FASHIONABLE NURSING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 16, 19 January 1901, Page 3 (Supplement)

FASHIONABLE NURSING.

A nurse who wus on board gives r\n interesting picture of the voyage of the American hospital ship Maine to aid South African wounded:—The Maine" left London December 24. Lady Randolph Churchill had a large reception room, a bathroom, and a bedrqom on the promenade deck, and played the great lady philanthropist with much fuss and feather. The skilled nurses and other folk were very small potatoes. Some df them were put' to such work as scrubbing- decks, and various other duties of seamen. On Jan. 4 Lady Churchill had every scrap of religious literature-tracts, Bibles, periodicals, leaflets, etc.—brought up on deck, and the whole pitched overboard for the moral instruction of the fishes. But, lo compensate, she had tlie ship ransacked for caramels, which "she knew were somewhere." Finally they were found, and she distributed 50 boxes among- the orderlies and nurses. January 10 was Lady C.'s birthday, and the Maine crossed the line dressed in all her bravery of flags. The customary initiation of men who had never crossed the line before was carried out while Lady C. and her companion, Miss Warrender, stationed themselves on the bridge with kodaks to get snapshots of the different Victims as they were being lathered ami shaved by Father Neptune's barber. The head of the non-commissioned staff of the Medical Corps, an American, was badly handled and dragged out of the rigging by the crew. They got him up to the tub of tar and slush, when all the Americans rusfied to his aid. The Englishmen nelped their side and there was a free. Tight. Finally the Americans prevailed, and their man was not shaved. But Lady Churchill came down from the bridge and lectured him for damaging her fun, told him he was poor-spirited, had no sense of humour and had spoilt everything by his stubbornneff. The Maine reached Capetown January 21. A round of wild gaiety began. Sir Alfred Milner and other potentates came on board, and there was a big English reception on shore with Americans absent! Durban was reached January 29—brilliant breakfasts, receptions, luncheons, dinners, and teas were the order of every day. When the first train of wounded soldiers came in from Maritzburg Lady C. and Miss W. put red crosses on their arms and went forth with a kodak to meet the trains. The $hip looked very much like Lady C.'s pleasure yacht There were no lectures, no instructions given; the time was passed in lounging, drinking, cigarette-smoking— by the ladies as well as the men. The badly-wounded soldiers got everything they wanted on return journey, but the convalescents were not allowed the beer and stout which had been put on board for them. At Durban 1000 cases of crackers each containing 36 packets, Were converted into cash. Lady C. deciding that as money was running short they could be sold. The Maine was back at Capetown March 21, and there was more gaiety. Colonel Rhodes was a guest on board and was entertained largely on shore More stores were sold, and on the 23rd th«S Maine sailed. At St. Helena there was more fun, and more of the supplies were converted into cash. On April IB the Maine reached Madeira. The wounded were most anxious to reach England as soon as possible, especially Serjeant Grantham, of the Army Hospital,

Corps, who was very 111. The ship was to have sailed at 4 p.m., but Lady C. dined ashore and did not return till very late. Sergt. Grantham died at midnight. Lady C. begged for another day; the captain granted it, but when yet another was asked for, she was informed that if not back at the ship by a certain time the ship would sail without her. After leaving Madeira Lady C. was very charming to everybody, and the nurses all had their salaries raised. We reached London on March Z'>, and heaven preserve us from such another trip!