Three of the doctors have been ill, so we did not get off to Dr.
Berry's to-day. We had the most ghastly thunderstorm this evening,
lasting two hours, such big hailstones. Dr. Payne, Nurse Berry and
Nurse Newhall, Mr. Black and myself had breakfast at 6.15. We took
plenty of refreshments with us and left the camp in the motor
ambulance for Vrynatchka Banja. It is sixty miles from Kragujevatz. We
came through the most gorgeous scenery, and it was so picturesque to
see the women and the boys working in the maize fields. The women
never wear hats, only coloured handkerchiefs over their heads, and if
in mourning the handkerchiefs are black. We had lunch when we got
about half way; then another bad storm came on and in a few minutes we
could scarcely see in front of us for thick mist. We soon drove
through it and came into quite dry ground again. The fields are
perfectly wonderful with wild flowers, the most beautiful colours.
The hedges are all acacia trees, and the most lovely wild flowers.
Butterflies and beetles are very plentiful. We had only one puncture,
and changed the wheel and went on merrily again. We arrived at
Vrynatchka Banja at about 2.30. We had a lovely welcome from the
members of Dr. Berry's unit; six of them had come out on the _Saidieh_
with us; several of them have been over to see us at our camp. We had
tea at 4 o'clock and at 6 we went to a lecture given by Dr. Berry. In
the evening we had some music. The other members of our unit which
were here when we arrived left at 9 o'clock for Kragujevatz the
following morning, leaving us three here for a rest. We saw them off;
then Nurse Berry and I went to see the town, leaving Nurse Newhall in
bed. This place is simply charming; it is far more beautiful than
Kragujevatz, and is one of the fashionable watering places in Serbia.
This hospital is very large and we have hot and cold water and
electric light. Dr. Berry has several other hospitals besides; they
have only 130 patients. This afternoon I went into the large ward for
some music with the wounded. We sang and played to them. The wounded
are most grateful for all that is done. They call us all "Sistra" and
often "Dobra Sistra," which means good sister. The Serbian men look so
fragile, with the exception of the higher class, who are mostly fine,
strong-looking men. The women are splendid, so handsome and strong
looking; they do most of the manual labour. The magnificent courage of
the Serbian women will never be forgotten. Some have lost father,
brothers, husbands and sons. These women have one simple answer:
"Sistra, they died for their country!" Before such patriotism we can
but kneel and pray for the simple faith which shall teach each one of
us to be brave enough to do the same. Their country, beautiful and
fertile like our own, is ravaged; disease, war and famine, yet they
still go on. The Austrian prisoners do most of the work; they are such
a nice race of men, and so willing, and never mind what they do. They
hate warfare. We are all impressed with them. It seems hard that they
have to fight against the Serbs. We went for a pretty walk after tea;
we all went to bed early.