Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-24

perb physical condition. He has been off all
liquors for some months, and so responds
readily to stimulants. His blood is clean.
and he breathes the best of air. Give him
half chance and he will Chamber up again
hand over fist.
Then. all animal reeds satisfied, some of
them wanted to send word home, and that
was d full mornings job.
The usual form ran:
Dear Mother-Just a few lines to tell
you 1 was hit at Paardeberg on February
IS, when we fought Cronje. I was hit in
such-and-such a place, but please do not
worry about me, as l am coming all
right. 1t was bit hard in the carts. but l
am lying in bed in the train here, and We
are all going down to the hospital and l
am quite comfortable, and l shall be all
right in a few weeks, SO please do not wor-
ry about me, because l am all right and
doing WE'LL
Their first thought in every instance was
that she should not worry. One MANA
Celt, be sure-launched into some dcScrip-
ton of the fight q saw him later at Wyn-
berg covering sheets and sheets, and few
others had business matters to adjust; but
for the bulk the word. the assurance and
the message of love sufficed.
Remember, it was not the army that you
and | know, but the army of the people,
heavily laced with reservists, family folk
who have Riddles and businesses over the
sea. Blacksmiths. gardeners, club porters
ard small shopkeepers We're among those
as admirable as their spirit.
A Composite Picture.
One man only of all that train broke
down-and small blame to him. He was a
badly shotten "luuger,'' and there seemed
no way to make him easy, sitting lying.
He got out his home photos-the little tin
t:Ie one carries in the inside pocket-and
the cruel home sickness atop of the pain
took him and broke him for minute or
two. I think he had come out of some
well ordered country house, for he returned
to the manner of lodge porter in his talk.
There were quiet men, deeply concerned
for the probable loss of a working arm;
there were miidly-Ch, so mildly,-riotous
men, who staggered about visiting from
bunk to bunk: there Were funny men, worth
their weight in silver to the ward; there
were angry men brooding over that last
shot which stretched them and meditating
revenge there were just men. admitting
that their enemy up in Il tree had sighted
more quickly than they, but my section
got him with four bullets, and he came
down like a pheasant. sir there were
silent men, breathing quickly. counting
| each turn of the wheels, and there were
doubling ThOmases who needed particular
| information about Wynberg Hospital.
l heard good deal of all sorts but l did
not hear one word of complaint.
Not II Whimper Heard.
| So it is in the base hospital. From at
| least 1000 wounded met at Rondebosch and
Wynberg under fairly intimate circum-
stances, orderlies out of earshot and the
talk running free, l did not gather one
whimper
A badly hit manufacture or stomach-is,
of course, glad he is going home-till the
steamer comes round. Then he is not SO
| pleased.
A slightly wounded man takes all the
ward to witness that SO soon as he is
mended wild horses won't keep him away
| from his family. Ten days later he is lying
lying like a SkirmSh line under pom pom
hospitals have their own esprit de corps,
| and tents are proud to be able to say they
are all going back.
But our boys wanted rest before all
| things; and Number Three hurried them to
| it, Our little world on Wheels had hardly
| come to know Itself when we were halfway
home
little letter writing; small Smoker
| between two cool windows where wounded
colonies and subalterns met in pajamas and
| talked over good men killed, while the idle
ravenous meal or two (Which will you
ave sir? Steak rissole?" Oh, both.
| I've been dreaming of steaks since Jacobs
dal!D; another and an easier night and
| waiting hooded ambuances, a good yoad
and Number One and Two Hospitals jast
| round the corner
Once more the business of the stretchers,
| the tally of fractures and perforations, the
| whispered cautions and the louder words of
good cheer.
| 1t is not in the official bond, but Number
| Three's staff, a little worn with night
| watching, dusty and heavy eyed, will see
| the boys UP to their beds. They know
/ every one of the cases now, and word or
| two in season will be profitable.
| In an hour Number Three stands empty
| and stripped. Blankets. sheets and bedding
must be renewed; a hundred things 20 to
| the wash, and they swish and swill the
| floors.
| Tomorrow night its work begins again