Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1924-07-24

my time IN the war zone, since L VIII
not talk about it and l always reply
that am first last and always a
nurse not writer, so IL they will ex-
crse my feeble attempt at literature,
vail be more than pleased.
| was born in Richmond, Virginia,
of an American mother and Scotch
father, at the age of seven | was sent
to Edinburgh, Scotland and entered
st. Mary's Convent from which insti-
tuition l was later graduated. On my
return to America entered the New
York Polyolinic hospital Training
schol for nurses and received my
diploma in the spring of 1913. Short
~ after my graduation was married
to DR.. Lionel Russell, who was also a
Virginian. but l was loft widow less
than a month. Later in June of 1914
again returned to Scotland on visit
ard while there war was declared and
unlike most Americans visiting
Europe at that time, / remained and
Immediately joined the British Red
Cross and was among the first Eng
hsh speaking women to go inc Bel
GUM where | remained for some time,
later being sent into France.
l was along the western front in
1915-l916 when the Crowned Prince
was pounding away at Verdun, when
all the America though, that surely
would end the war. / have never
been renowned in my life for fear OF
any individual, but l must admit that
/ passed into the presence of General
Pctain with great deal of respect
amounting almost TO awe. The de-
fender of Verdun General Petain"
has won the respect and admiration
OF the whole world. 1t is impossible
not to feel the deepest admiration for
these men, who have earned such I'M
dying glory, not only for themselves
but for their motherland. No one
would be more kind and generous to
his men than the General" and in
his presence one realized the strength
and power of plucky little France. |
was for a time attached to one of the
hospitals which was organized and
equipped in the first instance by the
Scottish branch of the national union
OF women's suffrage. 1t may interest
you to know that what had been be- !
fore the war political society had |
with that splendid spirit of patriotism |
which had from the very first day of |
the war animated every man, woman
and child of Great Britain drawn upon
its funds and founded the hospital |
units 1t was no longer a question of i
politics but simply case of serving
humanity and serving it to the best I
possible advantage. The national !
union had realized that 1t was time |
Tor oHsAAixad affort on the part OF ali !
women for the benefit of the human
race and the alienation of suffering. |
How cheerfuliy these wonderful wo- |
men bore hardships and privations,
many OF them have laid down their
lives. not only in France but in Ser
bla where they were fighting the great
Typhus epidemic. Our tent hospitals
were like great white birds spreading
their wings under the trees. Many
times we had to be up all night hold
ing on to the tent poles to prevent
the tents coliapsing over our patients.
"A member of the Etat-magor asked
now we over came the language Off
IIculty because many of us did not
understand French. l pointed out
that to diagnose and treat war surgery
ana watch its progress, it was not
necessary to speak the native tongue s
and by the magic language of sympa- 5
thy we managed to establish some !
Iorm of understanding between The
patients doctors and nurses. Those |
VINO have worked with "the boys'' v
hare learned to respect and admire 7
hem for their patriotism, courage 8
and patient endurance. As one dash =
ng young officer said to me, sister ,
we do not wish to live to be old, but :
'niy to live while we can" On the '
,atlcfields the kindness of the medi- q
al Zen to the enemy wounded has al
ways been conspicuous and the Ger
ran surgeons were well aware of Q
his fact and knew that their wound v
a received every attention. There is
story known throughout France OF :
french doctor who was attending ~
wounded German on the battle field. 1
Inc man who was probably half de- Z
erlous, snatched at a revolver which =
vas lying near by and attempted to ?,
moot the doctor The doctor took =
ne revolver from him, patted him on =
ne head and said, "voyons, yoyons, IS
le falus pas L en-fant, which being :,
translated means. now then, now then. ::
ont be childish, and went on dress 81
ng mis- wounds. Every where enc q
card accounts of brotherly love and e.
eiigIou tolerance. / know of dying -
'rench soldier who was tenderiy sun =,
ortcd III the arms of famous young ~
lohammedian surgeon. an Egyptian. ~ ~
rho had taken his degree in Edin- ~ -
urgh university and was then at %
icned to the British Red Cross. The ~
ian's mind was wandering and see 90
IL me beside him he commenced to ~
Tx to me as to his luthrothed. This ~
ar cannot last always little one and n nr
hen it is over we will buy a pig and pr
COW and we will go to the cuic ~, ~
ont we beloved? Then in a lucid ev
onient he realized that he was dy- on
q and be commenced to pray, Ava he he,
ara, Ava Maria, but the poor tired "
rain could remember nothing more, ~
turned to me TO continue, but 90
'uld no longer trust myself to speak III,
I'd II was the Mohammedian who no
ok up the prayer and continued 1t, IN,
bile the soldier followed with his W., va
)s until his soul passed away into ri
9 valley Of shadows. have always av,
d a deep respect for the other fell cd
vs. religion, but had never tho \ ~,
~ much about my own until one 1v
y = yOungster, little more than "a
was brought to me. The major n
ID he hadn't long to live, knowing nc
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