THE LADY WITH THE LAMP A Lady with a Lamp shall stand LONGFELLOW HE name of Florence Nightingale has long since become a household word. It is she of whom the poet writes these beautiful lines. She it is who, he says, shall stand in history as a model of heroism and sacrifice. It was a true prophecy. Florence Nightingale does indeed stand as a bright and noble example of devotion to duty and forgetfulness of self, in her efforts to relieve the suffering of the soldiers in the terrible Crimean War. She deserves all the praise which we give the bravest soldier who risks his life on the field of battle. Her spirit was as dauntless, her courage as fearless, as any of the famous "Six Hundred" who went down "into the jaws of Death" in this dreadful war. When we know how she devoted her life to deeds of mercy, we expect to find that in her childhood she was thoughtful and kind to every one; and in this we are not disappointed. She was also very gentle always in her treatment of animals, and would never let one suffer pain, hunger or thirst if she could prevent it. It is interesting to know that her first attempt at nursing was in the care of an old Scotch shepherd dog whose leg had been injured. Her success was so good that from that time whenever any one in the village had a cut or a bruise, or when any animal was sick, "Miss Florence" was sent for. She seemed to have a perfect genius, a real aptitude for nursing. Florence Nightingale was born in Florence, Italy, the "City of Flowers," and for this fair city she was given her name of Florence. Her father was a wealthy English gentleman and scholar. He believed that girls as well as boys should have the best education possible, and he gave his daughters many advantages and opportunities for improvement. Before Florence was seventeen she was proficient in many branches of study, was a fair artist, a good musician and an accomplished scholar in English, French, German and Italian. She and her sister were presented at the court of Queen Victoria, but gay society had little charm for her. She had heard the heavenly call, "Come up higher," and she now resolved to devote her whole life to work among the sick and suffering. After visiting many hospitals in London and Dublin, she began a course of instruction in Germany. Later she completed her training by study with the Sisters of St. Vincent de Paul in Paris. Thus, after ten years of such preparation, she was well fitted for her life work, and when the call came it found her ready. The cruel war between England and Russia was then going on in the Far East. War at all times is a terrible thing. Many valuable lives must be lost and untold misery be brought upon innocent men, women and little children. But when the sick and wounded must lie uncared for, because there are no doctors or nurses, when supplies of food, warm clothing, bedding, medicines and all comforts for the sick are wanting, the suffering is greatly increased. In spite of the most cruel privation and hardship, the brave English soldiers fought on. Worn out with hunger and fatigue, "stormed at with shot and shell," in the midst of cold fogs and darkness, they fought and conquered again and again, and all the world rang with the praises of those splendid heroes. Florence Nightingale, far away in her happy English home, heard of the horrors of this dreadful war. She wrote to the head of the War Department in London, offering her services to the sick and wounded at Scutari, where the need was greatest. This offer was gladly accepted, and she was at once appointed to take charge of a band of thirty-eight nurses who were to leave for the East in eight days. Among these devoted women were ten Sisters of Charity from St. Stephen's Hospital in Dublin, several English nuns and fourteen hospital nurses. The "angel band" arrived at Scutari just after a great battle, in time to care for the wounded who were brought from the field. The hospital arrangements were very poor, and everything was in the greatest confusion. The gentle missionaries must set themselves at once to the difficult task of reform. They must bring order out of chaos and transform this dreadful misery into comfort and cheer. Their rooms were at one end of the barracks, henceforth called "The Sisters' Tower." These rooms now presented a busy and interesting scene. Piled high on the floors were packages of shirts, socks, slippers and flannel ; heaps of everything for comfort and cleanliness needed in a sick room. On a large table were supplies of food and medicines which the Sisters and nurses were ever ready to take to the thousands lying helpless in those vast hospitals. And over all the gentle "Lady in Chief" presided, directing and encouraging. Soon the whole place knew the blessing of cleanliness. Kitchens and laundries were established, and all the hospital appointments were thoroughly reformed. Full reports and vivid descriptions of the conditions were sent to the English government, and to private supporters and friends at home, so that the sympathies of the whole nation were aroused. All England awoke to the needs of the army that was fighting so valiantly; and from the queen to the humblest peasant, the people began to make warm garments and to prepare lint and bandages for the soldiers. And far away at the seat of war, wherever there was disease in its most dangerous form, wherever the need and suffering were the greatest, there the calm, sweet face of Florence Nightingale was seen. She was a "ministering angel" in very truth. As her slender form glided quietly through the wards, |