The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-27
IN AMERICA FROM VAR W0D MEA
 
-DR. ROSALIE SLAUGHTER MORTON

the fact today that she was not sooner astated territory. There are no build ings, no implements, nothing but vast torn swept country. The Germans de- molished everything; there are areas where 5000 people dwell with not a phy- sician in the entire radius; there are hundreds of physicians in other parts of the country with no instruments, no ma terials, nothing to work with. I recall d physician, one of the most noted phy- sicians in Serbia, who formerly had a superb laboratory, who asked me to go with him to his quarters one day. On a table was a roll of medicated cotton, a couple of hyperdermic needles; on the floor was spread the blue paper that wraps the cotton-thats all he had. Think not only of the pity of having nothing to work with, but the pity of his splendid education and ability now absolutely pow erlessi
 "The hundreds of refugees, the wound ed the blind soldiers and civilians" Dr. Morton said "need dental attention. There are no facilities for this. Hunger, nak- edness, suffering-all these deplorable conditions stalk abroad in Serbia. These people are the most wonderful of people; educated, refined, polite; they are in- deed a remarkable nation!
 Just to show the spirit, the way they are brought up," Dr. Morton said. "A pretty little story is told of how, when the hastily mobilized- armies were assem- bIed a Serbian father with his little boy was working in the fields; the mother was dead. The father being called to arms did not know what to do with his boy. Finally it was decided that he would take him along So the lad went; he proved of great help working in the trenches and doing errands. He was called the mascot of the regiment Then cessa- tion of hostilities came; the father be- ing wounded, was sent to hospital; the boy was cared for by friends and again when the armies were hastily summoned the boy, who was made a corporal was a the station with the soldiers ready to entrain when his father, released from the hospital and rejoining his regiment, appeared. The boy, sleepy and tired, had fallen across the lap of soldier sittlng near. Suddenly some one said: What will happen when the boy sees his father? He's a corporal and his father is pri- vate. i. It won't do for the father to have to salute the boyy Just then the boy awakened and seeing his father, rushed forward and kissed his hand. That's the spirit; that's the way those children are reared, with respect and honor for their parents and super1orS!
 'rThis and a thousand and one other things have inspired my love for Serbia, and my desire to help the Serbs" said Dr. Morton, "and the chance came for me to see my way clear when I was taking little vacation down in Havana few weeks ago, visiting some friends was asked to tell little coterie some Of my experiences in Serbia, and I gladly d1d SO It proved of enough interest to have them ask me to make a public talk, which I did; this led to an invitation to appear the next day before another audience; my hostess said it was the day appointed for whist tournament at the American club. but she would ask the gentlemen to postpone it t~and let us have the ciup for the meeting. Having been raised with five brothers, felt sure the project Woulu fail hut I was mistaken; the tournament was postponed and we had a wonoer1ui meeting: it led to the offer of pr. Agri monti. a noted Cuban physician. and now Secretary of Agriculture, to offer to take 2t Serbian lads and educate them for four years. which in cold, round cash amounts fo about s1Oo, 900 contributed by Cuba.
 '"rhis was so encouraging that when went to Winter Park, Fla, 1 was asKed bv Dr. Calvin H. French, president or Rollins college, to speak before the school" pr. Morton said. Again the re- sponse was encouraging, and animated by this, continued my work. pointing to the fact that Rollins college had taken two Serbian girls to educate for perloo of four years. From Florida l went to Texas. where Houston and Galveston re- sponded generously; then to Mobile. where the most liberal response was made and coming closer to Birmingham, Mont connerv nobly came to the front and of-