Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-08-03
FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE.
Incident Which Made Her q Famous Nurs'
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At the close OF great war OF our
own, with a congress of the nations
in session whose object is to abolish
wars forever, with the English people
over the celebration of the
70 birthdays Of the woman who has
done more than any living creature
to rob war of some of its horror, 1t Is
interesting to recall the fact
that Florence Nightingale, old and
bedridden, is still potent factor in
modern philanthropic methods Of car
ing for the sick. Out of the darkened
room in London go words that have
q value perhaps not now intrinsic, be-
cause her methods are not modern
methods, but because they were ut
tered by Florence Nightingale, the
idolized angel Of the English hospitals,
the founder of the Red Cross Society
and the modern system Of trained
nursing.
More than three score years ago,
one pleasant summer day among tho
picturesque hills of Derbyshire, Eng,
two equestrian figures might have
been seen cantering idly along, laugh
ing and chatting or stopping to look
out over some particularly picturesque
stretch of landscape. One figure, on
a smart pony, was that of very
young girl, almost a child; the other
was that of an elderly man, clerical
in appearance and manner. The sweet,
pale face of the little girl was one
that would attract attention only
among those to whom spiritual beauty
is the highest type of loneliness.
All Of this was unthought by tho
merry two who guided their way
through the oaks and naples and
birches. Suddenly the little girls
chatter was silenced. In the distance
she saw an old Scotch shepherd labor
iously looking after the sheep.
"Why Roger, where is your dog?"
asked the child as they rode up to
him, and the old fellow, taking off his
hat, wagged his head mournfully.
Hes done for, missy, and Pm that
set to about 1t | scarce know what to
do. You see, the boys were throwing
stones, and some of them hit him.
I'm thinking of putting him out Of his
misery tonight, for his legs broken,
and he'll never be of use agin."
"Poor Capt" said the girl, the tears
coming to her gray eyes, for the dog
had been one of her closest friends.
"Oh. Roger DO tell me where he is"
"You can't do any good, missy" the
ola shepherd said, sorrowfully. "But
he's lying in the shed, over there"
The old vicar, whose companion she
sometimes was, as today, on visits to
the poor, followed her to the shed,
where she was soon kneeling beside
the moaning animal, soothing and ca
ressing It.
as there nothing we can do for
him?" she asked, looking up at the
vicar, who was something Of physi-
clan and had been hastily examining
the wounded leg.
ut isn't broken--only swollen" he
said, judiciously. "What 1t needs Ia
the application Of hot congresses"
IF youth tell me how, I'm sure !
could attend to It. I'm 30 fond OF
Cap, you know" she pleaded through
her tears.
The vicar did explain, and that sum-
mer afternoon Florence Nightingale
undertook her first case The dog got
better, and Miss Florence OF the Hall
achieved such a reputation as a nurse
that when bird was found with h
broken wing or dog or a cat was
hurt messenger would beesent for
| the young girl, who, dropping every.
! thing, would hasten away to soothe or
heal iF t
: On so small thing as the thought
less cruelty Of some country boys a
shepherds dog did the career Of Flor
ence Nightingale turn. Her father, a
man of wealth and gentle birth, was
proud OF her talents and brain, and
she was educated thoroughly in lines
in which even today well bred young
ladies are not required to attain pro.
tlcjency. She spoke several languages