The new era., 1910-10-27

HE funeral Of Florence Nightin-
gale, as described by Lon
don correspondent, was an ex-
ceedingly simple one. The
cofiln, covered with Miss
Nighnngale's white cashmere shawl.
was taken from South street and con-
veyed to Waterloo. The coffin was
carried to the train by Grenadier.
Coldstream and Scots guards The
procession reached East Wellow at
three o'clock. Rev. 8. M. Watson and
Rev. T. G. Gardiner officiated at the
grave. The mourners here were re-
stricted to relatives of Miss Nightin-
gale-Doctor and Mrs. Shore Nightin-
gale. Mr.. and Mrs. Louis Shore Night
id9ale. Mr.. and Mrs. Vaughan Nash,
Sir Harry Verney, and one who bore
the honored name Of Arthur Hugh
Clough.
The death of this remarkable wom-
An at the age of ninety-seven marks
an era. Her intelligence was insep-
arabic with an intense interest in the
alleviation of human suffering. This,
at the early age of twenty-one. led her
to give attention to the condition Of
hospitals. Like John Howard before
her. she started upon "circumnavi-
Cation Of charity" visiting and in
specting the civil and military hos
pitals all over Europe. With the Sis
ters of Charity in Paris she studied
the system Of nursing and manage
ment in the French hospitals. and her
self went into training seven years
1nx~ In %h4 inc {f,,t{o of
Protestant Deaconesses at Kaisers-
werth. Returning to England. she put
into thorough working order the sana-
torium for governesses in connection
with the London institution. The term
OF apprenticeship, which thus served
as an unconscious preparation for her
life work, extended over a decade of
years.
When in the spring of 1854 war
was declared with Russia, British
army of twenty-five thousand men en-
barked for the scene of the conflict.
The battle of Alma was fought Sep
tember 20, and the wounded and sick
were sent to the rude hospitals pre-
pod for them on the banks of the
Bosphorus. These were soon over
Gro bed and their unsanitary condi-
ton was such that the rate of NOR
tally far exceeded that Of the fiercest
and bloodiest battle itself.
1t was at this great crisis that Miss
Nightingale offered to organize at
Scutari nursing department upon the
latest sanitary basis. and Lord Her
bert. then of the war Office. gladly
accepted the offer. Within week.
October 21, she actually was on the
way with her band of nurses. and ar
rived in Constantinople November 4.
on the eve of Inkerman and at the be-
ginning Of the famous and terrible
winter of that disastrous campaign.
She found the wounded, from that
second battle filing the wards with
$500 patients. and during that criti-
cal period she exhibited devotion
to her work and to the comfort Of the
sufferers that has passed into history
as one Of the most remarkable ex-
hibitions of self-oblivious love that
the world has ever recorded. This
grand woman stood for twenty hours
out Of the twenty-four to see the
wounded and sick provided with
every accommodation and comfort
that was possible in their condition.
In the spring Of 1855, while in the
Crimea organizing the nursing depart
mont of the camp hospitals. her un-
tiring toll and undertaking labors
brought on prostrating fever.
Nevertheless. she refused to leave her
post. Slowly recovering. she stayed
ct scutari until, in 1855. the British
evacuated Turkey on July 2s. She
aaved not only the health but the life