Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-06-01
ASSOCIATED Press Correspondence

ASSOCIATED Press Correspondence
Ottawa, Ont, May 23.-Word that
the resolution of Canadian soldiers
has given in Europe rather different
view of North America to many peo-
pie who before had not the occasion
to consider this J. continent was
brought to Ottawa by DR.. R. ]. Man
ion Of Fort William, Ontario
DR.. Manion had AN unusual experi-
ence Three months ago he paid his
way across the lAtlantic, bought his
uniform offered his services as sur
geon to the British Red Cross In Paris
and found there was no opening. he
was proffered q place in one OF the
Anglo French hospitals and accepted.
He found himself a member OF the
surgical staff of a hospital estab-
lished in the historic Chateau de Rim
berlieu, the property of Count de
Berthune, seven miles north of Com
piegne and but four miles back of the
French line. I'VE had telephone
connection with the trenches and we
could see the flash Of bursting shells
from our windows, and 1t was said
that Of all the hospitals this was the
nearest to the lines,' said DR.. Manion.
There were sixty beds in the hos
pital. 1t was maintained under
French military direction largely by
English money. The nurses and Or
derlies, almost without exception.
We're persons of wealth, of prominent
French and English families anu
many of them were titled Two or
the nurses were daughters of the
Count de Berthune the owner of the
chateau, another was the Countess de
Pange, another the Marquise de Cha
bannes, another Miss Nevill, grant
niece Of Lord Beaconsfield. another a
niece of Casimir Perrier, late presi-
dent Of France. No one on the staff
received remuneration; instead they
contributed from sixty to two hun
dred dollars month for the privilege
of doing the tedious, exacting and Of
ten unpleasant work which is re-
quired Of nurses and orderlies in
every hospital. The ambulances were
motors belonging to these nurses and
orderlies. The domestics Of the in
stitution were chiefly their maids or
servants or chauffeurs.
There may have been a few paid
domestics but certainly no one else on
the staff from the chief surgeon down
received a wage.
Il left Canada a good democrat and
return as left, but 1 must confess
feeling Of admiration and respect for
the aristocrats I met in this hospital
doing what they conceived to be their
duty in these terrible times. In the
hospital ladies who had been waited
upon all their lives cheerfully per-
formed tasks they would not require
of their maids. They accepted the
hospital routine Of night and day
watches and faithfully administered
to the needs Of the wounded soldiers
Of all ranks. Among others who
served were Mr.. and Mrs. Gray OF
Cambridge. He acted as an orderly
and she as a nurse. They paid the
hospital two hundred dollars a
month; they gave it the service Of I
motor and their chauffeur, and they
persistently bought all sorts Of things
for the institution. One Of the finest
characters and one Of the most useful
persons about the place was Rev. Mr..
Gedge, q Church Of England clergy
man from York Cathedral. He per-
formed the dual duties Of orderly and
chauffeur. driving as an ambulance a
car given by his congregation for that
purpose. Only on Sunday was he the
clergyman and I shall always remem-
Der with admiration the calm rever-
ence with which he conducted ser
vice one Sunday through the din of a
terrific bombardment.
"Just ten miles away, at Fayel. was
another Of these glo-French hos
pitfalls where master and man, mis-
tress and maid worked side by side,
humbfy and faithfully. The Fayel
Hospital is run by Countess Helena
GIeichen, . cousin Of King George Of