Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-04-23

we gathered a few bits for presents
to our home people
That clergyman was a great sport.
He was not like a parson at all. Not
only was he a chauffeur, but he was
a Boy Scout troop commander and
skilled engineer and carpenter. We
nurses were constantly indebted to
him for shelves, tools. coy corners,
and other useful ward furniture, made
out of old sugar cases, etc, i'm his
spare time. The following spring while
he was waiting for n batch of wounded
at dressing station, he used to 60 out
into the fields and pick us nosegays
Of cowslips till bullets whistling
through his hair made him realize that
discretion was the better part Of
valor.' That young man aftCrward
went with General Townshend to the
relief of kut and was promoted
captain. The Turks sent bullet
through his head. but after a few
months Convalesccnce i'm India he is
back at his post again, Somewhere
The reader must excuse all these
excursions on to side-tracks The fact
is, nothing in our life was consecutive
at Furnes, or later at HOrgestadt. 1t
was just series of pictures made up
of interesting events and people.
First of all, at Furnes, there was a
mad rush of, work. While the battle
of User was proceeding every nerve
was strained day and night to cope
with the work. Then after two or
three weeks things died down to a
few casualties each day. During that
time we assumed more the nature of
the base hospital, and instead of pack
ing off all who could travel next
morning in ambulances. we nursed
them to something approaching conva
lcscence, or till another rush came.
We had permanently attached to us
two Belgian colonels, a major and
some lieutenants, who examined the
wounded each morning, placing tickets
over the beds of those who were TO
be moved to France and England.
Watched Air Battles
All this time the roar Of heavy
artillery went on by day and night.
After dark we could trace the battle
line all along the east, from north
to south. by the blaze of guns ana
flares. Often Belgian aud French arr
planes would engage in sharp contests
right over our heads, as the Taubes
dropped their bombs down on the
streets below. We all ran out TO
WaIcn WHO Nbull Will bAiA
Tarbe hit, and fire burst out of its
fail as il yolplaned toward the east in
a cloud of smoke. Very soon atter
these little affairs some stretchers
would arrive with wounded civilians.
we had been in Furnes about ten
days. when late one evening procla
nation was issued that we were 10
retire Immediately to Poperlnghe, SO
we all packed into the ambulances
and sped away. No one gave us any
reason; to us it was a joy-ride, but
suppose the authorities thought the
Germans were about TO break through
tho line and enter Furnes. We went
AT a breakneck speed along dark coun
trv lanes and at places the roads re-
minded one of an Arabian Nights
tale. BY a little copse were pitched
some tents. fires were burning on the
ground and attached to tripods pots
we're boiling, while Arab sheiks witt
white flowing garments, gay turbans
scarves and swarthy boards squattec
around or attended to their horses.
Fine-LOOking Fellows
At Poperinghe we found the Brit
| ish, and squares and streets were bus
/ fling with military life. The French
were there also. How grand were the
| French cuirassiers, seated on theil
| handsome horses, wearing shining
brass helmets and breastplates, while
| from the back of the helmets SWEEP
red or black plumes!
| AS usual, all the inns were filled will
military. We came to a little esta
mnet where we all crowded in for {
meal in the barroom. But there wal
no sleeping accommodation. Abou
| midni the nurses were quartereC