of good-tempered chaff flies round. All inmates are to leave in their
own clothes, and strange garments have been brought to the light of day,
whilst much concern is expressed about excellent coats and skirts
moth-eaten or mislaid in the course of twenty-five years. The storage of
the workhouse often suffers strain, and the wholesome practice of
"stoving" all clothes does not improve the colours nor contribute to the
preservation of what _modistes_ call _la ligne_. Fortunately, all
fashions come round again, and we try to assure the women that the
voluminous skirts and high collars of last century are _le dernier cri_
in Bond Street, but it is difficult for one woman to deceive another
over the question of fashion.
For twelve hours the 'buses and ambulances have plied backwards and
forwards, and now the last load home has started, and tired nurses and
harassed officials wave their last good-bye, thankful the long day has
come at length to an end. In a few days other loads will arrive, all
young these and all soldiers, many of them, perhaps, as the
advertisements say, belonging to the nobility and gentry. The workhouse
has ceased to be. From to-day it will be no longer rate-supported; the
nurses and the whole staff draw rations and are in the pay and service
of the War Office. As soon as possible gilt letters will announce it as
a "Military Hospital."
On the table before me lies a copy of the local paper, and I read with
surprise the thanks of a public body for our "offer to give up the
workhouse as a military hospital, and expressing appreciation of the
patriotic action of the Guardians in the matter."
In my opinion we made no offer; we merely obeyed a command, and the
people who did a patriotic action were those who turned out of their
home, such as it was; but in this world credit is given where it is not
due, and thanks are bestowed on the wrong people. We reap where we have
not sown and gather where we have not strawed.
_Printed in Great Britain by_
UNWIN BROTHERS, LIMITED, THE GRESHAM PRESS, WOKING AND LONDON
End of Project Gutenberg's Workhouse Characters, by Margaret Wynne Nevinson