The record-union., 1898-12-16
NOSTALGIA AND HYSTERIA AT
MANILA

1t is reported that large number Of
the volunteer soldiers at and in the
vicinity Of Manila are suffering from
home sickness, and that men do really
suffer from this ailment is unques-
toned, oftimes to a degree that affects
the physical health seriously, and
actually incapacitates the men But it
is not reported that nostalgia has de-
veloped to that degree among our
troops in Manila.
The volunteers are in enforced in
activity. There are no more stirring
scenes of the field to fire them; gar
rison duty they have distate for; they
left home and employment to serve
their country for a specific purpose.
They think that such purpose has been
accomplished, and they wish to return
to the more remunerative walks Of
civil life.
But in all the letters written upon
this subject we have not discovered
any complaint against the Govern
ment or any charges Of lack of care,
or Of hardships not naturally and in
separately incident to the life Of the
soldier in camp and garrison The
Inen simply desire to have their places
taken by regular troops, that they
may resume their vocaetons in busi-
ness and the trades.
On the other hand, the latest re-
crix OF
organizations among some of the vol
unteer troops to make investment in
the islands, with a view to a large
number Of the enlisted men remaining
there and engaging in industries and
business.
But there comes from Honolulu a
tale Of woe recited by Red Cross
nurse. woman clearly too nervous for
her office, and probably subject to
hysteria. She declared on arrival at
Honolulu, where she appears to have
been sent with a hospital and troop
ship, possibly because she is of too un-
quiet temperament to be useful in
the hospitals at Manila, that there is
inhumanity, awful suffering and dire
neglect in the hospitals Of the army in
and about Manila This. she says. is
due in largest part to want of proper
nourishing food for the sick and the
convalescent, and to the perfunctory
manner in which the stewards and
their assistants perform their duties
She admits that the suffering she saw
so unsettled her nerves that she could
no longer go through the wards, and
so she simply suffered and got out Of
the way, so dreadful was the situ-
alton as she thought she saw it. All
which proves that she, Of all women
in the world, was i'll chosen for hos
p1ta1 work. Unfamiliar with the scenes
OF army life. unable to comprehend
that the soldier reclines upon no bed
OF roses at the best; that home sick
ness, combined with physical ills. will
cause even stoutest men to murnlur
and gI'oan and complain, this excitable
Red Cross nurse loses her balance and
becomes as hysterical in recital as the
most imaginative melodramatic play
wright might wish in a heroine Of her
stripe.
Scores Of letters by every mail are
received from soldiers in Manila Men
and officers are constantly returning.
Ofhcial reports are regularly trans
mitted. Yet in none OF these are found
any such tales Of woe as flow through
the paragraphs of this unsettled wo-
mans account. If there was anything
near like the situation as she describes
1t, 1t would be simply impossible for
the facts to have been reserved in Sc
cresy, as they must have been, if this
Red Cross bundle of nerves tells a re-
liable story.
1t is to be noted that she gives no
detail, and but one real specification.
Her tale is general and vague. 1t
comes down to detail in one respect
only, namely. that she saw beef broth
served to the sick from buckets car
ried about by the hospital stewards
and nurses. AS to whether it really
was beef broth she did not even dare
to inquire. She was sure, however.
that it was lacking in the nourishine
strength that real beef broth ought to
have.
Probably the little woman was
shocked to the core of her nerve
centers by discovering that each man
in the hospital was not served with
the broth in hand-painted china bowl
upon an elegant plate equipped with
napkin, silver spoons and dainty
chips" In short, we should place no
faith in this woman's story. It is too
vague 1t constitutes too serious a
charge against officers of the regular
and volunteer army, whom we know
to be humane, gentle and especially
dutiful to their men, to be accepted as
verify without other evidence than this
Red Cross bundle of unstrung nerves
gives us.
AT Princeton hazing has at last been
abolished. In at least one great edu-
cational institution then, the freshman
is to be permitted to stand erect in the
attitude Of freedom and a man. He
can wear such clothing as he sees hit,