rades
was the silver lining shining brightly through the black clouds that
hovered over the British Empire during that dread winter. Thus the
loyalty of the men of Britain was proven, and among the women who
yearned to be up and doing were Lady Georgiana Curzon and Lady Chesham.
Not theirs was the sentiment that "men must work and women must weep";
to them it seemed but right that they should take their share of the
nation's burden, and, as they could not fight, they could, and did,
work.

Filled with pity for all who were so gallantly fighting at the seat of
war, it was the yeomen--called suddenly from peaceful pursuits to serve
their country in her day of distress--who claimed their deepest
sympathies, and, with the object of establishing a hospital for this
force at the front, Lady Georgiana Curzon and Lady Chesham, on December
29, 1899, appealed to the British public for subscriptions. The result
far exceeded their expectations, and every post brought generous
donations in cash and in kind. Even the children contributed eagerly to
the Yeomen's Fund, and one poor woman gave a shilling towards the cost
of providing a bed in the hospital, "in case her son might have to lie
on it." The Queen--then Princess of Wales--allowed herself to be
nominated President; the present Princess of Wales and the Duchess of
Connaught gave their names as Vice-Presidents of the Imperial Yeomanry
Hospitals. The working committee was composed of the following: Adeline,
Duchess of Bedford, the Duchess of Marlborough, the Countesses of Essex
and Dudley, the Ladies Chesham and Tweedmouth, Mesdames S. Neumann, A.G.
Lucas, Blencowe Cookson, Julius Wernher (now Lady Wernher), and Madame
von Andre. Amongst the gentlemen who gave valuable assistance, the most
prominent were: Viscount Curzon, M.P. (now Lord Howe), Hon. Secretary;
Mr. Ludwig Neumann, Hon. Treasurer; General Eaton (now Lord
Cheylesmore); and Mr. Oliver Williams.

Lady Georgiana Curzon was a born leader, and it was but natural that the
capable ladies aforementioned appointed her as their chairman.
Passionately devoted to sport though she was, she willingly forsook her
beloved hunting-field, leaving a stable full of hunters idle at Melton
Mowbray, for the committee-room and the writing-table. The scheme was
one fraught with difficulties great and numerous, and not the least
amongst them was the "red tape" that had to be cut; but Lady Georgiana
Curzon took up the good cause with enthusi