Grand Forks daily herald., 1914-11-09
NOBLE women IN.
RANKS AS NURSES
England Praises Work Be-
ing Done by Nobility on
the Field of Battle.

guished Red Cross nurse In England
is Miss Agnes Keyser, ketter known
as "Sister Agnes" the founder of that
notable institution in Grosvenor Gar
dens known as King Edward VII.
hospital for sick and wounded off,
GERS.
1t was OH the advice and with the
assistance Of the late kind that Miss
Keyser started the hospital. Miss Key
who enjoyed the close friendship Of
the late king and royal family gen.
orally. He died during the Boer war
and bequeathed to his daughter $685.
900.
Miss Keyser was then only about %
years of age and was one of the
most attractive and accomplished girls
in society. At the time of her fathers
death it was reported that she was
then fighting in South Africa. Wheth-
er this report was true or not, the
officer was killed in action and Miss
Keyser shortly afterwards decided to
retire from society and devote her.
self to the nursing profession.
Idea of King Edward.
Her intention became known, to
Queen Alexandra and an invitation
to Miss keyser to come to afternoon
Queen Alexandra then informed her
that King Edward thought it would
be good idea if she started a hospi-
tai for wounded and sick officers in
London; many officers were. then in
London invalided from South Africa
and there was A general complaint
among them of the lack Of such in
stitutions. Nursing homes there were,
of course, in plenty, but the best of
them were quite beyond officers Of
small means, and none were liked by
army men in general. King Edwards s
idea was to form a hospital eXclu-
sively for officers and free to all who
could not afford to pay. Rich army
men received in the institution would
naturally be expected to make pay
ment towards it's expenses and up
keep. but the amount was matter
to be left to the generosity of the
patient.
Miss Keyser had several objections
to offer to the royal suggestion. She
was altogether too young and mex
perienced to embark on such an en-
terprise to start with. She was then
only just 22; her whole available
capital amounted to about $125,0OO
and that would scarcely be sufficient
to start and keep the hospital going;
finally, Miss keyser doubted that
such an enterprise. under her direc-
ton. could ever be q success, as she
had few friends and no relations
among influential military people.
But all Miss Keyser's objections
were overcome by the then king. She
went into a London hospital for six
months training, and while there the
late king and Queen Alexandra chose
large house in Grosvenor Gardens,
where forty patients could be accom-
modated.
There are. by the way. several
which the undertaking was financed.
There is no doubt at all that it was
King Edwards original intention to
finance the whole concern out of his
own pocket and to appoint Miss Key
ser as matron in charge; that this
was done is certain. Miss Keyser
certainly sank n great deal of her
own money in starting the institution
and the house in Grosvenor Gardens
and the whole Of the hospital equip
ment is hers. At all events both the
house and the equipment were pur-
chased in her name, but 1t is proba-
BILE that King Edward supplied some
Of the money.
Miss Keyser is undoubtedly in con-
troll of the institution, but it is equally
certain that the late king and Queen
Alexandra had something to say as
to the management of the hospital
and so have the present monarch and
Queen Mary. But whatever arrange
ments in regard to the ownership Of
the hospital may exist between Sister
Agnes and the king, there Is no ques.
ton at all that it owes its success
to Miss Keyser. 1t is no exaRgeration
to say that Miss Keyser. is one Of the
most capable women in England. She
possesses o genius for organization,
is most tactful parsonage, and has
a charming and delightful personal
ity.
One Of her first patients was Lord
kitchener. This was shortly after the
Boer war, when he had q bad attack
OF influenza when in London. Lord
Kitchener made a bad patient, the
nurses stood fearfully in awe of him,
but Miss Keyser did not. When the
OF getting up one day before his tenn
ser forbid him to do so.
II am not accustomed to be ordered
not ofdo a thing that I intend to do,
Miss Keyser,", explained Lord Kitche~
ners m r ,rf +
j, y am not accustomed to allow peo-
pie here to do anything that don't
intend they shall do" replied Sister
Agnes, and she IL probably the only
person who has ever successfully de-
fed the man who just now IL lord
and master Of the English people.
When Lord Kitchener left the hos
pdtal the sentence he wrote in the