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intervened in her favour； and Sir John had to confess that he was
beaten。
It was not until July； 1856four months after the Declaration of
Peace that Miss Nightingale left Scutari for England。 Her
reputation was now enormous； and the enthusiasm of the public was
unbounded。 The royal approbation was expressed by the gift of a
brooch； accompanied by a private letter。 'You are； I know； well
aware；' wrote Her Majesty； 'of the high sense I entertain of the
Christian devotion which you have displayed during this great and
bloody war； and I need hardly repeat to you how warm my
admiration is for your services； which are fully equal to those
of my dear and brave soldiers； whose sufferings you have had the
privilege of alleviating in so merciful a manner。 I am； however；
anxious of marking my feelings in a manner which I trust will be
agreeable to you； and therefore； send you with this letter a
brooch； the form and emblems of which commemorate your great and
blessed work； and which I hope you will wear as a mark of the
high approbation of your Sovereign！
'It will be a very great satisfaction to me；' Her Majesty added；
'to make the acquaintance of one who has set so bright an example
to our sex。'
The brooch； which was designed by the Prince Consort； bore a St 。
George's cross in red enamel； and the Royal cipher surmounted by
diamonds。 The whole was encircled by the inscription 'Blessed are
the Merciful'。
III
THE name of Florence Nightingale lives in the memory of the world
by virtue of the lurid and heroic adventure of the Crimea。 Had
she diedas she nearly didupon her return to England； her
reputation would hardly have been different； her legend would
have come down to us almost as we know it todaythat gentle
vision of female virtue which first took shape before the adoring
eyes of the sick soldiers at Scutari。 Yet； as a matter of fact；
she lived for more than half a century after the Crimean War； and
during the greater part of that long period； all the energy and
all the devotion of her extraordinary nature were working at
their highest pitch。 What she accomplished in those years of
unknown labour could； indeed； hardly have been more glorious than
her Crimean triumphs； but it was certainly more important。 The
true history was far stranger even than the myth。 In Miss
Nightingale's own eyes the adventure of the Crimea was a mere
incident scarcely more than a useful stepping…stone in her
career。 It was the fulcrum with which she hoped to move the
world； but it was only the fulcrum。 For more than a generation
she was to sit in secret； working her lever： and her real 〃life〃
began at the very moment when； in the popular imagination； it had
ended。
She arrived in England in a shattered state of health。 The
hardships and the ceaseless effort of the last two years had
undermined her nervous system； her heart was pronounced to be
affected； she suffered constantly from fainting…fits and terrible
attacks of utter physical prostration。 The doctors declared that
one thing alone would save her a complete and prolonged rest。
But that was also the one thing with which she would have nothing
to do。 She had never been in the habit of resting； why should she
begin now？ Now； when her opportunity had come at last； now； when
the iron was hot； and it was time to strike？ No； she had work to
do； and； come what might； she would do it。 The doctors protested
in vain； in vain her family lamented and entreated； in vain her
friends pointed out to her the madness of such a course。 Madness？
Madpossessedperhaps she was。 A demoniac frenzy had seized
upon her。 As she lay upon her sofa； gasping； she devoured blue…
books； dictated letters； and； in the intervals of her
palpitations； cracked her febrile jokes。 For months at a stretch
she never left her bed。 For years she was in daily expectation of
death。 But she would not rest。 At this rate； the doctors assured
her； even if she did not die； she would； become an invalid for
life。 She could not help that； there was the work to be done；
and； as for rest； very likely she might rest 。。。 when she had
done it。
Wherever she went； in London or in the country； in the hills of
Derbyshire； or among the rhododendrons at Embley； she was haunted
by a ghost。 It was the spectre of Scutari the hideous vision of
the organisation of a military hospital。 She would lay that
phantom； or she would perish。 The whole system of the Army
Medical Department； the education of the Medical Officer； the
regulations of hospital procedure 。。。 REST？ How could she rest
while these things were as they were； while； if the like
necessity were to arise again； the like results would follow？
And； even in peace and at home； what was the sanitary condition
of the Army？ The mortality in the barracks was； she found； nearly
double the mortality in civil life。 'You might as well take 1；100
men every year out upon Salisbury Plain and shoot them；' she
said。 After inspecting the hospitals at Chatham； she smiled
grimly。 'Yes； this is one more symptom of the system which； in
the Crimea； put to death 16；000 men。' Scutari had given her
knowledge； and it had given her power too： her enormous
reputation was at her back an incalculable force。 Other work；
other duties； might lie before her； but the most urgent； the most
obvious of all； was to look to the health of the Army。
One of her very first steps was to take advantage of the
invitation which Queen Victoria had sent her to the Crimea；
together with the commemorative brooch。 Within a few weeks of her
return she visited Balmoral； and had several interviews with both
the Queen and the Prince； Consort。 'She put before us；' wrote the
Prince in his diary； 'all the defects of our present military
hospital system； and the reforms that are needed。' She related
'the whole story' of her experiences in the East； and； in
addition； she managed to have some long and confidential talks
with His Royal Highness on metaphysics and religion。 The
impression which she created was excellent。 'Sie gefallt uns
sehr；' noted the Prince； 'ist sehr bescheiden。' Her Majesty's
comment was different'Such a HEAD！ I wish we had her at the War
Office。'
But Miss Nightingale was not at the War Office； and for a very
simple reason： she was a woman。 Lord Panmure； however； was
（though indeed the reason for that was not quite so simple）； and
it was upon Lord Panmure that the issue of Miss Nightingale's
efforts for reform must primarily depend。 That burly Scottish
nobleman had not； in spite of his most earnest endeavours； had a
very easy time of it as Secretary of State for War。 He had come
into office in the middle of the SebastopolCampaign； and had felt
himself very well fitted for the position； since he had acquired
in former days an inside knowledge of the Armyas a Captain of
Hussars。 It was this inside knowledge which had enabled him to
inform Miss Nightingale with such authority that 'the British
soldier is not a remitting animal'。 And perhaps it was this same
consciousness of a command of his subject which had impelled him
to write a dispatch to Lord Raglan； blandly informing the
Commander…in…Chief in the Field just how he was neglecting his
duties； and pointing out to him that if he would only try he
really might do a little better next time。
Lord Raglan's reply； calculated as it was to make its recipient
sink into the earth； did not quite have that effect upon Lord
Panmure； who； whatever might have been his faults； had never been
accused of being supersensitive。 However； he allowed the matter
to drop； and a little later Lord Raglan diedworn out； some
people said； by work and anxiety。 He was succeeded by an
excellent red…nosed old gentleman； General Simpson； whom nobody
has ever heard of； and who took Sebastopol。 But Lord Panmure's
relations with him were hardly more satisfactory than his
relations with Lord Raglan； for； while Lord Raglan had been too
independent； poor General Simpson erred in the opposite
direction； perpetually asked advice； suffered from lumbago；
doubted （his nose growingredder and redder daily） whether he was
fit for his post； and； by alternate mails； sent in and withdrew
his resignation。 Then； too； both the General and the Minister
suffered acutely from that distressingly useful new invention；
the electric telegraph。 On one occasion General Simpson felt
obliged actually to expostulate。 'I think； my Lord；' he wrote；
'that some telegraphic messages reach us that cannot be sent
under due authority； and are perhaps unknown to you； although
under the protection of your Lordship's name。
For instance； I was called up last night； a dragoon having come
express with a telegraphic message in these words； 〃Lord Panmure
to General SimpsonCaptain Jarvis has been bitten by a
centipede。 How is he now？〃' General Simpson might have put up
with this； though to be sure it did seem 'rather too tr