Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-31

the hero OF Kinglake's history-the beloved
Raglan-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.
She Never Shirked q Duty.
In Constantinople it was my good fortune
to know an English woman well acquainted
with the subject of my sketch, who left
England when she was about 36 years old
Said my informant: 81 have often seen her
in the midst of suffering, and where misery
and despair were deepest she was sure to
found. Her figure was slight and graceful,
her manner dignified, her face beaming with
tenderness for the soldiers, y no blest her as
she went by. Her fortitude at surgical
operati ms passes belief. Once, when the
agonies of patient in the hands of surgeons
put to flight his attendants, Miss Nightingale
called to the trembling fugItives: Come
back! Shame on you as Christians; shame
on you as womenr And her courage, joined
with what the French call the gift OF COM
mand, brought the timid nurses again to
their duty. She was always on her feet.
never saw her seated but once in q
council of surgeons, who hated her because
she broke through their routine and refused
D
From the bloody heights of Inkerman 900
wounded were sent to Scutari. She de-
manded mattresses. stores for the sick,
locked in the Custom House or lying in the
ships in the harbor, and was told three days
was the shortest time in which they could
be unloaded and distributed, and the rules
OF the service could not be transgressed to
save even 1000 men. She hastened to the
magazine, told the sergeant of the guard
who she was, and asked if he would take an
order from her. He replied he would. She
LODI tn hrp1 r ha
for the men would arrive in a few hours and
no beds were ready. That incompatible
woman stood all day, ordering, arranging.
distributing, in the midst OF unspeakable
misery, her appearance everywhere q 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.
AWelcome Vision in the Night.
Night was her accepted time. When the
attendant and medical officers slept, and
silence and darkness settled on the long
lines OF cots, holding the broken wrecks OF
the bloom and flower of English soldiery,
she walked the dreary corridors alone. A
little lamp i'll her hand scarcely illumined
the gloom II few feet around her, but it was
cheering as sunlight, an omen OF hope to the
hopeless. Now she whispered holy words to
a youth moaning in halfsleep OF home and
mother, now smoothed the pillow of some
wasted skeleton from the trenches, or rightly
touched the limbs Strengthening for the
grave. What wonder that nunQredS Kissed
her shadow as it fell, and, soothed by her
benign presence, turned on their narrow
beds and closed their eyes to pleasant
dreams.
When her work was ended and peace de-
cIared honors were showered on her The
Cross OF st. George was presented by Queen
Victoria, engraved BLESSED are the merci-
ful;" an exquisite bracelet came from the
SuItan but she steadily refused all moneys.
A man of war was placed at her disposal on
the return voyage to England; she declined
the distinction and travelled through France
by night in order to save publicity. Sore
need had she of rest and quiet: though pros
trated bodily by the long strain, her spirit
was undaunted. From her darkened cham
Der and invalid chair, she spoke cheerfully
to the intirm of heart and purpose who
sought her counsel, wrote letters to un-
known correspondents, and patiently lis
tened 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
comforter brave and busy, refined and deli
cate forgetful of nothing but self.
SUSAN E. WALLACE.