THE MONTECILLO HOME

Evening Star, Issue 16781, 9 July 1918, Page 2

THE MONTECILLO HOME

POR TONING UP OUR BATTERED SOLDIERS. GIVING THEM REST AND HOPE. An ' Evening St;ir ' reporter went to the lied Cross Hume at Mouteciilo yestculay with two of the convalescent soldiers who were being transferred thither from the Dunedin Hospital, and had the privilege of being conducted through the establishment by Sister M'Millau (the matron) and the ilev. Vincent King (chairman of tho Bed Cross Executive Committee). The situation of the home is all that could be desired. It stands on the rlso above the football ground, high enough to command a view of the ocean from Cargill's bluff to Lawyer Head, also of ' the upper arm of the harbor and. far i away as the Macandrew Bay bend. This position means not only an interesting ! panorama of shipping and city movoj ments, but a share in all the sunshine that ■■ is goiug from early morning till late in tie'" afternoon, and these advantages fie enjoyed with a minimum of exposure to piercing winds; since there is shelter on tho south-western side. A serpentine path, easy for motors, leads from the Kjlinton road to the house. A new entrance is being made, and when this is don.e a big Red Cross on the gates ' will stand as the sign. The drive is through a bit of rich tree-planted ground., winch is being trimmed nv and smartened. The men have also started to put tho grounds in order. Meanwhile the attention of the management has beau mostly directed to the ho.no itself, so as to prepare it as quickly as possible for the reception of convalescents. As the matron leads the way through the house one can guess by her manner l at she is not afraid of a visitor getting a bid impression. is nothing to hide; nothing to apologise for. Guided bv good taste and experienced judgment, the'' transforming planning has secured the necessary enlargement without destroying the appearance of the home, l'ha't is the distinguishing characteristic of the place.: that'it is still a comfort-

aide residence, suggest-int,' nothing in -1: i ! rj" or in equipment that could be lil; d t> an hotel or a hospital, and in.' a.'.ay from the institutional idea. I'f is- a, place, whore a lodow may curl i-M.-i; up in l'x it of th ■ lire aid fe. 1 t' hi- . i-v, as in a family, and take all n>' " i,' ::al d.rorafhms of the rooms . L -e e--i. They tirr a.l' ill lit;lit ' ,de-, simple in dosiun. Eiidit streams ' ■ •> ,"h the house, for th. windows ai e i-g_\ Th ■ l.t'c.ny i~ tpaeiuus enough ' r pi .t-onr. ill-,!!. Each sleeping room •vn- .in tc t'd* hale my. The'e are de- ■'!.■ new appointments v. ure indispeus■b. suJi as a rang,' of lockers for the i'. ami a mod-rn baUr.-oum, and »n a ''"'it 1 >r m - whibt a landing r * ' o.d of the .-tairs had t:> be altered a-- to p-v. >de :x let'riim room for the ' •i. I'ir the g.'tu'.i'. pl.in of the --i' "dtinoiit has been in the main prcforv"d. 11 is important to note that the matrre I has r;,.; found it necessary to impose in - Ij- Mr • "al lew on th' niti'jie*. _\'ot I n'. p- 1 cm !>e hid anywhere of a od' o; :u> T'e.'e '■- no peumptory ca'. lor ' • •ii , :":i t. Tins im"' i-= sersect at '>'(•! ok. but if a man elr.ose to lie a, bit 1 ' M' tllM'e is no p> •\ . even to tl • ,k> >: of a frovn. It i!f ■. .iy through t.h -

,'urini'. .at ah,,it 10 "•'). the hj •.•!-.<! v' l ! •»>■ a wait, ess -imp. If he needs a little help in wa-di ■ *. or sha .\'n;,'. or gt trine,' into his clothos ri'ere is a 1 way- torn amo .tady to lend •• and. The ni'e of th» Imn-" seems I be to d ' v ith mt ei or the mu'ii i.lyii'i; of restrictions, eve'yone being en iiis honor to bestir himself as he can. ft is th"m-'it that tho men transferred to thb home vill not ncd rrn d'rvl ait-n----toi ' oftener than p"t'haps once a week, j thon_rh a div tor can be % >t at any time if j v.'i"i"d. Ar.'aiu'p-iants a e mad" frr ke >p- j mer light dressings y;oing. and much re- j liance is placed on the daily visits of i Miss Elisor, the masseuse, who has mi- j dm-fcaken to stay two hours a day or longer if reou'>- ,1. '''.-•;• « 'rv c s aie line tuitously, and the same can bo said of n'l ch ■ f.,ir';'rs about the hj mic that .•-■ster M'Millan has enrolled. Even such a ] 'ahorions and responsible duty as the en k- r •"<? is done ns a labor of love. Sirs John M"'Lar-n ivh. =<> hu*bi>ri i = at tie front'. !n- this portion, and the hoys sav that phe is not only a cook. but a woride" in scheming variety and n! 'a-mcr sunrises for the la' 1". * ' A vi-.it to the homo and a hj ok •" the men v, ill at. once dispe' anv anxiety a-, t , th.. snet'-« of ti.i-. R\!'Cro-s entero'hse. To understand its and i'-N rrmtinnoos operations a':d to fir-d r-rt ''- secret ,-n. nf/s ori' 1 lceib to think back a bit, \w-,t rie' of w'lddly \\'isdom, and tlirotiL'h the homifics of St. ■b'iv = and St John, to the foundational nrincinle of the lMa=te:-. " Thon sh-ilt love thy neighbor as thvself." This war is us back to first principles. Christ nevi'- e.-i-d so many true disciples as He has to-dav.