Oxford eagle., 1918-08-01

AIdprShof for q Speclai OpeEhaoh -
try and make the scar presentaDie.
I arrived AT the hospital and got an
ewful shock. The food was poor ana
the discipline abnormally strict no
patient was allowed 10 sit on his bed'
and smoking was permitted only az
certain designated hours. The race
specialist did nothing for me except
to look ar the wound. ! made apph-
cation for transfer back TO Paignton,
Offering 10 pay my transportation
4 This offer was accepted. and after two
weeks absence. once again arrived
in Munsev ward. an hope gone.
Z The next day after my return Doc
tor Frost stopped at my bed and said:
"HYeIl. Empey. If you want me TO try
and see what can DO with that scar
I'll do IT, but you are taking an awful
chance"
+ / answered: "well. doctor. Steve
Rrodie took chance; he halls from
I New York and so do l."
Two days after the undertaken
squad carried me 10 the operating
room or pictures" as we called them
because Of the funny films ve see un-
+ der ether. and the operation was per-
! formed. II was q wonderful piece Of
surgery and 8 marvellous success.
From now ON that doctor can have my
shirt.
More than once some poor soldier
F has been brought into the ward in a
dying condition. resulting from loss Of
blood and exhaustion caused hy his
F long journey from the trenches. After
an examination the doctor announces
+ that the only thing that win save him
. is a TRANSMISSION Of blood Where is
+ the blood 10 come from? He does not
. have to wait long for an answer-sev-
F eral TOmmies Immediately volunteer
+ their blood for their mate. Three or
four are accepted; a blood test is
made, and next day the TRANSMISSION
+ takes place and there is another pale
face in the ward
Whenever bone is needed for some
special operation, there are always
men willing TO give some-a leg If
necessary to save some mangled mate
from being crippled for life. More
than one man will 20 through life with
another mans blood running through
his veins, or a piece Of his rib or his
shinbone in his own anatomy. Some
times he never even knows the name Of
his benefactor.
The spirit of sacrifice is wonderful.
For all the suffering caused this war
is a blessing TO England-it has made
new men Of her sons; has welded all
classes into one glorious whole.
And l can't help saying that the doc
tors. sisters, and nurses in the English
hospitals, are angels on earth. love
them all and can never repay the care
and kindness shown 10 me. For the
rest Of my life the Red Cross viii be
10 me the symbol OF Faith. Hope and
Charity.
After four months in the hospital, /
went before an examining board and
was discharged from the service Of his
Britannia majesty as physically unfit
for further war service
After my discharge I engaged pass
axe on the American liner New York.
and after stormy trip across the At
lantic one mOment0us day. in the haze
Of early dawn saw thesstarue-of lib
erty looming over the port rail, and |
wondered If ever again I would 20
~over the top with the best Of luck
and give them hell"
And even then, though II nav seem
strange. l was really sorry not 10 be
back In the trenches with my mates.
War is not pink tea, but in a worth
while cause Ike ours. mud. rats. CO.
ties, shells, wounds, or death itself. are
far outweighed by the deep sense Of
satisfaction felt by the man who does
his bit.
There IS one thing which nv ex.
perience taught me that might help the
boy who may have 10 90. II is this
anticipation is far worse than realiza.
ton. II civil life q man stands In awe
Of the man above him. wonders how he
, could ever iii his job. When the time
comes he rises 10 the occasion. is W
/ and al il. and is surprised 10 find how
: much more easily than he anticipated
i he hlls his responsibilities II is really
50 ~Out there
= he has nerve for the hardships; the
interest Of the work grips him: he finds
. relief in the fun and cOmradeship O,
: the trenches and wins that best sort q.
happiness thar comes with duty well
} done.
I TIE END.