The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-18
SWEDEN'S ANGEL HERE W|THRECORD RARELY SURPASSE ]
Miss Brandstrom, Famous Nurse May Receive
 Nobel Prize

Nobel Prize
 Copyright. 1923. United states and
 Canada. Great Britain and south Amer
 ica by Women,s News Service; Service lnc> 1oTth Ke,
 AMercan leassd Ss,%spsy NeWspsper AIisnee for The
 Age-Ierald. Ali Rights Reserved)
 NEW YORK. March 17.-If some modern Diogenes, weary Of his search for an honest man, should choose to vary his quest by looking for a woman without vanity, he can be assured of success. He has but to turn his searchlight upon cer- tain fair. slender young woman who has just arrived in America from her native Sweden. Known through beria," she is Miss Elsa Brandstrom whose work among the prisoners Of war in the bleak prison camps of Russia has been so outstandingiy fine and courageous that she has been officially named by the Swed- candidate for this years Nobel peace prize. an honor which only once be- fore has been given to woman.
 No Longer AllHrine.
 Born to a life of luxury and sur rounded by all the Vaccinations Of the diplomatic circles in European capitals. Miss Brandstrom professes a complete lack of interest in so- ciety, politics, or nationalistic ambi- tions. Humanity and it's needs com pletely absorb her Asked if. after spending nine of the best years of her youth in this service. she was not now content to return to Ser former life of case and pleasure, Miss Brandstrom's blue eyes opened wide with astonishment and she eX- claimed: After these years of ,Iy f.tf.t ntA11 cannot imagine doing anything else. Give up my work? Oh, that would be impossible!'
 Highest Honor in Sweden.
 Small wonder her countrymen are proud of her or that King Gustav broke all precedents and presented her with the medal of the "Order of the Seraphim" in recognition of her work for humanity. the first time the order has been conrerred upon woman.
 I.ls Never Worn Med. .s.
 Hearing that this handsome young woman, who looks every inch the daughter of a Viking. had been pre- sented with medals by nearly all the courts and Red Cross organizations of Europe, one photographer had the temerity to request that she pin on her medals that he might photo graph her thus decorated. Probably he reckoned on his past experience with politicians and delegates to plumbers conventions, plus his Knowledge of feminine vanity. His request was met by a hearty laugh on the part of "The Angel of Si- beria." who told him. in English, with a bit of an accent that has its distinct charm, that she had "nefer nefer' put them on in her life. The p1 ,Si. |, nlN tf, compromise on satin cushion as background for the glttering jewell studded emblems There may be an other young woman with l6 be- jeweled medals. the gifts of kings and potentates. who has ueve,. pinned one of them on her breast and in the privacy of her own bou doir surveyed it's effect in her own mirror but after paging all the med a owners in our acquaintance We have not been able to locate her.
 In Russia When War Broke.
 One has but to talk with Miss Brandstrom five minutes to realize how completely she has sunk her own individuality, personal comfort and even health in her brave strug- gle to bind up the wounds of war. The daughter of the Swedish ambas- sador to the Russian empire, she was in Petrograd when the war broke out. Observing the dire condition Of the wounded Russian prisoners, she reflected that the condition of the prisoners of war must he muei. worse. and as the subject of neu- tral country this seemed the logical field for her to enter.
 When all other relief workers had been ordered out by the Bolshcvik she chose to remain in Russia and carry on the work to which she had dedicated her life.
 Thrown Into Prison
 Arrested more than once by the Soviet authorities and thrown into prison, she was each time released when nothing could be found against her. The hardships she endured few men could have sustained. She trav- eled across Russia and the deserts of Siberia in miserable cattle wagons with the hundreds of prisoners. Sc crowded were they that they were unable to lie down to sleep Ex- posed to the deadly peril of infect ious diseases which had spread all through the filthy, verminous prison camps of Siberia. she went about in her Red Cross garb. like an angel of mercy, ministering to the sick, distributing comforts, encoura gins: pitying and relieving distress on every side.
 QueIls a Mutiny
 She came to be worshipped by the prisoners whc looked upon her as a saint and super woman. once when 2.000 prisoners mutined. de- clarng they would rather be shot than work under the harshnass oI the Bolshevist troops, Miss Brand strom was called upon for help by the Soviet authorities She wen. fearlessly between the hostile crowds, made her appeal to the mu- tireers. and so great was her in- fluence with them that they were persuaded to resume their work peacefully. Later. when she was bending every energy to return to sweden in order to reach the bed- side of her dying father, she was held as hostage for Kressin. at tha time in Sweden and not being ac- corded the homage his soviet breth- ren regarded as his due.
 Placed Under Guard
 "I told them," she said naively. that l was very poor hostage. was but one young, Swedish girl and he was. one of their biggest men, but they said they had no other swedes at hand so they kept me. I was not rtit in prison then, but l had two guards watching me and it was very uncomfortable."
 Since the close of the war Miss Brandstron has worked unccasingly among the repatriated War prison- CTS of central. Europe. .esta blishinl, two centers. one at. Brandenbure au! the other in. southern Saxony, where in helpful ! outdoor occupations such as gardening. tree planting and farming, these men, broken. in body and spirit their minds quite unfit for s ordinarv4 competitive laboi