New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-12
SISTER.


us-to recognize Sister or myself. II is not likely
that she will see this-and / am not sure thar
she knows my name. OF course some one may
draw her attention TO this paper and she may
remember that the name affixed 10 II Is that "hlci
! signed at the foot Of q document we made ont
tOgether-namcly, a return OF deaths. Az Uhe
foot of this PAPER our names stood one beneati
the otherstand there still, perhaps, in some Tor
gotten bundle of papers at the War Ohice
only hone that she will not see this; for She
might consider it breach Of professional etiquette
and attach great Importance 10 the opinion oil
this woman, whom have only seen once IN my
whole life. Moreover, that occasion she was
subordinate TO me-more or less in the position OF
a servant.
Suffice it to say, therefore, that 1T was war
time, and our trade was what the commercial
papers call brisk. 4 war better remembered OF the
young than of the old, because it was, compare
lively speaking, recent. The oil fellows seem to
remember the old fights bettcr-those fights that
were fought when their blood was still young and
the vessels thereof uncl0gged
1t was, by the way my first campaign, but ]
was not new TO the business of blood; for am
no soldier-only doctor Ny only unform-my
full-pa rade dress-is o red on the arm OF an
old blue serge jackct-said Jacket being much
stained with certain dull patches which are better
not investigated.
All who have taken part in war-doing the dam
age or repairing it-llnow that things are not done
in quite the same way when bal-cartrlGge Is
served out instead of blank. The correspondents
are very fond OF reporting that the behavior oil
the men suggested parade-which smile 1t is to
be presumed borne in upon their fantastic
brains by it's utter inappicability. The parade
may he suggested before the real work begins
when IL is a question of marching away from the
landing-stage but after the work-our work-has
begun, there is remarkably little resemblance to 4
review.
We are served with many official papers which
we never fill in, because, on the spur of the mo-
ment it is apt TO suggest itself that mems lives
are more important We misapply vast major
ity Of our surgical supplies, because the most
important item is unusually left behind at head
quarters, or at the seaport depot. In fact we
do many things that We should leave undone. and
omit TO do more which we are expected officially
to do
For some reason-pr presumably the absence of bet
tor men--I was sent up to the front before we
had been three days at work. Our hospital by
the river was not full when received orders TO
follow the flying column with two assistants and
the appliances of field hospital
Out OF this little nucleus sprang The largest
Depot for sick and wounded that was formed during
the campaign We were within easy reach of
headquarters, and was fortunately allowed Tree
hand. Thus our establishment in the desert grew
daily more important, and finally superseded the
hospital at headquarters.
We had busy time. for the main column had
now closed up with the first evolutionary force,
and our troops in touch with the enemy
not forty miles away from me.
In the course Of tmc-when the authorities
failing 10 n rss military
deemed expedent to fOrtify u.s. and then, in
addition to two medical assistants, was allowed
three Government nurses. This last piece Of news
was not hailed with SO much enthusiasm as might
have been expected. l am not in favor OF bring
ing women anywhere near the front. They are
for their own sakes and for the peace If mind
Of Others, much better left behind. If they
beyond certain age they break down and have
10 DC sent back at considerable trouble; that 10
20 say, an escort and an ambulance cart, of which
latter there never enough. If they are below
the cinacterc-ever so little below it-they cause
mischief of another description, and the wounded
are neglected for there is no passion Of the human
heart so cruel and selfish as love.
II am sorry TO hear it," l said to lght-hcartcd
little Sammy FitzWarener, of the Naval Brigade.
who brought me the news.
Sorry to hear it? Cad, | shouldn't be.
The place has got different look about it when
there are women-fok around They are 30 jolly
clever in their ways-worth ten of your red-cross
That is as may be, I answered, breaking open
the case Of whiskey which Sammy bad brought
private consumption
lie was taking this machiuc-gun up to the
front, and mighty proud he was of it,
A clever gun lie called it; "an almighty
clever gun
He had ridden alongside Of listing on the
top Of his horse as sailors do-through seventy
miles of desert without halt: watching over IL
and tending il he might have watched and
tended his mother, or perhaps some Other woman
Cad doctor, hs exclaimed, kicking ont ms
sturdy legs and contemplating with some sa,l-.
faction the yellow hide topboots which ne had
bought at the Army and Navy stores. l know
the boots well, and-avoid them. Cad. doctor,
40 light as a tricycle.. And when she begins 70 I,
talk my stars Click click
-. click click For all , the World SoiI,
all the time No work for you there. 1t will
be no use you and your stalactites proaging about
with skewers for the bullet. Look AT the other
side, my boy, and you'll ma the beauty has JUST
walked through them
Soda or plan?" | askedain parcnthesis
aSoda. ! don't like the favor of dead camel
A big drink, please feel as if were lined
He slept that night in the little shahty built
Of mud, and rooted chiefly with old palm mats.
which was gracefully called the Head Surgeon
quarters. Tha, is to say, he partooli of snch
hospitality as had to offer him.
Sammy and had met before he had touched
rope or scape WE HsSa IGp% wn ly 'a ana
10 q limited extent, we knew each other people
which little phrase has vast meaning IN places
where men do concrccdte.
I'VE turned in pretty carly-I on a hospital
rnatfress he in my bed but sam would not 90
to sleep. lie would lie with his arms above his
head (which is not an attitude oil sleep ana
talk about that everlasting gun.
| dozed OIL 10 the murmur OF his voice en-
patiating on the extreme cunning OF the eJector
and awOke TO hear details Of the riiilng:
We did not talk OF home as DO men III DOCKS
when lying by u campfire Perhaps il was owing
to the absence Of that picturesque adjunct TO
soldiers life We talked chiefly of the clever
cun. and once Just before he fell asleep, Sammy
Returned TO the question Of the nurses.
yes he said, the head sawbones down there
told me to tell you that he had got permission
70 send 70" ' sake Bless their hearts They
Then he fell asleep, and left me thinking OF
his words, and OF the spirit which had prompted
them . - IT.,