Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-17


-Longfellow.
AS war has drawn near to America
and the Red Cross stands at the front
OF It's topic. It Is only natural that we
should turn back to tho memory OF
It's founder. Florence Nightingale was
perhaps the most sanity and high
spirited Of the women who stand at
ne top OF EnEland's frame. Up to
ina, M .ime me poor soldiers had lit
suffering. and there were thousands
that died who could have been easily
saved 70 their loved ones by the doc
Ing, their services to-day
Her birth took place at Florence
inc ~ &c cry of of the iiowers-on May 10. 1920.
whose sweet night singing has bright
Gned the night as she frightened the
fath s OF was 80 m may o i9 ais9n
and favored the higher education OF
women. and before his daughter had
more than many Of the wise men Of
to-day can tell us. Florence Nightin
gaze was very fond OF animals. Dur
nesScs OF the friends who surrounded
ner native home. This brave young
woman cared little for social life <
come up higher" During the
next few years she visited and studied
At a. many hospitals. She worked So
She WAS thirty-four years of age
when tho great call of her life came
When Eng land declared war with Rus
STA her hospitals were ia poor state
The army. while at Varna. had a sad
lack OF surgeons. though many cour-
aseous volunteers offered cmselvcs
Gri. This is the same Scutari around
winch has been such fierce fighting
ior the last 1--WE years. a very neatly
sgu!pped one was built at Thcrapia
No nurses were provided. however. and
Inc doctors were raw and Unframed
The bedding and all other equipments
water or utensils OF any kind
The head OF the War Department,
H ,ko nerDert was much grieved al
knowing OF Miss Niehtingaic's skill
~ ~ nursing. wrote TO her. asking her
10 Bv oa r, :, &c, a staff Of female nurses
wrote 10 MN Offering her services the
same day The letters crossed. The
d deoa %6ihan had eyerEthinE ready and
her mission. When this angel ba p"
As as they were distinguished. arrived at
Of oI log Kind hsherwomen. as a labor
ribab!y horrible was the state OF the
n nospl.di when Miss Nightingale frst
lost hope. Before she had been there
long. everything vas orderly and Well
r En-, a. ne end OF six months ali
menis.. just as we want our wosnn,
10 DO for our soldiers
me KIND nurse had sympathizinr
AR about her that drew to her The
hardest from the bed OF suffering. One
Door fellow said: ITO see her pass was
beds she would nod TO one and sn, lie
at many more and stop to bathe the
iesercd brow Of another: but, OF course,
she would no, do il to all. We lay
mere by hundreds. but We could kiss
her shadow as it fell and lay our heads
upon the pillow, again content
Her distinction Of The Lady of the
Lamp came naturally. Many night
when all were asleep the stars in
heaven smiled down on tall figure
IN white, red lamp on her arm, stoop-
ing 10 give ice water to some thirsty
soldier. LonGfellow says:
so in the house OF misery
A lady with lamp | see
tass through the Glimmering gloom
And nit from room TO room"
But. in spite Of the devotion OF these
minlstcrine women. the winter of 1855
was hard one for the army. Officers
as Wen as privates suffered terrible
hardships. Many of the brave women
who were such devoted nurses never
returned TO England. but lay in quiet
graves upon the shores Of the Bos-
phorus.
Not long afterwards Florence Night
ngale herself lay between life and
death. When somewhat restored. how
ever. she refused to go back TO Eng
land. but worked on TO the end OF the
war
Queen Victoria sent the good nurse
an autograph letter with a jeweled
cross of st. George inscribed in letters
OF gold. Blessed are the merciful"
About fortnight later she became the
Queens guest. Her sad death took
place in the year 1910. In our genera
ton there is no more noble example
than our dear lady of the lamp. Would
that there were more like her when we
are facing such a trying time in our
nations history. the queen of nurses
and the soldiers friend.
POCAHONTAS WIGHT
Twelve years old.
(OriginaD