The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-15

She met Elizabeth Fry. the reformer.
who had done much for the betterment
Of conditions in English prisons. It WIS
by talking 10 this woman that Miss
Nightingale was attracted first to the
idea OF hospital work She spent nine
years visiting the continental cities and
studying their nursing slsterhoods. In
1851 she enrolled herself as a voluntary
nurse In the training home at Kaiser
werth, in Germany. Later ste studied
in a Paris hospital, but her health
broke down and she returned home to
Lea Hurst
The Crimean war started and II soon
became known IN England that the
enemy was nowhere near so dangerous
TO the British troops as were the endi-
tons OF the camps and the hospitals in
which the sick were put.
Takes Nurses Into Field.
Sir Sidney Herbert, at the head Of th>
war department. said it was a womans
task that had 10 be undertaken at the
Crimea. In 1854 she left with a party of
thirty-four nurses to take up the work.
The surgeons and oflc ers at first fought
her every effort. but she had the most
lion-hearted courage. and fought back.
BY dint OF her perseverance. and the real
and great good that every day made Il
clearer sch was accomplishing. she won
them all over
When once the luck turned in her IA
vor the British people could not do
enough 10 show how they delighted to
honor her. The reception on her return
would have been great and ostentatious
had not the woman. who heartily disliked
public show. managed 20 come back az
a time when she was not expected, and
under an assumed name But the Brit
ish people raised fund Of S250,O00 which
was given to her. This she accepted.
not for herself. but to apply It TO a
school for nurses which she established
In London.
Retires to WeII~earned Rest.
She superintendent the training school
for many years. but she retired in the
SOS to, take the rest that she had earned
Her life at her place in Derbyshire was
quiet. but not unevehtful. She had vlsi-
tors OF the most distinguished Sort and
all kinds OF persons made pIlgrimages
there to talk to her Americans. particu-
larly. liked 70 visit her because OF the
suggestions and advice she gave 10 the
nurses during the civil war were highly
appreciated.
Lord Salisbury. Mr. Gladstone. Joseph
Chamberlain. Sir Randolph Churchill
Cardinal Newman. Cardinal Manning
Lord Napier. T. de Witt Talmage. John
Bright, Henry Ward Beecher. Canon Far
rar. and a host OF others, visited her and
were intlmates or friends IN less degree
In 1901 she was sazetted as the recipient
Of the Order Of Merit for British sub
jects who have won conspicuous distinc-
tion In the naval OF military service or
IN letters. art. o. science She is sup
posed 20 have been the first woman 10 be
honored so. The next year she got the
freedom Of the city OF London. a rather
long-deferred honor. The only other
other woman who ever received the free
dom OF the city was the Baroness Bur
dett-Coutts. She was also one OF the
Order OF the Lady OF Grace OF ST John
OF Jerusalem.
Only recently on the occasion OF her
nlneueth birthday. King George sent her
a message Of congratulation. Her friends
had not told her Of the death Of King
Edward. fearing that the intelligence
would be too much OF a shock TO her
King Georges messages were read 20 her
as coming from THE King"