THE LATE DR. ELSIE INGLIS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 112, 29 January 1918, Page 2

THE LATE DR. ELSIE INGLIS

TRIBUTES TO HER WORK. The following tributes to the lato Dr. Elsio Inglis, whoso noble work for suffering war-stricken humanity has made her namo one to bo rovered for all timo amongst . British speaking communities, appears in tho last number of "Tho Queen": — By tho untimely death of Dr. Elsie Inglis this country has lost olio of her noblest daughters, and at a time when she can ill be spared. Her work for Serbia has touched tho heart of a stricken nation as perhaps -no individual work oil the part of a stranger and foreigner has over .before moved the emotion and roused the gratitude of an entire people. M. Jovanovitch, tho Serbian Minister, telegraphed, on recoiving the sad news of her death: The whole Serbian nation mourns . with you and Groat Britain their great friend and best helper durIJio war. Father Nicholai and sis Serbians representing the Serb colony in London havo addressed the following message to a relative: AVe deeply regret death of Dr. Elsio Inglis. She was our friend of friends, showing her friendship towards Serbian sufferers through | sympathy, work, and self-sacrifice. I In her the Serbian people saw the noble soul of Scotland. No, slio will never dio among Serbs; one of the noblest heroes of our _ time. Lot this be your consolation in your great sorrow. The Scottish Women's Hospitals owed their origin to tho Scottish Women's Federation of tho N.U.W.S.S., of which Dr. Elsio Inglis was hon._ secretary. They had sent out their first unit to Serbia in December, 1914, when the terrible i typhus epidemic swept over all tho land, and the diro necessity for more doctors and uurses called for ever more assistance. In April, 1915, Dr. Inglis left her work in France, where she was organising the Royaumont Hospital, and joined her oolieagues in Serbia. There she remained through the summer, while the clouds of the Austrian invasion wero gathering; through the terrible retreat, working for Serbia free; and still on into January,_ 1916, with Serbians under the Austrian yoke. On receiving the new of her death, Sir .Arthur Stanley wrote to the Lon-

don committee of Scottish Women s Hospitals:— Nobody has done better or more strenuous work in the war than Dr. Inglis. She devoted her lite to tho countries in which she workbd, and her death is a glorious oxanrple of self-sacrifice and devotion to duty. Many other telegrams and messages havo been received from those who knew from personal experience what her work had been. Commander Reginald Gregory, R.N., writes, referring to her last campaign:— I had the honour to be in command of the British Armoured Gar Division both in the Dobrudja and Rumania and Southern Russia, and hadmanv opportunities of witnessing the magnificent work or Dr. Inglis and her gallant and invaluable band of Sisters. The memory of Dr. Inglis and her brave unit will live for ever in the memories of those who came in contact with them on active service in the field, where their devotion to duty was an example to the world. As is now well known, Dr. Inglis's latest task .was carried out as Commissioner in charge of the London units of the Scottish Women's Hospitals in Southern Russia and Rumania, accredited to the Serbian division serving with the Russian Army. On this mission, as before in Serbia, she wonted with a great devotion to duty and an unwearied zeal from tho day she left England, in August, 1916, to the day death claimed her—a devotion whicb, shining as a beacon light, will inspire her friends and colleagues everywhere to high endeavour, aud which sets a great standard of accomplishment before tho women of tho Empire. , Having discharged every task she had undertaken —and these tasks were greater and more onerous than tho public is yet aware of—she calmly and serenely lay down to die, having reached port in her own country, all duties done and her. latest enterprise accomplished. As her eyes closed on'this earthly light slio spoke to her friends of new tasks awaiting her in the new country to which she was bound. Even in tho very hour of death the wornout, exhausted body could not lure that great spirit to thoughts of rest or ease. Surely she passes from strength to strength. Miss Roliienberg, lion, librarian of tho Sydney Street Soldiers' Club, acknowledges with thanks books, papers, and magazines for the use of the soldiers from Lady Stout, Mesdames L. Blundell, J. Joseph, E. Hadfield, H. Kirkcaldie, Greig, Holmes, Muuro, Catrick, Severne, W. Blundell, J. W. Salmond, Gregory, Miles, Reid, Wallace, Castle, Lowe, J. Myers, Bradney-Wil-liams, Scott, England, Hunter, Nathau Ritchie, Misses Johnston, M'Kenzio, Messrs. Cruickshank, Mantell, Atkins, Seed, Jackson, Wellington College (per Mr. J. P. Firth), Terrace School (per Mr. Macmorran), District Lands Office, and several anonymous donors; also cards from Wellington Club (per Mr. A.D.Crawford). A typical example of the danger that the AVar Chest Comforts men unflinchingly face can bo understood by tho following story told by a soldier when on furlough in London (states the Sydney "Sunday Times"). He said that at Polygon Wood the A.C.F. coffee stall was in such an exposed position that although' soldiers would have given worlds for a hot drink they considered the obtaining of it so dangerous, as tho 6tall was exposed to a heavy shell fire, that they reluctantly decided to go without th© coffee or tea and hasten out of tho perilous zone. On several ocasions the comforts suppliers havo lost themselves in dispensing tho comforts. But there were'always numerous volunteers to take their places, for tho A.C.F. realises that at all hazards tho comforts work must be carried on.

' Wellington Red Cross Shop. Mrs. Firth, hon. secretary'of the •Wellington Red Cross Shop Committee, acknowledges a donation of £25 Ds. from the Miramar Ladies' Sewing . Guild. Thi.s guild has helped the shop very greatly during- the past year. It has jegularly given a Red Cross day ■ once-in- three months, besides sending donations and helping in other movements in connection with the shop. It will continue- to give its help every x three months, and will start with a Friday in March. . The help from Miramar is greatly appreciated. It is a small and scattered district, but tho people are keen for the good work. This is the first donation for tlie New Year for Red Cross work in connection' with the shop, and it-gives the committee great encouragement. A meetine: of .the committee of the Wellington- R«d Cross Shop will he held on Thursday- next, at 3 p.m., in the •Town Hall, when the balance-sheet and report of the year's work will be given.

Wometi Farmers. At the experimental farm at Cowra (New South Wales) one of the women fanners was seen recently by_ the Director of Agriculture ploughing with a team of six horses. An inquiry elicited from her that she was not tired, though she had been, working a fivedisc plough for 8J hours. The women do all the work about the farm, this being the chief wheat experiment station in New South Wales, states the Sydney "Sun.". Itfis intended to enlarge,the accommodation so aa to have room for eight more trainees. The success of the Cowra venture demonstrates that women can be' usefully employed at what is regarded as tho most laborious form of agricultural life, [t was thought that outside beekeeping, poultry raising, and flower gardening, there would be not much scope for women on the land. But one only has to see them driving the sturdy draught horses at Cowra to realise that women are competent workers in avenues from which it was previously thought their sex would debar them. The score at Cowra were the picture of .health.