REMARKABLE GENERAL VIEW OF THE AUSTRIAN TRENCHES NEAR JASIONNA,
SHOWING THE COVERED SHELTERS AS WELL AS OPEN DITCHES AND THE WINDING
LANES OF CIRCULATION]
"I must finish this letter with an attempted account of our
wonderful fête de Noël, which was held here this afternoon [this
letter was written on Christmas Eve], and which will terminate at
midnight with a mass in the chapel. A famous opera singer is to sing
Gounod's 'Ave Maria,' and I'm going to prop open my weary eyes and
attend it.
"We decorated the wards and halls with holly and mistletoe, which
grows in great abundance and richness here in France. We had the
tree all lighted by electric bulbs downstairs, with a beautiful
Santa Claus giving out gifts. All walking cases filed in and
received small gifts. Many came in chairs, too. Meantime a trained
chorus was walking through the halls from floor to floor, singing
Christmas carols, and finally Santa Claus carried his gifts to
all the bed patients. In the meanwhile the chapel was filled with
soldiers and nurses, and many patriotic songs were sung. The singing
made me so homesick that the tears came and I had to go back to my
sick men. I bought each man a package of cigarettes and a box of
matches, and I gave an enlargement of the group photo I sent you to
each man in it. Also I lent them my big silk American flag to help
decorate.
_The Clown of the Hospital._
"Ahmed, the big Turco, who came to me with seven shrapnel wounds,
but is now almost well, and who I told you is the proud husband
of two wives and the father of six sons--he does not count the
daughters--got hold of the flag somehow, and now it hangs proudly
over his bed. By the way, he heard this morning that one of his
wives, Fatima, has presented him with a son, so now he has seven.
Such joy! While I was down at noon buying the tobacco and a few
little things for K---- I saw a little doll, chocolate in color,
dressed as a baby. I bought it and put it on Ahmed's pillow when he
wasn't looking. The instant he spied it he let off a yell: 'Mon fils
de Tunis!' and hugged that poupée and carried on most delightfully.
"I also bought a wooden crane, whose head, neck, and feet move, for
Moosa, the black Senegalesi. I told you about him a long time ago,
but not by name. He is the one who said a prayer over his wound
and tried to bite every one who came near him. He has become quite
tame under the influence of Dr. Chauneau, who is the most charming
old Frenchman imaginable. Moosa got toys exactly like a child and
was just as delighted. He laughs just like a typical Southern darky
does, and is altogether funny. They keep him in a red jacket and
cap, and the color effect is splendid. It reminds me of chocolate
and strawberry ice cream.
* * * * *
"That Turco, Ahmed, whom I've spoken of several times, and who is
absolutely devoted to me, keeps the ward in a perfect gale. Last
night the men had a regular circus there, and it was all fomented by
that old rascal. I've told you how he insists on calling me 'maman'
and is jealous as a spoiled child if I show any extra attention to
any of the other patients in the ward. Well, last night old Ahmed
was very much excited when I came in after supper. He has learned
some English, which he now mixes with his French and Arabic. When I
asked him what was the trouble he said: 'Spik, maman?' meaning might
he talk. I graciously gave him permission, whereupon he burst into
burning speech.
"He said they were all French, both Arabs and Frenchmen, and the
English were their allies, weren't they? Yes. They were all wounded?
Yes. All in the same cause? Yes. Some had more than one wound; he
had seven? Yes. Then why weren't they all fed alike? Why should
Risbourg sit in bed, never walking, never going to the table to
eat--in fact, never doing any of the things they all had to do--and
yet have extra feeding? You see, Risbourg is the case I told you of
that nearly died of hemorrhage from a small arm wound. He had to be
transfused and he is on extra feeding to make up his blood. He does
eat enormously, and I love to see him do it.
"Well, I noticed that Risbourg was the only one who wasn't laughing,
so I called Ahmed to attention and told him the story of the
hemorrhage, whereupon he gave me a huge wink to show that it was all
a joke. Risbourg didn't regard it as such, so I went over and told
him that I understood, and that I wanted him to eat as much as he
wanted, and that it was all right. He is really very devoted to me,
and said: 'You, doctor, you understand, but all the time Ahmed tells
the nurse to tell you that I eat too much.'
"By this time they were all crowding around him trying to make up,
and he added: 'I know why they say such things! It is because I am
of the infantry of France, and they are zouaves and tirailleurs
(artillerymen) of Africa. I am alone among them.'
"Well, this was getting serious, so I made a speech and told
them they were all Frenchmen and brothers, and we all 'vived la
France!' Then Old Incorrigible had to pipe up again: 'Mais, maman,
Risbourg said I didn't smell good. And he spat when I said I was a
Frenchman. And also he said he was a German.'
"I said: 'Risbourg, did you tell him you were a German?' Risbourg
smiled broadly (he has one tooth gone just like Dave Warfield) and
said: 'Yes, doctor, but because the Irish boy told me to. Je fais
une plaisance.' So then I pointed out to him that he had had his
little joke, and Ahmed had had his, when he said that he ate too
much. Great applause from the Arabs, who quickly got the ethical
point. So we all made up and shook hands."