Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-07-12

of them was at work and cbipped off a
bit of the window sash near her. The
messhouse of the Second Reserve nurses
was also struck by the flying bullets,
though fortunately they, too. escaped
without any damage.
1t is in the general hospitals, where
the sick and wounded receive perma-
nent attention, that woman's power to
be useful in war shines like a steady
star above sea of suffering. The very
atmosphere that surrounds these nufses
is soothing and cleansing. | have noted
a tremble and buskiness in the voices
of strong men as they told of what they
had seen these gentle, strong women
accomplishing. To begin, they are spot
women who cannot put aside the
thought of sex are not wanted in the
trained nurses profession.
Fortunately for womankind, the ladies
sent here have been almost without ex
ception of the highest and most digni
fed character morally, and they have
been refined and intelligent ladies be-
sides. In truth, the American women
most honored in Manila today are some
of these same army nurses. The sight
of one of Them, with her fair, delicate
skin. her pretty head. shining clean,
her gentle voice and snowy apron and
cuffs, is of itself enough to hearten d
man up and make him think of those
dear women at home who are thinking
of him and praying for him always
the soldiers would die ten times over
for some of these gentlewomen here. |
know
Through the most terrible and ghast-
ly operations the trained nurse stands,
her nerves under perfect control, her
thought fixed steadily on her patient
and the surgeons directions. She does
not finch or pale; she does not weaken;
she does not even weary till her time
comes for going off duty, and she asks
no favors professionally because she is
woman. 1t is agreeable to know that
these deserving women have been treat
ed socially with high consideration in
Manila. Citizens of the best standing
show them all the graceful social at
tentions they have time to accept,
which however are not many The
army nurse is on duty from { lie
morning till the noon hour, then asdin
in the afternoon till 6 O'Clock, often
later. After that she goes home and
rests for the beginning of another day.
Such is her life, week in and week out,
with rarely an afternoon off to attend
to errands outside. 1t is no child's play.
you see, and no woman except a strong.
healthy one, regularly trained in the
schools, is fit for it. Let no other kind
be sent by Red Cross societies or any
body else.
OF women like these the world CAN
not have too many. in the States or
elsewhere. OF the other kind; the fool
ish, sputtering, fidgeting, SO called
sympa thetic woman. who goes buzZing
around like a crazy bumblebee-of her
there are far toe many in the States and
in Manila. Some of her kind have pene-
trated here, even to the battlefield and
the dressing stations. She has no sense
of the fitness Of things, desiring only
TO show off her miscalled womanly
sympathy. Where a wounded man lies
perhaps III mortal agony, with a bullet
in his lungs, his eye glazing and the
death damp upon his brow, she skips
up like an animate jumping jack. shout
ing shrilly: Cant 1 do something for
you: Do tell me if there isn't anything
| can do for you!'
Miss Smythe of the California Red
Cross society is lady who has done
admirable work here. Of women nurses
of all classes, there have
been 81, but two returned to the
States on account OF i'll health. The
health of most of them, however, is ex