Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-02

LIZ ASttSIs
His letter follows:
Summer is full upon US. and the be-
ginning Of summer in Kief is beautiful.
There is a wealth Of flowers, the night
ingales have been singing a whole
month. the peasant women are afiame
with colored dresses: man and beast
are at work in the fields, and all the
countryside gives an impression of
smiling plenty. The land around Kief
reminds one of the wheat fields of east
ern Oregon and Washington: acre upon
acre as far as the eye can see wave
bound1ess seas. of rye, just beginning
to turn yellow. from which is made that
wonderful black bread that the cars
armies live, fight and thrive upon.
Truly 1t is a wonderful country, and
the people. too, are wonderful The
Russian peasant is as happy person
as ever knew; he Is polite: even more.
he is courteous; all that he has Is yours.
How differentit all is from our west
ern conception of Russia. At first you
are suspicious: then you commence to
understand; and, finally. you love Rus
STA and the. Russian.
''Our hospital here is located about
half a mile outside of kief. in the main
building of the Polytechnic Institute.
The grounds, which are really a large
park, cover about fifty acres, and the
buildings. erected under the auspices
of the late. Count Sergius Witte, are
built on magnificent proportions, and
accommodate over 1000 students. At
present we have over 600 beds We
have an entirely surgical hospital. and
receive only the most severely wounded.
American Force in Hospital.
Our force consists Of eight American
doctors, twenty American nurses and
about fifteen Russian sisters, who have
had, six weeks or more training. Many
Of these speak English. and most of
them are unusually bright and intelli-
gent women. the majority coming from
very wealthy famfiiess or the nobility.
Think Of being nurseds by a real Tar
tar princess! We have also eighty SOL
diers, or sanitars, who do the cooking,
cleaning and act ais hospital orderlies.
The hospital:is entirely military and
we are in uniform, even in the op-
Grating rooms. I couldn't operate any
more unless had my spurs on. 1
don't know what I'll do when l get
home. We. receive our patients in lots
of from 10 to ESQ. keep them as short
time as possible, and then send
them on toward the interior. At the
present time our operating schedule
is running over 400 month, and our
dressings over 10000.
The work Is most varied, as every
conceivable part of the body is wound
ed in the thousands of cases which
pass through our hands. At this writ
ing kiev Is the largest city near the
front, and after. heayyrfighting we re-
ceive them in. their first dressings
Go Laughing and Singing to War.
To-day 1 saw several fresh regiments
going to the ont-ine-looking fellows,
just from the fields, brown as berries,
well equipped, and marching as school
ing. How it makes ones heart ache.
for 1 know of those who come back
how they will be-arms, and legs gone;
terrible brain cases; worn out with sad
and pinched faces; the hell of war
written all over them; the hurried
messages to those at home-the young
boy who knows he; cannot live, yet
hope. When you ask them how they
are the invariable answer is .Nichere,
which means, All right, it doesn't mat
ter ~ 49,.
II have lived in hospitals nearly all
my life, but have never seen as few
| in our hospital among men whose
wounds and suffering would shame any
like number Of our patients back home
| in America.
Every one is working for the soldier
at the front and the wounded as they
return. The women of Russia. from the
highest to the lowest, are all DOING
something to alleviate the suffering; al
every train stop they are waiting with
hot tea and food. and cheering words
| From this end we do not see any hope
OF the war ending soon. but there is a
growing feeling that somehow, some
way. the terrible slaughter must soor
| make them all want to STOP