence
and darkness settled on the long lines
the bloom and flower of English soldiery,
she walked the dreary corridors alone.
A little lamp in her hand scarcely il
Illuminated the gloom few feet around
her, but it was cheering as sunlight, an
omen of hope to the hopeless. Now she
whispered holy words to youth moan
ing half-Sleep of home and mother. now
smoothed the pillow of some wasted
skeleton from the trenches, or lightly
touched the limbs strengthening for the
grave. What wonder that hundreds
kissed her shadow as it fell, and.
soothed Eby her benign presence,
turned on their narrow beds and closed.
their eyes to pleasant dreams.
When her work was ended and peace
declared, honors were showered on her.
The Cross of st. George was presented
by Queen Victoria, engraved: BLESSED
Are the Mercitul." An exquisite brace
let came from the sultan, but she stead
lily refused all moneys. A man-of-war
was placed at her disposal on the re-
the distinction. and travelled through
France by night IN order to save pub
licity. Sore need had she of rest and
quiet; though PROSTATE bodily by the
long strain, her spirit was undaunted.
From her darkened chamber and in
valid chair she spoke cheerfully to the
infirm of heart and purpose who sought
her counsel, wrote letters to unknown
correspondents, and patiently listened
to intrusive appeals which must have
appeared trivial to her comprehensive
mind. Her heart beat for all humanity,
and before her noble nature nothing
was too petty or mean for interest. To
the last she was a comforter, brave and