Evening star., 1916-03-19

token of gratitude and respect for all
their uniform implied.
Around the tents daily crowds of
peasant women and refugees from the
other towns in Serbia assembled, hold
ing out their babies to the doctors and
nurses, receiving medicines, food and
clothing-all gratis.
The municipality of Nish placed at
the disposition of Nine. Grouitch fine
public building, and before October !
the members of the hospital had the
satisfaction of feeling that they were
at home in their own hospital with
their children about them.
Features of the Hospital.
The white enameled cribs and beds
were the delight and wonder of all who
visited the hospital. The diet kitchen,
with tbs stove and special arrangements.
was marveled at with almost religious
awe by the peasant women, who heard
for the first time of the necessary care
In the preparation of their children's
food. The storeroom. in which the baby
kits and bedding not in use were dis
played as part Of the hospitals treas
ures, were inspected with that respect
always given to opulence by very poor
people. Only when one came to the
their soldier cots. with not even
chair apiece and only nails on the wall
for hanging up their own clothing. was
there murmur of dissatisfaction.
surely said the Serbian visitors.
enough is not done for the comfort
of these American ladies who have
come all the way out here to teach
how to take care of our children"
Even the poorest mother when she
came to. see her sick baby on visitors
day brought some present to the Amer
lean women. This is a characteristic of
the Serbian-he cannot allow you to
do anything for him without trying to
do something in return for you. By
There is no nation less pauperized than
the Serbian has been heretofore.
Struggled in the Supplies.
The interest in the hospital and the
consideration for its work by the
Serbian authorities are proven by the
fact that at a time when the railway
line was being used only for military
supplies cases of food and equipment
for the Mabel Grouitch Baby Hospital
were being. so to speak. smuggled into
N1Sh through the ministry of war.
That the value of all this work has
not been lost is due to Miss Shelley.
For when, owing to the invasion by
the enemies of Serbia, the government
was obliged to leave the country fol-
lowed by many of it's inhabitants, it
was due to Miss Shelley's indomitable
determination to remain at her post
that the baby hospital was not aban-
doned.
Remained With Sick Babies.
Miss Shelley remained in charge of
the baby hospital. which had, in addi-
tion to the sick babies in the wards,
some 300 refugee women and children
within its gates. She rose at o'clock
in the morning, walked three miles to
the military hospital, where she aided
In the dressings of the wounded. even
assisting at operations. She returned
to the babies in time to take charge of
the dispensary at O'Clock and made
visits to sick and destitute women and
children in other parts of the town
during the afternoon. Descriptions of
her activities have reached America
from several of the doctors who work
ed with her both at the baby hospital
and at the military hospital and who
have since returned home. One of them
is DR.. Pyle of Roosevelt Hospital, who
described Miss Shelley's devotion to
her work as reminding him of that
done by Florence Nightingale among
the wounded soldiers and refugees in
the Crimean war.
Nor was this all. Famine came upon
rNish from the fact that the German
and Bulgarians upon entering the town
sciZeu tHe WnOle OF t0e 1000 supplies.
Money became powerless to purchase
without military orders. The little col
ony of brave hearts were reduced to
living upon rice. beans and onions.
Speaking Of this in one of her letters.
Miss Shelley says, II now feel that
peculiar sense of virtue which ! am
told all vegetarians possess"
Her friends in America, fearing she
might be in danger. were constantly
telegraphing the American legation at
Sofia to have her come home
"Tell People Not to Worry"
please tell people not to worry about
u.s. says Miss Shelley in a letter. 1--WE
are well. the children happy. and our
baby cribs filled and looking too sweet
for words. We keep the house in per-
feet order. because SO many people still
come TO inspect il. The Bulgarians are
kind to us, and SO are the few German