The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-05-21
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We OF the fair" sex seem strangely
apathetic in this city. Either we are
feeling too horribly miserable over the
war and all that it means, or else we
are amazingly Indifferent. Certain it
is that, as compared with our sex IN
other cities, we are little interested in
the great disturbance. TO be sure.
these other women are possibly making
sublime nuisances of themselves in
order to prove their patriotism. l have
no sort of doubt but that their ever
lasting teasing of the president and
the war department to please give us
something to do" is a great bother.
Their mannish tendency to make reso-
lutions about their sentiments toward
Mr.. Mckinley must be another nus-
ance. It's all right to "resolute," if
only they wouldn't insist upon having
somebody read the results. 1t must
take one private secretary the entire
time to return polite thanks for the
hySteriCal resolutions the women's
clubs and societies all over the coun-
try are sending to the White House
or course the president is glad that he
is pleasing the women, even if they
can't vote. and even if he can't seem
to satisfy the eXactions of all the other
people, but it must grow a trine mon
otonous to be obliged to read or listen
to these voluminous testimonials of
appreciation.
Probably the less prominent officials
and the physicians supposed to be in
charge of hospital arrangements have
the hardest of it. No doubt they de-
voutly wish the society woman would
confine her yearning for nursing and
making bandages to the privacy Of her
own household and not be so deter
mined to try it on the dog" She has
been COurteOusly but firmly showed off
the hospital ship. The beautiful pic
ture of herself in pastes in moonlit
battlefields as she fits about from one
poor wounded soldier to another, dis
pensing comfort and cheer, has been
rudely marred by a brute of an officer
who peremptorily informed her that
the field is not her place in any capac-
ity. She has been told that the work
of nurse in a military hospital isn't
the sweet ministry described in the
war novels, and she has been assured
that picking lint and making band
ages, although harmless dmusements
in themselves, are a waste of time,
since 1t costs the government only a
trifiing sum to provide these supplies.
More than all this-and it would seem
that no one could expect her patriot
ism to Withstand such a shock--a
leathery- hearted high official has pub
licly stated that no gOOd-loOking young
woman need apply. They want middle
aged and very plain-looking nurses at
the front. Strange to say, there are
still those who endeavOr to secure
commission, even under this wet
blankety prOvsO. OF course, however,
the ones who are refused take GER
tain amount OF consolation in the
cause of rejection. Notwithstanding all
these rebuffs, women apply in swarms
for suggestions as to what they can
| do for their country.
The members of the "unquiet SEX"
| as Helen Watterson Moody terms a
| certain proportion Of the women Of
| the land, seem determined to make
| place for themselves in the present
| crisis. One of the most remarkable
| ideas they entertain is TO begin the
! formation of woman's clubs in Cuba,
| as if the poor things down there had
| not already suffered enough! The work
which they might do with great credit
| TO themselves and infinite aid to their
| ldlV as duAllldIS 10 the Itu NluSSi III
many cases thev disdain and succeed
| in getting into quarrels over author
| ity precedence and methods, greatly
| to the injury Of good results.
Thus, perhaps, the women Of ScraT-
| ton do not err in their quiet acceptance
| of the disaster of war, and in their
| placid belief that it will be all right
| without their help. Yet ii is rather
! surprising that they have made no ef-
| forts in a public way to ameliorate the
| woes Of the soldier at the front, since,
| as a rule, they are quick TO follow or
even to originate fads. Possibly the
uncertain fate which has threatened
| our regimental ambulance is a slight
| damper on their patriotism. An am
| bulance which isn't allowed TO amble,
after being purchased for the benefit
Of our own boys, is enough to dis
| courage the enthusiasm OF war tor
! pedo. Maybe If they went at it and
| made a lot of pincushions, needle
books, woolen socks or flannel wrap
pers for hot water bottles and other
| necessaries, the cruel government