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Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume VIII, Issue 3, 1 July 1915, Page 135

(Sister Jordan's address is : C/o. Bank of New Zealand, 1 Queen Victoria Street, London.)

Sister Ella Cooke writes to her sister from London, dated May 25th : — " Here I am again in ' Warrender ' with L. I reached London on Friday night and found L. and some friends at Victoria Station to meet me. It was so strange being in London again after coming straight away from six months in the war zone. Sister Eaddy has come with me and we shall at once try to get some more nursing, which it will not be dimcult to do. I thought Paris was delightful and wonderful — one doesn't see the old grey buildings there, everything is so fresh and white. Of course, very many of the buildings are hundreds of years old, but they look fresh owing to Paris not being a manufacturing city. We found our way about Paris quite well. One whole day was spent in interviewing the British Consulate and the Prefecture of Police. It is an awful business travelling now-a-days in a foreign country there are so many things to be thought of and fixed up. However, I think I could travel anywhere now, so it's all experience. E. and I had to get another photo taken for our passports — our previous photos had not been stamped by the Foreign Office — and we had to pay ss. for having the new ones properly stamped. S. will not be leaving for New Zealand for a few months, and to my mind it is best for her to wait for a time. I don't intend to frighten any one, but it is really not safe to travel anywhere unless it is a matter of life and death. Just now things are most unsettled, for the Germans are determined to do the British peoples all the harm they possibly can. In any case, if one has to travel it is as well to provide oneself with a decent pneumatic life-belt and have it always handy. I am feeling awfully well and fit for more work. Trained nurses are needed very badly everywhere, and it is our duty to help all we can in this horrible and cruel war. The other day we went to dinner with the C's., who were so pleased to have me back quite whole again. I believe they thought the Germans would shoot us, and no doubt they would if we were near enough, but we don't give them the chance. On Sunday evening Mr. E. gave us a little supper at the Trocadero in honour of my return, We had a most sumptuous

repast, and did enjoy it, being so different from the fare we had been used to for the last six months. The music too, was delightful, and I felt I could stay there all night. Yesterday, being Bank Holiday, we went in the morning to Hampton Court to see the gorgeous flowers, which just now arc at their best. I should love you to have seen them, so beautiful, quite beyond my powers of description. We stayed out there to lunch and came back to the city in the afternoon, and went to see the dancing at Hamp stead Heath. All the costers were out in their best regalia- — quite a sight- — on Bank Holiday. The shops are showing awfully pretty things, but I am still living in my shirt blouses ! To-morrow I have to go and have an interview with Mrs. Bedford Fenwick,: and so every day seems taken up with something. We are having very hot weather and the trees and flowers are very beautiful. There is not nearly such a dearth of men in London as there saems to b3 in France. We never saw a man of military age there walking about the streets without a uniform. England will need to send more men yet before this awful war is ended. Germany is still very strong and will do a lot more damage yet before she gives in."