The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-10-25
Miss Edith Cavell Could
Have Saved Self" Says
Friend.
MISS TODD TELLS STORY
English Writer Says Woman Executed
, by Germans Had Love Of
Fair Play.

New York. Oct 24.-Miss Dorothy
Todd. Of London. weil-known English
writer. was a next door neighbor in
Brussels for three years of Miss Edith
cayell Miss Todd now is living at No.
bZ Washington square south, and she
was greatly distressed when she read
OF the death of her friend. Today she
spoke most lovingly of Miss CavelI,
whom she described as a rather prim.
severe-looking little woman, very pre-
else in her manner and Conversation,
very reserved with strangers, but true
olue to the core and very lovable
| when one got to know her we'll Miss
Cavell, she said. was about 4s years
I old and devoted the larger part or
her life to nursing.
One more name has been added to
the roll of honor OF unpretenious he
rolsm In this abominable conflict"
said Miss Todd. The sacrifice of the
life of Miss Edith Cavell. principal OF
the 1nstitut des Infirmieres Belges,
founded by DR.. Depage. at No. 70 Rue
de Ia Culture. Brussels. was made
with all the calm and carefully
weighed decision characteristic Of the
woman, and assuredly stands for the
highest form of human courage.
/ Hers was no act of wild exultation
performed on the field of battle or in a
moment Of stress. but a steady, continu-
Gus facing Of the issue OF death for the
sake Of two principles which command
respect In nearly every decent human
heart-the savage not excepted-succor
TO the oppressed and loyalty to ones
KIND. When lately a German spy, a man
and soldier. was on trial in England for
his life. thrill OF terror and pity swept
over the country--he VAS so game; he
only did what he could for his own land
one heard on every side. Even the lowest
Of Englishmen doffs his cap TO courage
Life of Noble Deeds.
Miss Cavell was not even a SLY. but
the Moloch OF Belgium knew no pity: his
arm fell on the frall little BODY of the
English nurse-a dangerous foe indeed
for this mighty machine-and J. who
knew her so WELL know with Just what
quiet dignity and contempt she must have
faced her ungenerous Judge.
"on the edge of the Plain of Bercken-
dael stood the big white clinic De Page, |
to which all the urgent private surgical |
cases In Brussels were brought. Facing |
II, some two hundred yards distant, . |
row of quaint little Belgian houses: three |
of these had been knocked together and
formed the Ecole des Infirmaries Belges. |
Miss Cavel worked day and night be-
tween the two.
During the three years that knew
her Miss Cavell was one OF the hardest
worked women in Brussels. Her school
was the first of its kind In the Belgian
capital, and from under her personal
supervision went forth the first and only
Belgian representative of the art of ade-
quate)y trained nursing in that city. Tn
til its inauguration the care of the sick
had been entirely in the hands of a few
nuns, insufficient in number and capacity
The only alternative was body OF ne'er-
do-wells who had chosen this profession
as a last resource-yeritable Mrs. Camps
a terror to patients and physicians alike
Miss Cavell saw the urgency of her
mission and worked without respite. III
never knew her to go down .
town-we Plain jewellers called all the |
part OF the city downtown !
except to church. All her other spare I
hours, not devoted to actual rest was {
spent in cheering the poorer patients and
the acts Of kindless and the d
generous gifts from her own pocket. to :
these both during their sojourn and after b
their dismissal from the home. Il
Could sot Lie TO Snve Life.
TO those of us who counseled some a
saving OF her vitality she would reply. I a
have no family of my own; to whom else 4
should l give my love and care n
'As is often the case with a certain n
ype OF much misunderstood successful I
Executive English woman. Miss Cavell, :
lnder rather stifT manner. had the h
of generous hearts. re- q
member a typical case OF young II
ervant employed in her own home. y
his girl after one weeks stay in her 81
ew place came under an accusation r.
4 theft from her old employer All
he nurses who had hitherto been so N
the girl told me. shrugged .
heir shoulders and turned away z
'nly Miss Cavell. of whose somewhat =
tern manner she had hitherto stood :,
n dread, promised an impartial in .
estigation.
I'm the face of the most damning =
ircumstantial evidence this wonan's {,
Inherent sense of fair pIay-take heed. u
GU judges that condemned her for
n act of love!-refused to accuse s.