The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-11-07

my adieus to you. II calls to my mind
the fact that the 18th Of September
was the end Of eight years OF my direc-
tlon OF the school. I was so happy to
be called to aid in the organization OF
the work that u committee had just
founded. The October of the year 1907
there were only four young students;
now we are already numerous, between
90 and so in all, l believe, counting those
who have received their diplomas and
have already left the school.
7 have told you or various occasions
OF those first days and of the difficult
ties that we encountered, even In the
choice OF words for your hours on duty
and off duty etc; all was new in the
profession in Belgium.
Bit by bit one service after another
was NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. nurses to
nurse in private houses-student nurses
the st. GILES hospital We helped in
the institute Of DR.. Depage. tho sani-
torium of DR., Mayer, and now many
are called las perhaps you will be
iater) to nurse the brave men wounded
in the war.
IF in this last year our work has
dlpintshed the cause is found in the
sad time in which we live. In better
days our work will resume its growth
and all Its power TO do good. II I speak
OF the past IT is because II is well some
times to stop and look over the read
That we have ~traversed and to take ac-
count OF our mistakes and of our
progress.
In your beautiful house you will
have more patients and you will have
all that is necessary for their comfort
and your own.
TO my regret I have not been able
always to speak very much with you
personally; you, know that I have had
a good many occupations, but I hope
that you will not forget our evening
chats. I told you that devotion would
give you real happiness-and the
thought that before God and yourselves
you have done your entire duty with a
good heart will be your greatest com
forts In the hard moments Of life and
In the face Of death.
There are two or three OF you who
will recall the little interviews that we
have had torether; do not forget them.
Being already so far along in life I
than you to show you the straight
path. One word more. Beware Of gos-
sip! And may I say to you-loVing
your country with all my heart-that
that Is the great fault here. I have
seen so much evil during these eight
years that could have been avoided or
lessened II there had not been n littla
word whispered here and there, per-
hans not with bad intention-but II
ruined the reputation and happiness.
even the life of someone. My nurses
should think Of that and cultivate
among themselves loyalty and esprit de
corns.
IF there Is one among you whom I
have wronged I beg you to forgive me;
| have been perhaps too severe some
times but never voluntarily unjust, and
| have loved you all much more than
you thought.
MY best wishes for the happiness Of
all my girls. those who have left the
school as well as those who are there
still and thank you for the kindnessf
that o have always shown me. Your
EDITH CAvELL"
10 October. 1916.
She left several other letters, one
for her mother in England, that were
turned over to the German authorities
to be delivered, but they were never
delivered. Again and again / asked for
them, begging to DO allowed to send
them to England to comfort the aged
and Borrowing mother, but they refused
to give them over. They said that II
| were to send them to England they
would be published abroad and another
sensation created that would react
against the German cause. | vas able
would not be published; that they
would remain the sacred secret Of the
mother for whom they were intended;
but, no, they would not give them TIP
the military would not consent. But
the officer in whose keeping they were
did have the grace to say to me finally:
II wish ] might give them to you:
they are a very sad n uncomfortable
charge for me to keep"