Jewels from Jane - February 5
FEBRUARY 5
Mother Agatha Guthie, general superior during the time of the Spanish-American War
Matanza, Cuba
Feb. 5th, 1899
Dearest Mother [Agatha Guthrie]:
How kind and thoughtful to send the paper. It is something for us and scarce in Cuba. We are pleased to have the paper and other reading matter for them. The patients are all doing well, thank God. All are able to eat a full, hearty meal. It is a pleasure to see them eat. The meat is killed fresh every day. It is hot sometimes when they bring it in. We have plenty of canned goods, fruit of all kinds, shipped from the States. The Major does not wish us to use much of the Cuban fruit, fearing fever. And I think he is wise in doing so. I will send you a picture of our hospital taken by one of the soldiers last Sunday. It's not very good but it will give you an idea of what it looks like. Sister Julitta was in bed, had been on night duty. The Sisters have not been on night duty very much since we came here owing to the fact that no one sick enough to need such close attention except one or two nights. Sr. Raymond, Aloysia, Rudolph, Florentia, Miss Slavin and an orderly help in the kitchen with the meals. Tomorrow we are to open a diet kitchen for the patients and have two men to do the cooking. Sr. Irmina, Thecla, Delphine and Blandina each has about seven or eight patients to look after besides each nurse has an orderly at her disposal to help to clean, bathe the patients. And I have nothing to do but see everything is attended to. So you see, dear Mother, I am having an easy time in the army. Still it is not like a convent home. In camp life there is always something unpleasant if not among ourselves, it is about something else, but this is our cross. There is one consolation, it will not always last. I hope Sr. Evelyn is better. The La Grippe [Influenza] seems to be fatal in the States. I hope you and all the dear Sisters in Carondelet have escaped. May our dear Lord preserve you from sickness. Wish you, dear Mother, a happy feast. Wish I had something to send you. I have nothing but my poor prayers. Love from all the Sisters. Hoping to hear from you soon. Ever your gratefully devoted child.
Sr. Liguori [McNamara]
Spanish-American War correspondence
February 5 is the feast of St. Agatha.
