In thousands of hospitals all over France, the Red Cross nurses are
working with unexampled devotion. No task is too menial for them, no
work too repulsive; their only thought is to relieve the suffering of
the poor creatures brought to them. The men repay them well by quick
obedience, and openly-expressed gratitude. It is a touching sight to
go down a hospital ward lined with beds, and see these chaps follow
gratefully with boyish eyes, the little white-robed figure, which
represents so much to them of well-being and gentle care. If one stops
to inquire about their health, always a cheery answer, "Ca va bien
aujour d'hui, Madame (It goes well today, Madame);" no matter how much
they suffer, or what acute agony they may be undergoing, they will not
admit it.
I know one boy of nineteen, a volunteer, twice wounded, who was told by
the doctor, while dressing his wound for the first time after his third
operation, "Scream, my boy, scream, if it does you good, it will help."
"No, doctor," he replied, "I prefer to whistle." So while the doctor
opened the wound and cleaned the bone, he whistled "Nous les aurons"
(We'll get 'em)—the latest song from the trenches.
[Illustration]
Many women who would gladly work in the hospitals are prevented by
other duties. They have their homes and children to look after, or
old people or invalids dependent on them, or also they must tend the
shops in their husbands' absence, or run the auberge or hotel, or work
in the factories, but each one does something on the side for the
"Union sacrée." It may not be more than a pair of knitted socks sent
weekly to the trenches, or a cushion made of snipped-up cotton rags,
cut fine and close, or a package of tobacco bought by carefully saved
sous. From this universal wish have been created many good and useful
works. During a recent visit to Paris I was impressed by the number of
charities Frenchwomen have established and keep in fine running order.
Let me mention a few:
1. Oeuvre des Blesses au Travail (work of wounded soldiers).
2. Oeuvre du Soldat dans la Tranchée (fund for the soldier in the
trenches—send warm clothing).
3. For sending food and clothing to the French Prisoners in Germany.
4. The "Quinze Vingt" the government establishment for teaching the
permanently blind a trade.
5. The Duchesse d'Uzes' organization for sending clothing and money
to the soldiers from the invaded districts; men who have no news from
their families or relations since the German invasion.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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