The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-05-10
Woman's War Duties

Not every man is physically able
to defend his country with gun. ana
not every woman is capable OF re-
lieving suffering by nursing the
wounded The present rise OF pa
triotism among women has caused
nearly everyone OF them to search
her abilities to see what she can do
in the crisis. and strange 70 say.
nearly everyone thinks she must be
"A nurse in order to render the most
effective service to her nation
The same situation arose i'll Eng
land and France at the beginning OF
the war, and women gladly left their
homes and went to the scene of ac-
ton to help alleviate the pain OF the
men who had been the victims of the
shots of the enemy. OF this number
not a small portion was incompetent,
and in some cases the soldiers Jared
as badly as if they had received no
attention.
in one of the hospitals in France. He
was visited by a relative, who after
inquiring about his condition, asked
il there was anything he would like
to have. Yes" replied the soldier,
I've had three countesses, please
ask someone to send me a nurse
Nursing in Europe almost became d
fad, and the titled women of the ma
lions had an idea that they should
70 forth on this mission of mercy,
when most of them knew nothing
about the profession.
The same problem is confronting
the American public. If all the wo-
men, who have signified their desire
to nurse on the battlefield. and all
those who have expressed wish to
drive ambulances, go to the front,
there won't be enough wounded men
to give them work to do
The wiser plan is for every woman
to calmly consider her talents, and
then decide to apply them where
they will do the most good. There
is perhaps no profession in the
present day which equals nursing,
but if one lacks training and expert
ence in this line, it is just as patri-
otto for one to do something else to
aid in this conflict against autocracy
and for humanity and civilization.
Vast numbers of men will be call
ed, and in order that the nations
business may thrive and not be al
lowed to lag, it will be eXpedient for
women to fill their places. In some
cities the banks are teaching corps
Of women clerks to replace the men,
when it becomes necessary for them
to leave their places of employment.
Women can, and are, taking an &C
tive interest in the production of
more foods.uffs. This is one of the
yf1sf problems, (which America is
facing, and one which must be met
Immediately. Women have even
volunteered to work in the fields in
case of a scarcity of labor. To over
come the extravaganza and luxury to
which American women have been
accustomed, the housewife has prom
Used to keep closer watch on the
expenditures of the home and to dc
all in her power to eliminate waste;
while the society women of the land
have done away with elaborate func-
tons, thereby not only saving their
incomes, but setting a good example
for the thousands of women, all over
the United States, who ape the habits
of the rich.
In the old countries the women
have adopted plan which has met
with much success. Not all of them
could become nurses, some Of them
had no gardens to till, and many OF
them felt that they were at loss to
know what to do for their soldiers
and sailors, the men who were bear
ing the brunt of the war, and SO
they decided to give a certain amount
each week to buy the many things
which might bring happiness on the
battlefield Five dollars a week Ell
titled one to a badge bearing the
words Il am keeping a soldier. Are
you?" The plan proved very effec-
tive and has been the means OF
purchasing hospital necessities and