THE SOLDIER'S FRIEND. men would submit willingly to the painful ordeal they had to undergo. Of Florence Nightingale's personal appearance the author of " Scutari and its Hospitals " gives a most interesting description. " Miss Nightingale," he says, " is just what you would expect in any other well-bred woman, who may have seen, per- haps, rather more than thirty years of life ; her manner and countenance are prepossessing, and this without the possession of positive beauty ; it is a face not easily forgotten,-pleasing in its smile, with an eye betokening great self-possession, and giving, when she wishes, a quiet look of firm determination to every feature. Her general demeanour is quiet, and rather reserved ; still, I am much mistaken if she is not gifted with a very lively sense of the ridiculous. In conversation, she speaks on matters of business with a grave earnestness I would not expect from her appearance. She has evidently a mind disciplined to restrain, under the principles of the action of the moment, every feeling which would interfere with it. She has trained herself to com- mand, and learned the value of conciliation towards others, and constraint over herself. She seems to understand business thoroughly. Her nerve is wonderful. I have been with her at very severe operations ; she was more than equal to the trial." In April, Miss Nightingale lost a very dear per- sonal friend, one of the nurses, a young and amiable lady named Miss Smythe. This ladyhad commenced 33
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