The age-herald., 1899-07-09

From the Jewish Chronicle.
 By the death of Madame Coralie Cahen nee Levy, at the age of G7 there has pass ed away a noble Jewess, who distinguished herself far beyond any of her country-wo- men in her devotion to the wounded during the Franco German war of 1870, and in oth- CT deeds of sef-sacrificing charity. Her record of phianthropic work is of surpass- ing interest, and found public recognition, though somewhat tardy, in France, to whose service she devoted herself with rare self-sacrfice The president of the republic conferred upon her the ribbon of the sLe- zion of Honor on New Years Day, 1889. This honor was not sought by the reeip- tent. Although Madame Cahen had ob- tained the Cross of the Legion of Honor for some of workers, she never sought nor wished any reward for herself. But in 1889, NJ. de Freycinet (then, as now, min ister of war) fount>at the ministry record of her magnificent services to her country, and in announcing the intention of the chief of the state to appoint her a Cheva- Her of the Legion of Honor, he said to her: q am indebted to my predecessors, who have left to me the pleasure and the hon. or of bestowing on you recompense so thoroughly and so long merited' A few DnOHluS pTGNiOuSlE, dS IOilOl 1iy PlVoltCLS of the Society des Danes Francaises, she tried even the proverbial politeness ofSher countrymen. After she had delivered 4 lec- ture before the society, Dr. Dussaussoy confessed that there was not in the French language a single word that could ade- quately express the intense admiration she had inspired. So, the usual compliment Of passing a vote of thanks to a lecturer was waived in her instance, and by not being formally thanked she received unique honor. Madame Cahen (nee Levy) married pr. Cahen, the chief medical officer of the Northen of France railway. Madame Ca hen had the misfortune to lose both her husband and her only son before the Franco-German war, and, having no 1m- mediate family ties, she determined to de- vote herself to charitable work. The fol- lowing sketch of her philanthropic work Is mainly derived from our own columns, and we need only add that during the last few years she devoted herself to the Jewish Refuge at Neuilly.
 Madame Cahens labors during the mem- orable war of 1S70-1 commenced in Metz, where she tended more than 300 wounded soldiers, remaining there until after it's capitulation With the entry of the Ger mans her connection with Metz came to an end; not so her work, which in her capaci- ty of vice. president of the Society for Aid ing the Wounded, she determined to con- tinue elsewhere. Having placed herself at the disposal of the Government of Nation- al Defence, she was requested to proceed to Vendome where, owing to the presence in the immediate neighborhood of large forces there would naturally be consider able number of wounded. She established herself in the lyceum. which she trans formed into hospital. During four months Madame Cahen. aided by two nurses and seven Christian Sisters of Mercy, received in her improvised hospital thousands of French and German soldiers; and there were days when she was called upon to tend as many as 800 men at the same t1me When the PrussiAns occupied Vendome' they made arrangements to take possession of the hospital, and plant on it the German flag. But they reekoned with out Madame Cahen. Warned of the enemy's intention this brave woman made her way early one cold morning in January to the Prussian general. who, surrounded by his stair, was about to seize the building. "Sir," she eX- claimed, i've have received your wounded, and nursed them as though they were our own: we will continue to do so, but we will remain a French ambulance; we will not have it converted into a German ambu- lance" Madame" was the generals re- ply, i've are masters" Tn the town, 1t may be; here nol' was the heroine's re- tort, i've are protected by the Red Cross and the French flag; you have no right to touch either the one or the other." Madame Cahen conquered, and from that day the utmost admiration was openly evinced for her by the Germans. When after the sig nature of peace, the medical staff were about to quit Vendome, the surgeon in chief asked leave to take a public farewell of the gallant French woman. Accom- panied by the military doctors placed un- der his orders, all of whom were, like him. self in full uniform, he addressed her in the following words: Madame, we cannot leave France without thanking you, not alone in the name of the German nation, but in the name of humanity We can never forget that you compelled us to yield in the face both of your patriotism and of your benevolence."
 The war was ended, but her ceaseless ac- tivity soon found scope for still noble deeds. The Prussian government had sent back to France considerable number of prisoners but there still remained beyond the frontier thousands of soldiers who were too III to be removed, or who were detained in German fortresses. To look after these unfortunate men was her next self-imposed mission. With tho least possible delay, Madame Cahen put herself en route for Berlin, bearing as her sole recommendation the letters of thanks she had earned for the attention heiEad bestowed on German officers and privates at yendome. These letters were the best credentials she could posSass Refore the Sister of C.hsrftv who