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services of others would be absolutely indispensable。 Helpers and
servers she must have； and accordingly there was soon formed
about her a little group of devoted disciples upon whose
affections and energies she could implicitly rely。 Devoted；
indeed； these disciples were； in no ordinary sense of the term；
for certainly she was no light taskmistress； and he who set out
to be of use to Miss Nightingale was apt to find； before he had
gone very far； that he was in truth being made use of in good
earnest to the very limit of his endurance and his capacity。
Perhaps； even beyond those limits； why not？ Was she asking of
others more than she was giving herself？ Let them look at her
lying there pale and breathless on the couch； could it be said
that she spared herself？ Why； then； should she spare others？ And
it was not for her own sake that she made these claims。 For her
own sake； indeed！ No！ They all knew it！ it was for the sake of
the work。 And so the little band； bound body and soul in that
strange servitude； laboured on ungrudgingly。
Among the most faithful was her 'Aunt Mai'； her father's sister；
who from the earliest days had stood beside her； who had helped
her to escape from the thraldom of family life； who had been with
her at Scutari； and who now acted almost the part of a mother to
her； watching over her with infinite care in all the movements
and uncertainties which her state of health involved。 Another
constant attendant was her brother…in…law； Sir Harry Verney； whom
she found particularly valuable in parliamentary affairs。 Arthur
Clough； the poet； also a connection by marriage； she used in
other ways。 Ever since he had lost his faith at the time of the
Oxford Movement； Clough had passed his life in a condition of
considerable uneasiness； which was increased rather than
diminished by the practice of poetry。 Unable to decide upon the
purpose of an existence whose savour had fled together with his
belief in the Resurrection； his spirits lowered still further by
ill…health； and his income not all that it should be； he had
determined to seek the solution of his difficulties in the United
States of America。 But； even there； the solution was not
forthcoming； and； when； a little later； he was offered a post in
a government department at home； he accepted it； came to live in
London； and immediately fell under the influence of Miss
Nightingale。 Though the purpose of existence might be still
uncertain and its nature still unsavoury； here； at any rate；
under the eye of this inspired woman； was something real；
something earnest： his only doubt was could he be of any use？
Certainly he could。 There were a great number of miscellaneous
little jobs which there was nobody handy to do。 For instance；
when Miss Nightingale was travelling； there were the railway…
tickets to be taken； and there were proof…sheets to be corrected；
and then there were parcels to be done up in brown paper； and
carried to the post。 Certainly he could be useful。 And so； upon
such occupations as these； Arthur Clough was set to work。 'This
that I see； is not all；' he comforted himself by reflecting； 'and
this that I do is but little； nevertheless it is good； though
there is better than it。'As time went on； her 'Cabinet'； as she
called it； grew larger。 Officials with whom her work brought her
into touch and who sympathised with her objects； were pressed
into her service； and old friends of the Crimean days gathered
around her when they returned to England。 Among these the most
indefatigable was Dr。 Sutherland； a sanitary expert； who for more
than thirty years acted as her confidential private secretary；
and surrendered to her purposes literally the whole of his life。
Thus sustained and assisted； thus slaved for and adored； she
prepared to beard the Bison。
Two facts soon emerged； and all that followed turned upon them。
It became clear； in the first place； that that imposing mass was
not immovable； and； in the second； that its movement； when it did
move； would be exceeding slow。 The Bison was no match for the
Lady。 It was in vain that he put down his head and planted his
feet in the earth； he could not withstand her； the white hand
forced him back。 But the process was an extraordinarily gradual
one。 Dr。 Andrew Smith and all his War Office phalanx stood
behind； blocking the way； the poor Bison groaned inwardly； and
cast a wistful eye towards the happy pastures of the Free Church
of Scotland； then slowly； with infinite reluctance； step by step；
he retreated； disputing every inch of the ground。
The first great measure； which； supported as it was by the Queen；
the Cabinet； and the united opinion of the country； it was
impossible to resist； was the appointment of a Royal Commission
to report upon the health of the Army。 The question of the
composition of the Commission then immediately arose； and it was
over this matter that the first hand…to…hand encounter between
Lord Panmure and Miss Nightingale took place。 They met； and Miss
Nightingale was victorious； Sidney Herbert was appointed
Chairman； and； in the end； the only member of the Commission
opposed to her views was Dr。 Andrew Smith。 During the interview；
Miss Nightingale made an important discovery： she found that 'the
Bison was bullyable'the hide was the hide of a Mexican buffalo；
but the spirit was the spirit of an Alderney calf。 And there was
one thing above all others which the huge creature dreadedan
appeal to public opinion。 The faintest hint of such a terrible
eventuality made his heart dissolve within him； he would agree to
anything he would cut short his grouse…shootinghe would make a
speech in the House of Lords； he would even overrule Dr。 Andrew
Smithrather than that。 Miss Nightingale held the fearful threat
in reserveshe would speak out what she knew； she would publish
the truth to the whole world； and let the whole world judge
between them。 With supreme skill； she kept this sword of Damocles
poised above the Bison's head； and more than once she was
actually on the point of really dropping it for his
recalcitrancy grew and grew。
The personnel of the Commission once determined upon； there was a
struggle； which lasted for six months； over the nature of its
powersWas it to be an efficient body； armed with the right of
full inquiry and wide examination； or was it to be a polite
official contrivance for exonerating Dr。 Andrew Smith？ The War
Office phalanx closed its ranks； and fought tooth and nail； but
it was defeated： the Bison was bullyable。 'Three months from this
day；' Miss Nightingale had written at last； 'I publish my
experience of the Crimean Campaign； and my suggestions for
improvement； unless there has been a fair and tangible pledge by
that time for reform。' Who could face that？
And； if the need came； she meant to be as good as her word。 For
she had now determined； whatever might be the fate of the
Commission； to draw up her own report upon the questions at
issue。 The labour involved was enormous； her health was almost
desperate； but she did not flinch； and after six months of
incredible industry she had put together and written with her own
hand her Notes affecting the Health； Efficiency； and Hospital
Administration of the British Army。 This extraordinary
composition； filling more than 800 closely printed pages； laying
down vast principles of far…reaching reform； discussing the
minutest details of a multitude of controversial subjects；
containing an enormous mass of information of the most varied
kindsmilitary； statistical； sanitary； architecturalwas never
given to the public； for the need never came； but it formed the
basis of the Report of the Royal Commission； and it remains to
this day the leading authority on the medical administration of
armies。
Before it had been completed； the struggle over the powers of the
Commission had been brought to a victorious close。 Lord Panmure
had given way once more； he had immediately hurried to the Queen
to obtain her consent； and only then； when Her Majesty's initials
had been irrevocably affixed to the fatal document； did he dare
to tell Dr。 Andrew Smith what he had done。 The Commission met；
and another immense load fell upon Miss Nightingale's shoulders。
Today she would； of course； have been one of the Commission
herself； but at that time the idea of a woman appearing in such a
capacity was unheard of； and no one even suggested the
possibility of Miss Nightingale's doing so。 The result was that
she was obliged to remain behind the scenes throughout； to coach
Sidney Herbert in private at every important juncture； and to
convey to him and to her other friends upon the Commission the
vast funds of her expert knowledgeso essential in the
examination of witnessesby means of innumerable consultations；
letters； and memoranda。 It was even doubtful whether the
proprieties would admit of her giving evidence； and at last； as a
compr