CHRISTMAS AT LUXOR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2686, 4 February 1916, Page 3

CHRISTMAS AT LUXOR

A NURSE'S LETTER

IN THE CONVALESCENT HOME

11l the course of an interesting letter to friends in Wellington, one of the Now Zealand nurses stationed in tho Convalescent Home in Luxor (Egypt), writing on December 14, says"Wo have such a number of New Zealand hoys up here. They are the first I havo como across. It was strange how ive never got them in No. 1 Hospital, and it is very nice indeed to get them here. They and the Australians are so refreshing. No comparison is made here. These New Zealand boys are just dears. Sonic of them were in the original landing on April 25, and one marvels how they can have any of their nonsense left after all they have been through. The Australians are just tho same, only a little more so. It is so nice to sec the good feeling there is between the two. I often say to a New Zealand boy, 'I thought you were an Australian, and he just laughs awl says, 'Well, it's all tho same, Sister.' And so it always is with them, each one says that. Aikl don't they love the colonial sisters I They cheer us like anything when wo come along. "I meant to go out to the Now Zealand General Hospital, and I believe it is very nice indeed, and a very good administration. It is all very interesting to hear about the new hospital ship and the appointments and another 100 nurses coming here. I wonder where they will go. All the No. 1 sisters who were to have gone back to Salonika are kicking their heels in idleness and finding it very irksome. Tho hospital unit is in Salonika, and 1 the sisters are not allowed to join it. They don't seem to need or want them in the British hospitals, so _ they belong to no one and have nothing to do just now. I'm glad they sent me on here. Idleness is no good to me, especially in war days, and work among the convalescents is infinitely better than that.

"Luxor is the most beautiful place, surely the most beautiful in tho world, I should think! The colouring and tho skies are marvellous to. behold, and all the fascinating pictures one sees of Egypt are absolutely true of Luxor. Of course it's only big buildings are tourist hotels, and they are at present stripped of their beautiful furnishings and full of convalescents. Our main building, 'the Winter Palace,' has over 2000 patients, and all the staff as well. It surges with the sound of slippered feet all day long,' and now they have' taken over three other hotels, and we will have over 3000 patients here for Christmas. It will be rather amusing to know how many turkeys they will kill for the Christmas dinner, for tho boys are all to have turkey, lots of vegetables, plum puddings (jib. to' each man), mince pies, ices, beer or lemonade. Won't it he jolly F Then wo give them a great Christmas tea, cakes all the way from Cairo, etc., another night. Really one longs to be rich and give the boys a great time. What an opportunity wealthy people have just now to give happiness I"

"Sister Wilkin got the loveliest parcel from Napier yesterday. _ A huge hat-box full of white parcels, tied with red and blue ribbons, and typed 011 each one "A Xnias greeting to a lonely soldier." Sister's friends asked .her to distribute Miem to the boys (not necessarily New Zealand' boys) who seemed lonely. Isn't it a lovely idea, and we just loved those beautiful white parcels, and will love giving them to the boys.

'Two of the boys got their Christmas cakes from New Zealand. They arrived in splendid order, packed in sealed tins, of course. Tliey haven't kept them for Christmas, needless to say, but I wish their mothers could have, seen their joy ovor the cakes. They are tired of socks and balaclavas, and appreciate cakes and chocolate very much more, I assure you.

"You would have loved to have heard the yell of delight that greeted me as 1 came on duty the other day with an armful of New Zealand papers for the boys.

"There is a New Zealand doctor, Captain Deersley, at the Luxor Hotel, srd lie arranged two most delightful days for the boj's—took them all up the Nile about 14 miles to the home of a i ranch Count, who is away at the war just r.ow, and had lunch arranged for them in the lovely old garden. Such a lunch, too, just like home, even cold roast beef, tho boys said, and how they did enjoy it nil. Some of them said it was the happiest day tihey had had since leaving home. So it is nico to know they are enjoying themselves. They are good lads, and don't objcct to much'. }ou know R.A.M.C. hospitals and methods are very different to ours, and what is good enough for the Tommies should be good enough for them, I know, but tl"ey are very different boys to the Tommies, and nearly all of them there, anyway, are college boys, and have come from nice homes. Thoy are very good about it, though, but there is no doubt we feed our* boys, infinitely better, and after all feeding is the main thing. In fact, I have learnt that if in civil hospitals each patient is a "case," in a military hospital each patient is a "diet," and these diet sheets are the worry of our lives. , "Luxor is the centre of all the Antiquities of Egypt, and I suppose of the world. I have gone across the Nile to Thebes three or four times, and gazed at temples and visited tombs which date thousands of years B.C. It is very marvellous. Karnak Temple is ti\o miles out of Luxor, and surely it is one t>f tflie wonders of tha world. We are very privileged seeing all this wonderful country, are we not?"