New Britain herald., 1915-11-10
DR. TRAVIS TELLS
 OF LIFE IN SERBIA
New Britain Physician Is We'll,
 Happy and Very Busy.


 scribed first hand by Dr. Catherine A. Travis of this city in long letter to her sister, Miss Minnie Travis of St. John, New Brunswick. Dr. Travis l is connected with the Baby hospital in Nish, or was the last heard from 1 her. During her brief residence in the vortex of the European whirl- pool, Dr. Travis has had many exclt- ing and interesting experiences, all at the cost of great personal discomfort and inconvenience, as the travelling accommodations are far below what comfort-loving Americans are accus- toned to enjoy.
 Dr. Travis speaks highly of the brave physicians and nurses who have gone out from America to wage a humane war, a constructive rather than a destructive battle. The letter follows:
 Nish, Serbia, Sept. IS.
 My Dear MI tell you it's lone- some here, and I chase after letters unavailingly. day after day-when I have the time.
 I have been at work most of the past week and feel quite we'll again. I saw pr. Castellani today--the good man who came a nights trip to sec me when I was ill and helped me to health again. He is a very famous physician, an Italian and a courtly gentleman. Though I feel so we'll he has suggested that I take a little holiday; as Dr. Taylor-Jones leaves in about 8 week, am planning to go to Belgrade-or Beograd, as it is here for three days this coming week. Dr. Ryan who did C,,ob v,opd prfu1 work during the typhus epidemic, and be- fore and after it. too, in the Ameri- can Red Cross hospital, has invited me to spend the time there.
 Sept 20-I think-Monday anyhow; calendars are scarce articles here; l keep straight by my Line-a-Day book, but haven't it with me. l am at Bel grade-came off in hurry last night, wishing I had come the night before, when Dr. Ryan and two other Amer ican doctors came up. I'd have had Sunday here in addition to three other days. I had rather tedious trip up; as the light is very dim I couldn't read. I started at D. m. There IS no real sleeper on the train-just plush couch. I lay down in my clothes, with two Red Cross blankets over me and the window wide open, but I all
 
 the middle of the night, partially closed the window, swathed myself in one blanket and managed to get little sleep. I got here at about 10 this morning, and drove to the hos pital with a delightful Serbian officer, who spoke French perfectly. The hos pital is wonderfully well appointed just about equal to one at home; and it moves like clock-work. pr. Ryan is a splendid head, and he has a re- markable woman as supervising nurse. His corps of nurses is very efficient, too. The American Red Cross is with drawing all units the 1st of October, so they have only few more days here. It's bad for me that they are going, but they are all weary beyond expressing and need the rest. Our hospital building is getting prepared with more or less celerity. We are obliged to keep the former inmates (the building is the almshouse), hous- ing them and their caretaker and family in three rooms at one end of the buildings, partitioned off. We really have a very good building, though the room for the dispensary | is not good. There will be room | for about thirty babes, and ten older ! children; then we must make pro-
  come in with nursing babies. My | supervising nurse is fine woman, very well trained.
 Sept. 21.-A beautiful sunny day. Dr. Ryan took me yesterday for wonderful ride in his Ford. What driver he is! We went the most inn possible places-up steep, rocky hills, through cart tracks, across fields, sometimes losing even the cart tracks and following foot path, and then losing even that, and running down steep grassy banks-and turn ing around and running up them again. The Ford is certainly the car for these roads and fields. We saw several aeroplanes up in the sky, or all neighboring nationalities. We hoped for a fight when un1rlendly mes were both in sight, but nothing happened. From the top of hill we got a very wonderful view of the valley of the Danube -Iargely marsh land now. In winter, I believe, the great tract is covered l bv the river. There are many trees here. great groves or forests. The country is more open than at Nish; to me not so picturesque. Some think it much more beautiful.
 Sent 23.-Back at Nish again travelled all night and until 1 p. m. to achieve something like 160 miles I'm guessing at the distance. In peace times the trip took but six hours, I believe. It was slow and .iresome, but I certainly enjoyed my visit to Belgrade.
 Sept. 25tn, or, old style, Sept 18th they are thirteen days behind the time here.-We hear all sorts of ru- nors. and trains filled with men go put I dare not write much for fear If the censor We may have a mili-