The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-06-22
ANOTHER NIGHTINGALE.
Miss n4te Marsden's Work, Among
~ The Russian Lepers.,
4 NOBLE WOMlN'S MISSION.
Her Career Of Mercy...with the Rms
sian Army Under the Rcd Cross
When Only Riftccn Years told and
Subsequently l.islslng d cath in tho
Face Of Loatlh'ome Disease.
NtO York Herald.

Face Of Loatll'ome Diseased.
Mv York Herald
A woman worthy ID wear the Ihantle
of Florence Nightingale has ariseii.- Her
name is Kate Marsden, and the cable
announces that she Will reach our
shores within tho next few weeks She
comes well recommended to Americans,
for the car OF all the Russias has per-
sonally received herand warmly praised
her practical work and heroism. What
has been her mission and how has she
proved herself heroine?
One year ago Miss Kate Narsden left
her quiet English home to labortamong
the leper outcasts Of Siberia, and since
the martyrs mission OF Father damien
awakened the worlds applause no in
stance approaching his self.sacrifice has
been recorded unless it be the present
one. During her visit to the scenes
where the sufferers arc enduring an ex-
istence much more terrible than death
she has proved herself an angel OF mercy
in more ways than one.
Miss Marsden recently returned to
St. Petersburg, intending to spend some
time between that city and Moscow in
order to raise further funds for the re-
lief OF the Siberian lepers. Her fame
had already preceded her, so that not
in st. Petersburg alone. but in the
storied capital OF, the ancient tsars-ln
the palaces Of mobiles as in the hum
blest quarters Of those great cities, The
was constantly mentioned in tones OF
reverence and love. In addition TO So
Letting charitable aid in st. Petersburg
she also engaged in the organization OF
relief committees, so that the move
ment for succoring the lepers might be-
come permanent one.
HER CAREER OF MERCY.
Now that she is about to visit us it is
especially interesting to trace hcr his
tory from the first moment when she
first entered upon her career of mercy.
The first acquaintance this heroic lady
made with human suffering in its most
aggravating form occurred in 1867, when,
under the auspices Of the Red Cross So
ciety, she accompanied tho Russian
army Of the Danube, through the cam
pniHn Of Bulgaria. She was then but
fifteen years Of age, yet was gifted with
the inspiration OF devotion that knows
no fear and can be stemmed by no OBJ.
stacles. The impression produced up
on her mind by the terrors Of war was
so intense and lasting that she
formed tho resolution oil dedicat-
ing herself to the life Of q
secular Sister OF Charity. but against
her we're arrayed the incorporating
objections of her parents, who refused
their consent and could not be won
over 10 her views. They we're people
in much more than average good cir
culnstances, her father being pros
porous London lawyer. She 10 brill
liant living example OF the oft repeated
assertion that most OF what is best and
truest in English life is found in the
ranks OF the upper middle classes.
Miss Marsden's parents hold the opin-
ion that after their daughters escape
while passing through tho perils Of war
time she should not tempt Providence
further. Therefore it was not until the
death Of both har mother and father
that ahe found It possible to carry out
her ideas.
en- "a M emissary cl the Red Gross,
from whence sho proceeded to Asia
Minor, where an epidemic Of leprosy
was raging. Whilc there she dtscov-
cred, from information given her by the
people she met, thatin 1akutsk, Siberia,
there grew an herb which, If applied
during the initial stages OF leprosy, was
practically invincible in in the tllera-
peutic treatment OF tho disease. She ut
once decided to visit Siberia, and in
November, 1890, she reached St. Peters
burg en- route, securing there an au'
dionco with the Car, upon whom she
created such q favorable impression
that he gave her personal letter to tn
governor Of IakutsE. \ tedious Journey
Law bciorc her; sho would have to trav::
elsc : distance Of 10000 versts. Part OF
tho distance could be accomplished by
railroad, part by steamer or email boat,
and Tho rrst-moro than 5000 verats-
had TO be traversed in q taraatass, q de-
fcr;ption OF native carriage, which in
volvos an amount OF jolting, shaking
and other hardshirs easy to comprec'
hend when they have boon Experienced,
but not otherwise.
THE HERB AND THH bEVEEs.
AT Iakutsk Miss Marsden found not
only tho herb, but q largo number o.
lopers as well, and concluded that hel
true Geld of activity lay at this place
She ALEC ealistcd in her cause the nuns
OF the nelEhboriug convent at TomsS
in consultation with those charitable
women she formulated a>plan for the o.
tnllishment Of REGULAR leper colonies