Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1907-05-03

of war and the surgeon-general
of the army-work that should be rec
ognized as the best and finest ever
done in it's especial line.
The women who were not members
of organizations before the outbreak
formed themselves with wonderful
promptness and efficiency into aid So
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-
garded as trifes-or not at all.
AS l 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 writers asking only
place to work in.
Some of the women were trained
nurses, some had the training of homo
care of the sick, some were wholly
inexperienced, all would give them
selves freely to the work If only
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 diet kitchen were
established here by volunteers, as at
one time seemed not unlikely to be-
come necessary. From the far north.
from our farthest south, from Califor-
mia, from our eastern coast, the oilers
came to me, and so l am sure there
must have been many others in other
| quarters.
A noble example of womanly pat
riotism was shown by the wives or
the officers and men of the regular
service. The women of the navy fam
lilies live in constant expectation OK
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 at
the outbreak of the war: How shall
we live that we may be worthy to bs
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 them,
and in the face of such trials we may
surely forgive them.
But too much cannot be said tE
praise of the women of the army fam
lilies, upon whom the terrible order tS
their men to go beyond the seas fell
, like a thunderbolt from clear sky
, The heats and droughts of Arizona
and New Mexico, the desolatioR of tho
Bad Lands" the biting cold at the fas
/, northern forts, the isolation of "onc
! company" posts, the separations from
q home and friends, they had borne un
COUlDldlHluSlyp Dul bhio "NS eAAN 80
a known. The tropical and pagan lanes
a were to those poor women regions ol
q mystery and dread which swallowed
up their protectors in forests ant
p jungles, leaving women and children
4 bereft of the comfort and support O
9 their strong and devoted companion
q ship. Small wonder If they blenches
# and shrank back appalled, at the pros
pect!
+. Yet complaint was rare aud ccuras'
!. and patience almost unfailsng. usu
V ally a semblance of hope and conn
h dence was maintained that sent thu
men out to their hard duty, cheeret
4. with the thought of the womenl
Il bravery and their ability to bear thu
r. burdens suddenly thrust uyon thei
% unaccustomed shoulders
D. Half the time you lose IL explainin'
a why things are not just right easil,
le might secure you an increase In sal
nd