Manchester Democrat., 1909-11-24
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Nurse
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On the lawn of Riverside Drive,
amid the boom of cannon, surround
ed by vast multitude of people and
with her hand holding the flap of
hospital tent, nurse stood with her
eyes transfixed on the nearest bat
tleship, as the guns of the flagship Of
the American Squadron announced
the appearance of the naval parade
which began the Hudson.Fulton cele-
bration on Saturday, September 25th,
1909. How the blood tinged her
cheeks, and how her grip tightened,
as she beheld the flashes and heard
the reports of those weapons of war
now being used for better purposes
but which, nevertheless, awakened
In her breast acute memories
rowful, soulracking visions, of anoth-
er pageant, equally as sublime, and at
the same time, more interesting to
her than the review of the ships
about to pass.
Born below Mason and Dixon's
line, and blessed with that gracious
ness which has made our Southern
women known the world over, Fran.
ces Kathers was, through the early
training received at the hands Of
humble parents, imbued with those
attributes of loyalty and principle
which made Kentucky famous for the
"even-divide," which cognomen it re.
ceiyed during the Civil War. Per-
haps it was from her father, native
Df that state, that she inherited those
auburn locks; but, surely, it was from
The maternal side whence came the
trankness of expression, which i'm.
bued her listeners with sense OF
justice-a lover of truth.
AS the naval demonstration hove in
sight, some one of the spectators
filled with enthusiasm, and carried
away with attendant excitement, ibe.
gan humming the air of our National
anthem: "My Country, tits of Thee"
At times we are placed in positions
Of admiration; the environments, the
day, THE getting away from ones self,
he glory, and the acknowledgment
which we desire to express, forces us
10 accept the most wholesome means
at hand, which, on this particular oc-
casion, took the form of song. What
beautiful tribute to the American
flag; the starry banner which should
mean so much, and which would
mean every uplifting tendency under
the sun, If the spirit of the occasion
were practically exemplified from
time to time, individually, as was in
tended by the Congress which adopt
ed the emblem.
During the singing of the second
stanza of this most popular Ameri-
can air, Miss Kathers, turned pale,
her hold on the tent flap relaxed, and
she reeled and would have fallen but
for the assistance Of a policeman,
who conducted her to a chair within
the tent. She begged to be left alone,
and in reply to questions from SYM
pathizers, said the ailment was of
passing moment,-a tritling faintness.
It seems cruel how the irresisti-
Bile Law of fate inexorably forces hui
man beings to live over again those
narrowing experiences which, in part,
go to make up their positions in life.
The public which witnessed that dem
pnstration of fealty, received a new
impetus to greater things; but the
nurses mind lived over again one of
rhe earlier trials of her life, the in
cident which was responsible, in a
measure, for the white cap and apron
which clothed her so becomingly.
While in boarding school, in one
Of our Southern. cities, she had her
lavorite friends, without whom, living
Tar from home and all that it means,
school life would lose some of its
charm. Among this class, she counted
rs her one choice, Miss Vincent.
They knew each others secrets;
their little primitive affairs of the
heart were mutual; spring time saw
Them hand in hand through the wood
land of joy; each succeeding sum-
mer's days sun seemed to increase
their youthful happiness; but, like
US all, their fall OF discontentment
and winter of adversities had to be
accepted in this vale of tears.
Among their acquaintances was a
scholar at the Military Academy, a
few miles distant, sensible looking
chap. devoid of those characteristics
one observes among the> indolent
rich; the kind OF fellow to whom
you like to bid the time of day, in
order to hear his response; a person
who answers to the title of a good
mixer, without getting his name in
the parish book for over doing 1t;
the man who does things as attested
by the roster of his class, now draped
in his memory. I b
The girls being inseparable com
panions, took especial delight in at
tending the social affairs under the
supervision Of chaperon, at the in
stitution where Curtis Lyons, oul
young scholar, studied. 1t, however
became evident to Miss Vincent tina
a stronger attachment existed be
tween her girl friend and the cade
than she appreciated.
While on visit for the first tint
to neighboring town, did you eve
meet, at the close of church service,
on Sunday, one of those dear people
who comes up to you with outstretch
ed hand, greets you cordially, ant
tried to make you welcome, ant
knocks the whole reception into ;
cooked hat by the recitation of the
biography OF some of the inhabitants
a person who tried to be agreeable
but who seldom succeeds, for wan
Of tact? Such a person was Mis-.
Vincent. The misuse Of her charms
retarded anything more than friend
ship with Mr.. Lyons.
Some people are wonderful sports
men while on the winning side; take
the game in Wall street. and you will
see some OF the poorest losers in the