XLII

Clara Barton is the greatest woman in the world.

General W. R. Shafter.

Greatness is the courage to exercise common sense in high places.

Judge T. M. Cooley.

General Shafter, while in Santiago as he had been at all other times, was the kind and courteous officer and gentleman.

Clara Barton.

In Cuba General Leonard Wood—alert, wise and untiring, with an eye single to the good of all—toiled day and night.

Clara Barton.

Take whatever three or four years of my existence you will, but leave the old army lifeuntouched.Clara Barton.

It was on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Grand Army of the Republic, held at Atlanta, Georgia. Mrs. W. M. Scott, of O. M. Mitchell No. 2, W. R. C., was the President. At that meeting the President described the scene occurring at one of the sessions in Boston the previous year.

Mrs. Annie Wittenmeyer was the President of the W. R. C. at the session in Boston. As President she said: “I have the pleasure and the honor to introduceto you”—and hundreds of lips ejaculated “Clara Barton!” Then there occurred an ovation seldom witnessed. Handkerchiefs waved from every part of the hall, and loving little tears of tenderness streamed down the faces in that vast throng of admirers of the beloved woman. And Clara Barton talked. She, describing a former meeting, said (her voice tremulous): “They showed me the wounds they saidIhad helped to heal, and the stubs of the limbs they saidIhad tried to save, and they clustered around me like loving boys, and I—I cried, and they cried too; and we talked of those terrible times, and then we talked of those glorious times. They were grateful to me for what I had done for them, and I was grateful that I had the privilege of doing it.” “And,” says Mrs. Scott, “as Clara Barton told the simple story of her experiences with her soldier boys every one of us women, gazing at her, thought that if we did not have a sweetheart, or husband, at that time to nurse, well,—we wish we had.”

The old soldier boysbrave and truein numbers were there. The G. A. R. too was having its session in Boston, and their heroine also was there. He, too, whom history will record as one of the greatest of American generals, was there. As since has the soldier’s idol, the great General also had “suffered the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune”—at the hands of schemers and politicians. Under the General she had served in Cuba—the same fearless woman that at the battle of Santiago, perched on a gun-carriage, gave orders to the doctors and nurses. Clara Barton again received an ovation, and General Shafter shared in the honors.

EMPRESS AUGUSTAThe Empress—her precious gift, the beautiful cross, is the chiefest among my treasures.Clara Barton.See pages between326–7, decorations Nos. 9, 18.

EMPEROR WILLIAM I(1861–1888)Tell the “little lady” I still cherish her as a member of my own family.—The Emperor.See pages between326–7, decoration No. 3.

THE ROYALTY OF GERMANY

LUISE, THE GRAND DUCHESS OF BADENnée Princess of Prussia

FRIEDERICH, THE GRAND DUKE OF BADENDuke of Zährengen

For more than forty years, I have known dear, beloved Miss Clara Barton. Great affection and great admiration and great gratitude united me with her. Her memory I will keep sacred in faithful and thankful remembrance of her whose friendship was in our never altering affection so very precious to me.—Luise, the Grand Duchess of Baden (in 1912).

The Grand Duke, one of the kindest and noblest types of manhood.Clara Barton.

See pages between326–7, decorations Nos. 2, 4, 5, 16, 17.

The literary exercises were over. The General had stepped down from the platform. There at the foot of the steps the General waited. The audience had remained sitting. In a few moments Clara Barton and her chivalric old Commander were in private conversation. As that great audience, composed principally of old soldiers, saw together the greatest hero and the greatest heroine of the Spanish-American War, reminiscing of common hardships and common dangers, as one man they rose to their feet, tumultuously cheering.

An old soldier at the top of his voice shouted:

“Three cheers for Clara Barton!”

The cheers given were uproarious, cheers continuing again and again. At a still higher pitch of voice another shouted: “Tiger!!”

Hardly had the echo of that voice died away when still another voice cried out: “No, Sweetheart!!”

Then shouts and tears were intermingled and little Clara, with a love as true to her “soldier boys” as that of her “soldier boys” to her, much embarrassed and speechless, could only smile back her love in return, and in tears smile and smile and smile.

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