The times., 1898-10-02

who are our temporary lodgers. The
worn-out corporal took to his cot as soon
as given the chance and for days how
cred on the verge of collapse. His NOR
bidly sensitive friend, ashamed of his
soiled clothes and wretched appearance,
refused to come at all until assured that
he need never see any of the women,
when he shuffied In after nightfall. like
a poverty-stricken tramp. For a week
he lay staring at the ceiling all day and
pacing the corridor at night, neither eat
ing nor sleeping, too utterly miserable
to respond to kindness or care. The thing
that first reused him, l verify believe,
was the sight of my old gingham apron.
He could not eat but presently l found
him with a corner of the apron clasped
in both hands and the tears rolling down
his face. II have seen my mother wear
one just like it," he said, land her hair
is gray like yours"
Memories of Mother.
What higher compliment can be paid
to a woman than to be told by a sick boy
that she reminds him of his mother.
Thank heaven, this one was unworldly
enough to cry like baby. The blue
devils fed before flood of healthy
tears, and from that hour his recovery
was rapid. The first time the two came
down to dine with "the family their
boyish delight was good to behold. To
be sure, there was nothing in the menu,
but the usual Red Cross and army
rations, but it was neatly served and
rendered attractive with light and cheer
full companionship. 1T is the first time
we have sat down to a table in four
months, said one. Actually forks and
spoonsr' exclaimed the other. "A table,
cloth and napkins, too!' chimed both to-
gether. 1t was not necessary to explain
that the tablecloth was the sheet of an
army cot and the napkins improvised
from an old cambria petticoat-they
served their humble purpose in the max
ing of a home as well as the finest da-
mask could have done.
Next to the young Michiganders, the
happiest boy / know in Santiago is Lieut..
Wise. He is only nineteen, but has been
promoted for gallantry and will go North
tomorrow True, for a month he has
been alternately burning and freezing
with calentura and looks like a walking
skeleton; but he explained to me how
lucky it was that his bad day" and
that of his aide, who also has the fever,
happens to come alternately, so that one
can relieve the other. You can afford
to be happy l said, because you are
going home"
"Of course, ! am glad to go home" he
replied, but l would not have missed
that fight with my men, nor all these ex-
periences in Santiago-not if l had to
leave my bones here!'
Perhaps the most interesting place in
town is the Red Cross headquarters. down
near the landing. l report there every
day, and can gain more varied informa-
ton there in an hour, on all manner of
subjects, than could be found elsewhere
in a week. To get materials for vol
umes, one has only to sit still and listen.
1t is a big bodega, or warehouse, fronting
the wharves, the lower floor used for
stable and store-rooms, the upper utilized
as offices and retiring rooms for Miss
Barton and her aides. From this place
forty thousand people are daily fed, and
half as many sick are gratuitously
treated-not by the actual issuing of food
and medicine from this bodega, but here
is located the engine, SO to speak, which