Baron Edward Oppenheirn. 829 



before their names, were quite indignant if I expected them to 

 assist in the kitchen, to cook, or to perform other duties, by 

 which they thought themselves degraded. They were always 

 quarrelling amongst themselves, and the hospitals in which 

 they attended were far different from that one in which four 

 sisters from Coblentz were nurses. 



I told Professor Busch that I wanted regular sisters of 

 mercy, instead of voluntary nurses, and it was resolved to pro- 

 cure them. I therefore applied 'to Count Hompesch, a knight 

 of Malta, who was stationed in Covny, and most readily com- 

 plied with my request. Sisters from the order of St. Vincenz 

 de Paul arrived soon, to replace the voluntary nuisances, and 

 things improved in a Vv'onderful manner. These sisters did 

 not llirt and look out for husbands, for they had done with the 

 world ; they were not ashamed to do menial services, and did 

 not quarrel amongst themselves. Quietly and obediently they 

 did what was required of them by their superiors, and even 

 those doctors who were inclined to take the part of the volun- 

 tary nurses had to admit that they themselves and the wounded 

 profited greatly by the change. 



Now I arranged that in each of the hospitals a kitchen was 

 established, and also a store-room, from which the patients' 

 wants could be satisfied at once, whilst formerly the nurses had 

 always to apply to some Johanniter, which caused delays and 

 other disagreeable things. 



Not long after my return from Jouy and Ars snr-Moselle, 

 Baron Edward Oppenheirn arrived froni Cologne, with a great 

 omnibus filled with many things, which I had told him were 

 especially wanted. He showed himself very zealous, visited 

 all the hospitals, even the typhus hospital, and convinced him- 

 self of the shortcomings and wants, and the manner in whicli 

 the voluntary gifts of the people were used and distributed. 

 The youngest brother of the baron was a lieutenant on the 

 staff of General von Kummer, whose troops were stationed 

 very near Metz, and Baron Edward, curious to see everything, 

 went round with him, exposing himself more than was prudent. 



The things which he brought with him were not taken from 

 the stores of the committee in Cologne, but bought by him and 

 paid for out of his own pocket. As he was better pleased with 

 my manner of distribution than with that of the knights of St. 

 John, he confided them all to me, and they were the first 



