Woman's World

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 112, 5 October 1914, Page 6

Woman's World

IX LOXELY LABRADOR.

ONE WOMAN'S lIEROIC WORK.

British men and women all the world over are quick to recognise and honor conspicuous bravery, wherever it may be shown. The natural instinct of man is to applaud the more spectacular forms of courage, but there is much quiet heroism that claims the recognition of all who delight to honor a brave soul, be it that of man or woman; a brave spirit may be shown' just as truly in faithful performance of duty in the face of overwhelming odds as in the sudden flashes of courage that are greeted with world-wide acclamation.

Among the names of women who throughout the world are quietly performing heroic work, the name of Xurse Daily, of Labrador, stands high. Nurse Bailey, whose work is connected with the Koyal Mission to Deep-sea Fishermen, started work in the little station of Forteau, on the Labrador coast, some nine years ago. The circumstances under which she passed her first winter there are such that might well have daunted the bravest heart. The rigours of winter in Arctic regions are jtractioally beyond tho imagination of us children of sunny New Zealand; suffice is it to say that timo after time Nurse Bailey's little cottage was completely snowed up, and she had to crawl out into the frozen world through her bedroom window, » "RuUCJirXG IT" IX WIXTER. This of itself required somo getting used to. By an unfortunate mishap, Miss Bailey's furniture did not arrive when she did. The short autumn lengthened into long winter; there was no sign of steamer. After a long, anxious wait, she- heard that a disaster had bcfallvii t!ie vi >..«!; the captain had !>."<'n wash • l ovt-r'.io-.ird, ;-,iul the crew had taken tiio boat, back before reaching r'oi'i'taiix! So all through that long white: the new arrival had to "rough it,." with no furniture >av« two mattresses and (.tie iiii-cau, which had to serve for all looking purposes. Added to these dillicu 'ties, Xurse Bailey contracted pliunsv, but distress was so rife in the little village I hat .she on'y went to bod foi a day and-a-half, placing the welfare of li.T people before her own. •IN' SOLBCHAUtiK. Since that first winter she has been in isolated charge of t.ie Forteau station, (.ii'iierally speaking, she has had to ne nurse and doctor, surveyor and roadniaker, parson and adviser, to the whoie village. When she went, there were no roads made. She organised labor, appealed to the Government for help, and now roads exist in every direction. Jn response to her representations, too, telegraphic communication has been established—a boon to an isolated community.

The people she dwells amongst are a simple folk, needing guidance in the moat elementary matters; the winter of l'Jlii--13 was very bad at Forctau. The provision ship failed to get through the autumn, and starvation in all its grimiiess had to be faced. Particularly trying was the scarcity of vegetables, and Nurse Bailey got herself scurvy. Then, as if their troubles were not enough, an epidemic of diphtheria broke out among the. devoted villagers. Single-handed, Xursa Bailey tackled the situation and nursed the whole community through it. She caught the infection herself, but had to go on with her work just the same. With the utmost pluck, she stuck to her post, and once more weathered the storm. But when the storm was over, Miss Bailey was compelled to either leave her beloved work for a time or face a complete breakdown. She decided to take a rest, and until last .Tune was with her own people in England. It is work such as hers that brings home, to us the fact that British women " are as sturdy and brave to-day m t*m face of danger and difficulty as ever British women have been, and arc worthy to take their places besides British men, who even now are splendidly unholding the best traditions of our race.