The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-04-28
DOCTOR FAIRBANKS
MADE CITIZEN OF
FRANCE FOR WORK
Hospital Unit of Women Re-
warded for Faithful and
Efficient Services
WITH MUCH CEREMONY
Wonderful Work Accomplished by
Woman's Hospital in Devastated
Regions of France

/ The honor of being made q "cit-
izen of France" as we'll as receiving a
gold medal from the municipality of
Luzancy has recently come to one OF
! St. Johnsbury's well-known physici-
ans and surgeons, DR.. Charlotte Fair
banks. Since the first of November
she has been at Luzancy as the sur
geon in the medical unit at the Am
erican Womans Hospital. In this
ancient little village, on the banks of
a brave river, chateau has been ap-
propriated for a hospital and the
work of the medical unit has been
largely among the civilian popula-
ton of all ages and both sexes. OF
the personnel of the institution Mar
garet e. Sangster has recently writ
ten, "The doctors in their neat khaki
uniforms are strictly American. There
are eight of then1-efficient, capable,
clever women-who have given up
their practices in various states to
answer the call of France. DR.. M.
Louise Hulrell, the chief of staff, is
from Rochester, N. y; DR.. Charlotte
Fairbanks, The surgeon, is from Vef7
mont, and DR.. Doherty, the dentist,
is from Milwaukee. DR.. Mary Evans,
who has, charge of the laboratory
work, and DR.. Jay Mainwaring, who
takes care of the district route, are
both from Connecticut; while DR..
Mary McLachlin, the house physici-
an, is from Oregon; DR.. Frazer, who
manages a branch hospital, is from
Denver, Col, and DR.. Inez Bentley,
the superintendent is from New York
city. These eight women cover ter
ritory that takes in all of-the country
around Scissors and Chateau-Th Thier-
ry"
The "Medaille Militaire-Premier
Classe-" was specially struck for
the American unit by Henri Dubois,
a noted French artist. 1t is 21a by
31s inches in diameter and the de-
signs are suggestive of the gratitude
of the French people to the American
ladies that have sacrificed so much
since the hospital was opened last
August The presentation of these
medals by the French people is in
dicative of some achievement of
bravery. The diverse shows a girl
bringing palms and offering flowers
in her gratitude. On the reverse at
the top is girl wearing laurel
crown, while below is another girl
kneeling to drink the waters of con-
ISOLATION. The diverse has the words
"To Charlotte Fairbanks, while the
translation of the words on the re-
verse is "In witness of the apprecia-
tion of the suffering people"
The honor of conferring upon this
unit the citizenship of France and the
presentation of the medals came on a
recent Sunday at a special meeting
of the municipal council of Luzancy.
Besides M. Chalomon, the mayor,
there were present the mayors of the
adjoining communities, the Sous
Prefet, a dignitary corresponding to,
our governor, and the Deputy, an
official corresponding to a Member
of Congress in the United States. The
mayor wore a silk girdle around his
waist and spoke appreciative1y of the
gratitude of France to the American
women in the hospital. Then fol-
lowed the Sous-Prefret, who, with
tears in his eyes, described what the
unit had done for the community. The
last speech was made by the Deputy,
after which the medals were distri-
buted, DIR. Fairbanks receiving gold
Continued on page q