Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-08-22

IIOEIugu tuEulhCiNOD WA~~-
! promptness and efficiency into aid 20
cieties under various titles and DID
faithful and valuable work. they
sewed through the long hours OF hot
summer weather; they wrote letters;
they offered themselves as nurses,
some of them FIRST qualifying them
selves for the latter work by severe
courses Of hospital training-severe
because hurried, the usual instruction
being crowded into few weeks with
no allowance, such as is usually made
| for rest and recreation.
One Of the loveliest Of their. many
gracious deeds was the visiting. com.
forting. providing for the families OF
the men who were gone to the front"
Hot and cold, dust and rain they re-
9arded as trifes-or not at all.
A I was then living near one OF the
hospital centers, at Fort Monroe, the
letters that came to me were number.
less. They came from all parts OF
the country, their writer's asking only
place to work in.
Some of the women were trained
nurses, some had the training OF home
care Of the sick, some were wholly
inexperienced, all would give them
selves freely to the work II only q
place might be found where they could
serve. Young women Of the highest
social position, descendants OF royal
ancestors. volunteered to me to DO
kitchen work If a diet kitchen were
established here by volunteers, as a.
one time seemed not unlikely to De.
come necessary. From the far nortns
from our farthest south, from Califor'
MIA. from our eastern coast, the oners
came to me, and SO I am sure there
must have been many others In otner
quarters.
A noble example Of womanly pat
rfotism was shown by the wives OF
the officers and men OF the regular
service. The women 81 the navy fam
lilies live in constant expectation OF
being left with all the care and re-
sponsibility of those families when
the men are ordered to sea" and
were in a measure prepared, their
courage and patience seem unfailing
and their spirit was well expressed by
the words of the wife Of our great
naval commander, who wrote to me az
the outbreak Of the war: How snail
we live that we may be worthy TO be
the wives Of these brave men!" That
seemed their only thought. The
weak, the selfish, the craven were SO
few that we need not count tnem'
and in the face of such trials we may
surely forgive them.
But too much cani1ot be said In
praise of the women of the army FAM
lilies, upon whom the terrible order to
their men to go beyond the seas fell
like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
The heats and droughts of Arizona
and New Mexico, the desolation OF the
Bad Lands" the biting cold at the far
northern forts, the isolation OF one
company" posts, the separations from
home and friends, they had borne un-
complainingly, but this was the un-
known. The tropical and pagan LANDS
were to those poor women regions OF
mystery and dread which swallowed
up their protectors in forests and
jungles, leaving women and children
bereft of the comfort and support or
their strong and devoted companion
ship Small wonder If they blenched
and shrank back appalled, at the pros
pect!
Yet complaint was rare and courage
and patience almost unfailing. Usu-
ally semblance of hope and conf
dence was maintained that sent the
men out to their hard duty, cheered
with the thought of the women's
bravery and their ability to bear the
burdens suddenly thrust upon their
unaccustomed shoulders
The days went on and the sick and
wounded began to return to the walt
ing hearts which had sent them forth
with such anguished prayers.
It Is hard to tell without invading
sacred privacy how those women
bore themselves as they waited, but
venture to speak of one who waited at
Fort Monroe for the incoming trans
port which was bringing her husband.
She only knew that he was wounded,
possibly blinded. She had filled US all
with admiration Of her courage and
her gentle breeding as she waited, y
and when the ship came in and the
men were being landed and she stood
on the dock, still waiting, all hearts
melted as her husband, much less IN
iured than we had feared from all
reports, stepped up unseen behind
her and spoke her name Then the
soreiy strained nerves at last gave
way and she fell at his feet In
swoon. The courage and patience OF
such women came from no lack OF
feeling keen and deep.
may also speak Of one who. dying
on the day Of San Juan hill. when her
child vne born. uttered no murmurs