THESE HOME LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN GIRL, DAUGHTER OF A RETIRED GENERALOF THE U. S. ARMY, GIVING HER TRAINED SERVICES, CARING FOR THE WOUNDEDIN FRANCE AT AN ARMY AMBULANCE AND SUCCORING DISTRESS WHEREVER SHE MEETSIT, ARE PUBLISHED BY HER FRIENDS WITHOUT HER KNOWLEDGE. SIMPLY ANDSOLELY TO RAISE MONEY TO AID HER IN HER WORK WHICH BEGAN ON THE 4th DAYOF AUGUST, 1914.
EVERY DOLLAR RECEIVED FROM THE SALE OF THE BOOK, LESS BARE COST OFPRINTING AND EXPRESS CHARGES, GOES TO THE FUND.
St. John, N. B.
BARNES & CO., Limited, PUBLISHERS.
1917
The Assistance of all Booksellers and Stationers is Solicited iniPushing this Work. Price One Dollar. Single Copies by Mail Postage Paid.Address “Poilus,” Box 163, St. John, N. B. Hospital Contributions willbe received and acknowledged by A. C. Skelton, Manager Bank of BritishNorth America, St. John, N. B.
Copyright.
Canada, March 2, 1917.
United States, March, 1917.
First Edition, March 15, 1917.
Second Edition, April 15, 1917.
Engravings by
F. C. Wesley Co., St. John, N. B.
When Florence Nightingale began her great work in the hospital wards atScutari in 1854, she little realised how far-reaching would be theeffect of her noble self-sacrificing efforts. Could she to-day visit thewar-stricken countries of Europe she would be astonished at the greatdevelopments of the work of caring for the wounded soldiers which sheinaugurated so long ago. Her fine example is being emulated to-day byhundreds of thousands of brave women who are devoting themselves to thewounded, the sick and the dying in countless hospital wards.
All too little is known of what these devoted nurses have done and aredoing. Some day the whole story will be given to the world; and thehearts of all will be thrilled by stirring deeds of love and bravery. Inthe meantime it is pleasing and comforting to catch fleeting glimpses ofa portion of the work as depicted in this sheaf of letters, now issuediiiunder the title of “My Beloved Poilus,” written from the Front by abrave American nurse.
Two outstanding features give special merit to these letters. They werenot written for publication, but for an intimate circle of relatives andfriends. And because of this they are not artificial, but are free andgraceful, with homely touches here and there which add so much to theirvalue. Amidst the incessant roar of mighty guns; surrounded by thewounded and the dying; shivering at times with cold, and wearied almostto the point of exhaustion, these letters were hurriedly penned. No timehad she for finely-turned phrases. Neither were they necessary. Thesimple statements appeal more to the heart than most eloquent words.
These letters will bring great comfort to many who have loved ones atthe Front. They will tell them something of the careful sympathetictreatment the wounded receive. The glimpses given here and there, ofivthe efforts made by surgeons and nurses alike to administer relief, andas far as po