Jewels from Jane - March 9
Pictured: Sister Erasma taken in 1905 at St. Mary's Academy.
MARCH 9
Matanzas, Cuba
March 9, 1899
Dearest Mother [Agatha Guthrie]:
Your prized letters received and oh how delighted we all are to hear from our dear loved Mother. You have always been extremely kind but since we became Army nurses, you have been so devoted to us. Your charity will never be forgotten and God only knows what comfort your letters have been. I will do my very best in giving details as long as you read between the lines. Archbishop Chappell came to Matanzas about ten days ago, one very short visit. Did nothing of any importance until he would see the Bishop of Havana. Father Bader saw the Archbishop and told him all he knew about the place and wanted an explanation about some things but the Archbishop would not grant them for some wise reason until he would see Father again. The Bishop is moving very cautiously for some reason. Father felt somewhat embarrassed as he wanted an explanation about some matters. Father was very much pleased we had come to a conclusion about the poor children as the Archbishop would not have liked it very well. I told Father Bader and General Sanger you have left us free to do what we could for the poor children here. They thought it was very kind of you. And if the city officials did not do anything for the poor, General Sanger would take it out of their hands and give over to Father Bader and Sr. Liguori. The Methodist Ministers are working. They intend to open a home for poor children. It will be a non-sectarian. Are doing great talking and much writing in newspapers about the matter. The Catholic ladies are to open a home also for the poor, one block from our Mansion. Who is to have charge, Father could not find out. I do not think we treated the high officials as the Cuban ladies did. The ladies are very hospitable and explosive in their expressions. When General Miles and Breckenridge were here, Major Ives introduced us each at our post. We made a graceful bow and smiled very sweetly and of course it was returned in the same degree. All seemed to be pleased the Sisters were at the Hospital. He also said we had the best kept hospital on the Island of Cuba. Of course, we get that compliment paid us every day for our neatness and cleanness. The poor soldiers say so often to us, "it's a Godsend you came with us to Cuba. We would be badly off only for the Sisters. May God bless them whereever they go!" There are so many rumors about the troops going home. The men are all anxious to return. The New York regiment will return in April. The 8 Mass., and the 160 Ind. Will leave also about the same time and the latest today--all the Sisters are to be retained at the Military Hospital in Matanzas. So, dear Mother, what will come out of it, I do not know, I am pleased we are giving universal satisfaction to officers and men. It would take Mother Seraphine to illustrate all the compliments we receive. The fame and neatness of our Hospital has gone all through the Camps on the Island. General Breckenridge said it was the bane of the Hospital. He had visited all in Cuba. Do not think, dear Mother, we are carried off by all this flattery. No, I am thankful to say it makes us humble, thank God. I do not think you met Major Winn in Americus, although he is a St. Louis gentleman. Major Ives is over him. He is extremely kind to us, but has no use for trained nurses. General De Muth is the one you met in Americus [Georgia]. He is here also. He has not proved to be the man we thought he was. He is too much for the ladies. He is very gentlemanly to us. Our number of patients has increased. We have eight field tents. Each tent contains ten cots. Sr. Irmina [Dougherty], Sr. Thecla [Reid - St. Paul Province], Sr. Julitta [Carroll-St. Paul], Sr. Florentia [Downs-St. Paul] have charge of five tents, three hospital corpsmen in the three. Sr. Delphine [Dillon] and Sr. Blandina [Geary-St. Paul] are in the Mansion. Sr. Aloysia [Aloise O'Dowd-St. Paul] in Diet Kitchen, Sr. Rudolph [Meyers], Sisters' kitchen. Sr. Raymond [Ward] helps where needed. Our little Major Winn does not allow the Sisters up at night unless someone is very sick and needs close attention at night. The men do the night nursing. Did I tell you what the Cubans did to Alphonso XII. His statue was erected on a large pedestal a few blocks from here. After the Spanish Soldiers left, the Cubans put an old hat on the statue and a grip in his hand in derision. The next day some wanted to tear it down and throw it in the Bay. The majority voted it should be walled up and left there as a standing memorial of the cruelty of the Spanish Government to the Cubans. This would be a good place for an English speaking school. All the Cuban ladies want to learn English. Last Sunday afternoon, five Sisters went to the Church for Benediction. Father Bader preached a nice sermon to the soldiers and sisters. There was only one Cuban lady there because it rained. We were in the shower and drenched. After benediction we said our five o'clock prayers, made the stations and a visit to our dear father St. Joseph. He is all dressed up, has a white robe and the Infant dressed in purple. All their statuary are dressed in grand style. Their church is nice, tile flooring, large pillars, seven altars, their decorations are poor--glass candlesticks. I went out looking for wax candles this week. I can't speak a word of Spanish, but I manage to get what I want. I went to the Sisters of Mary and they could not understand a word of English. I went to their Chapel which was a little beauty, as neat as could be. I pointed to a candle and counted on my fingers the number I wanted. I handed her five dollars. They are very poor. The poor Sisters are all poor. Now, dear Mother, I have another request. Father Bader told me this morning he had a very nice Cuban girl call to see him, about 19 years of age, who wanted very much to be a Sister but has no means. She intended to go to Spain if she could raise the money. She has fifty dollars she got from friends here and there. In Spain she is required to have a dowry of three hundred dollars. Would you take her? He thinks she is well-disposed and has been thinking of this step all her life. If we may take home one or two of these homeless children with us when we go, it would be a great act of charity. Oh, how I wish you could come down and see what a pretty country this is. Nature has done so much for the place. It is a perfect garden in some parts of the valley. I never saw anything so grand, the rolling hills, the stately palms, beautiful orange groves, parrots, mockingbirds in abundance. Even the little noisy sparrows are here. I was pleased to hear that Mother Gonzaga was better and home. I get very little hospital news from Kansas City. I am pleased Mother John Joseph is doing so well and hope she will be blessed in all her undertakings. Dr. Harralson wrote me yesterday saying Mother John was doing grand work there. Mr. Bauman's affair will be a fine suit when we return to the States. Now, dear Mother, I hope you and all the dear ones are well. May God be with you all and thank you all for your good prayers and good works.
Lovingly yours,
Sr. Liguori [McNamara]
Spanish-American War correspondence
The 19 year old Cuban girl referred to by Sister Liguori may have been Maria Teresa Rodriguez who entered from Matanzas, Cuba June 22, 1900, was received on October 15, 1900 (her birthday), and received the name Sister Mary Erasma. After making her vows on March 19, 1903 she was sent to Arizona. She was missioned at St. Mary's Academy and was dispensed from her vows on January 1, 1912.
