The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-08-24
"a Ministering Angel ThOu!'

The truth of Scott's couplet about
woman:
When pain and anguish wiring the brow
mnistering angel thou"
has been exemplfied in many instances
during the present war, especially un.
der the ministrations of that noble Or
ganization of women, the Red Cross
society, under the leadership of that
Christly woman, Miss Clara Barton.
The Florence Nightingales of the Cri-
mean war, and Mother Bickerdykes of
the civil strife in this country have
found their counterparts in this day and
generation, as they had their proto-
types in all the age of recorded history.
One of the more notable instances of
this spirit of self-sacrifce and devotion
to the sick and suffering engaged in
good cause is that of Miss Adele Gardi-
ner of New York city, the heiress of
millions and one of the most accom-
plished and best known among the So
ciety women of the great metropolis.
When the war began Miss Gardner
gave up all pleasure and luxuries that
money can provide, Joined the Red
Cross society and sailed for Cuba. Her
opportunities for service at the front at
Santiago were abundant and she never
once complained or hesitated in their
performance. But the great opportu-
nifty for service came when she was as
signed to accompany the sick and
wounded OF our army on that pesti-
lence laden transport the Concho.
Without the necessary medicines or
medical appliances, in the midst of
scenes from which the stoutest hears
would revolt, surrounded with patients
afflicted with loathsome diseases, this
delicately nurtured woman, accustomed
to all the refnements incident to wealth
and social position, went among the
suffering committed in part to her care
without hesitation, filed with divine
pity for the sufferers, animated by the
spirit which controlled the earthly life
of her Lord and Master, aanctifying by
her presence and gentle loving deeds a
duty that would have appalled, any but
brave, womanly and Christ like soul.
The story of her service is thus told
by the of the victims of that Inflated
transport:
She never rested. If she had an
hours sleep while she was on the Con-
cho no one knew it. ! have seen her
at work at six o'clock in the morning,
and when Iawoke at twelve or one at
night she was still looking after the
suffering men. When 1 got better l
tried to help her, but gave out, rough
soldier that l was, after half day of
the work that she, a delicate girl, did
untiringly for ten days. would not
have done what she did for the whole
island of Cuba. She washed and fed
and dressed the men and cooked for
them, and gave them the little medi-
cine she could get. She broke down
and cried when the fellows died and
when they were buried at sea, and
when she said good-by to us when she
left the ship she cried again, and when
the men, sick and all, cheered her she
cried harder than ever. I've heard
she's one of the first society women in
New York. 1 never thought there
were any like her in it. wonder what
the rest of them would have done if
they'd been in the same room with three
corpses for thirty.six hours, in filthy,
foul-smelling ship"
The story is told in plain and homely
phrase, but the most brilliant orator
that ever paid tribute to womanly cour-
age, pity and compassion, the most
graphic writer that ever related a story
of heroic daring, could add nothing to
this record of sublime heroism, of q
self abnegation almost divine.
And when this grand and gentle soul
shall receive her reward in the pres
ence of Him,whose commands she obey
ed, whose example she followed, her
deeds and tears upon that voyage will
not be the least of the jewels in the
rightful crown that awaits her.-St.
Adams Messenger.