dquarter tent was politely tendered for the first
meeting, and as one could never, while memory lasts, forget this scene,
so no words can ever adequately describe it. The ample tent was filled.
Here on the right the Mayor, broad shouldered, kind faced and efficient,
officers of camp, and many visitors, wondering what it all meant; in the
center the tall doctor and his faithful band--Eliza Lanier, Lena Seymour
(mother and daughter), Elizabeth Eastman, Harriet Schmidt, Lizzie Louis,
Rebecca Vidal, Annie Evans, Arthur Duteil, Frederick Wilson, and Edward
Holyland.

I give these names because they are worthy a place in the history of any
epidemic; but no country, race, nor creed could claim them as a body:
four Americans, one German, one French, one Irish, three Africans, part
Protestant, and part Catholic, but all from New Orleans, of grand old
_Howard_ stock, from Memphis down, nursing in every epidemic from the
bayous of the Mississippi to Tampa Bay; and hereafter we will know them
as the "_Old Guard_."

Here, in the winds of approaching winter they stand in the light garb of
early September in New Orleans, thin, worn, longing for home, but
patient, grateful, and glad, some trifling "nubia" or turban about the
head, but only one distinguishing feature in common. A pitiful little
misshapen Red Cross, made by their own hands, of two bits of scarlet
ribbon, soiled, fringed, and tattered, pinned closely upon the left
breast of each, strove in mute appeal to say who they were, and what
they served. A friendly recognition and some words of thanks from their
President, opened the way for those anxious to follow. The rich, warm
eloquence of Mayor Watkins plainly told from how near his heart the
stream of gratitude was flowing, and his manly voice trembled as he
reverted to the condition of his stricken people, on that pitiless
night, when this little band of pilgrim strangers strayed back to them
in the rain and darkness. "I fear they often worked in hunger," he said,
"for then, as now, we had little for ourselves, our sick, or our well;
but they brought us to our feet, and the blessing of every man, woman,
and child in Macclenny is on them."

It was with a kind of paternal pride that Dr. Gill advanced and placed
before us his matchless record of cases attended, and life preserved.
"This is the record of our work," he said. "I am proud of it, and glad
that I have been able to make it, but without the best efforts of these
fai