Yes, on the right hand the children; on the left hand is a model
horsepital, not merely a exhibit, but a real horsepital, at full work in
its blessed and sanctified labor, a-takin' care of the sick and
smoothin' the brows racked with agony, alleviatin' the distresses of the
frame racked with pain.
What another good work! Can a man show anything at their hull Columbus
World's Fair--anything that will equal these two blessed labors?
No; he can show lots of knowledge and wisdom, and he can show guns, and
cannons, and pistols, boey-knives, to cut and slash; but it is woman's
work (blessed angel that she is, a good deal of the time), it is them
that shows this broad, efficient system of relieving the hurts and
distresses of the world. Besides the most skilled of our own country,
foreign nations send their best-trained nurses from their trainin'
schools, showin' the latest and most perfect methods of relievin' pain
and agony.
And not contented with showin' off here what they could do, and how they
do it--not content with makin' this one big room a perfect nest for
female good Samaritans--a carin' for the sick and dyin'--
They have soared out of this room--60 by 80 feet couldn't confine
'em--they have located all over the grounds horsepitals to care for them
who are took sick here at Columbuses doin's, and, good creeters, I
suppose they will have their hands full, specially in dog days.
Yes, woman begun her work jest as she ort to, right on the ground
floor--on the right, the children; on the left, the sick and helpless.
Right opposite the main front is the library, furnished by the wimmen of
New York. It is one of the largest and finest rooms in the house, and
every book in it writ by a woman.
And right here I see my own books; there they wuz a-standin' up jest as
noble and pert as if they wuz to home in the what-not behind the parlor
door, not a-feelin' the least mite put out before princes, or zars.
A-standin' jest as straight in front of a king as a cow-boy, not
a-humpin' themselves up in the latter instance, or a-meachin' in the
more former one.
I felt proud on 'em to see their onbroken dignity and simplicity of
mean. And, thinkses I, the demeanor of them books is a lesson to
Republics--how to act before Royalties; not a-backin' up and a-actin',
not put out a mite, not forward, and not too backward--jest about megum.
A-keepin' right on in their own spear, jest as usial, not intrudin'
themselves and a-pushin', but ready to greet 'em and give 'em the best
there wuz in 'em, if occasion called for it, and then ready to bid 'em a
calm, well-meanin' farewell when the time come to part.
It wuz a great surprise to me, and how they got there wuz a mystery. But
I spoze the nation collected 'em together and sot 'em up there because
it sets such a store by me. It is dretful fond of me, the nation is, and
well it may be. I have stood up for it time and agin, and then I've done
a sight for it in the way of advisin' and bracin' it up.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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