The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1910-09-29

months all filth and disorder had
vanished and cleanliness and order
were in evidence everywhere. At
tendance to the patients was car
ried on IN a much more systematic,
intelligent, and efficient manner. |
Florence Nightingale was not
contented to work untiringly and un-
complainingly through the day, but
at night when the other nurses were
asleep, completely fatigued from the |
days work, she could be seen NOV
ing like some guardian angel from
cot to cot with her night lamp in her
hand, making sure that all was we'll
and that none Of the patients were |
wanting for anything. 1t was this
selfsacrifcing performance on her
part that inspired our beloved poet,
Longfellow, to write The Lady With
the Lamp:
Low in that house of misery
A lady with lamp / see
Pass through the glimmering gloom
And fit from room to room.
And slow, as in dream of bliss
The speechless sufferers turn to kiss
Her shadow as it falls
Upon the darkening walls"
In 1855 she went to Balaklava
to endeavor to bring order out of
the chaos in the wretched hospital
conditions there. A few days after
her arrival at Balaklava she was tax
en- with Crimean fever. The news
of the illness was received atScutari
and London with distressing anxiety.
Her biographer tells us that the sick
men in the barracks hospital turned
their faces to the wall and wept like
children upon learning of her affiic-
ton. After two weeks prostration
she was sufficiently recovered to be
removed to Scutari, and few weeks
later returned to England.
On her return to England, in
August 1856, she went to her home
at Lea Hurst. There was great ex-
citement when it became known that
she was home. Great crowds of
people blocked the streets in the
vicinity of Lea Hurst, anxious to
show their appreciation of her noble
services. Queen Victoria received
her at Balmoral and personally pre-
sented her with a beautiful jewelled
ornament. A fund of $3.50, 100000
was raised as popular testimonial,
but was graciously declined by the
heroine. At her suggestion the mon
ey was devoted to the establishment
of school for training nurses, and
was called the Nightingale Fund, Of
which she became one of the admin
istrators.
i When the war for the Union broke
out in 1861, Florence Nightingale
was consulted by the United States
Government and through her interest
and advice the formation of the Red
Cross societies was begun-the So
cieties which have since done SO
much to relieve suffering on the bat
. tie fields. In 1907 King Edward
conferred upon her the Order of
Merit, the highest distinction it was
within his power to give. In 1908
she received the freedom of the city
of London, the only time it was ever
granted to woman.
Charity. sympathy, love to your
neighbor,
A comforting hand when he's
bowed down in strife;
Patience with those who are weary
from labor,
These are the joy-giving Spirits
of Life.
} Charity, sympathy, love, patience
r these were the spirits with which
the heart, soul and mind of Florence
: Nightingale were completely satu-
rated. It was of these spirits thai
) she constantly supped, until she
swayed in a stupor of blissful con.
: tentment-drunk with the happiness
) obtained only through partaking oi
Z the peace-g giving Spirits of Life By
3 unseltishly administering unto ths
: wants of the needy. Such were the
e spirits that produced the Heavenl,
Iintoxication Of her soul during hel
long, noble life on earth.
e1 (Continited N colssmn this pace.y