praiseworthy was proudly extolled, above all the valiant artillery
that with guns and powder waggons had chased the enemy through the
burning market-place of Leitzkau, amidst the flames that were gathering
around them; also the black Hussars, with their death's-heads, valiant
Lithuanians, who had ridden over the smart red Hussars from Paris at
the first onset. And when the proprietor of the market-place afterwards
made a collection through the newspapers for his poor people who had
been burnt out, and excused himself for begging at such a time for aid
to private misfortune, the country people were not forgotten who had
first suffered from the war.

Louder became the din of war, more furious did the conflict of masses
rage; the exultation of victory and fearful anxiety alternated in the
hearts of those remaining at home. After the battle of Grossgoerschen,
it was proclaimed that assistance was needed for the wounded. Then
there began everywhere among the people collections of linen and lint;
unweariedly did not only children but grown-up people draw out the
threads of old linen, the women cut bandages, and the teachers in
schools cut the rags which the little girls and boys at their request
brought with them from their homes, into shape, and whilst they taught
the children, these with burning tears collected the pieces into great
heaps. Making lint was the evening work of families; it might be of
some use to the soldiers.

In the neighbourhood of the allied armies and in the chief cities,
hospitals were erected, and everywhere the women assisted--court
ladies, and authoresses like Rachel Levin. In one great hospital at
Berlin there was Frau Fichte and Frau Reimer, the superintendents of
the female nurses. The hospital, owing to the retreating French, had
become a pest-house, bad nervous fevers were prevalent, and the strange
fancies of the invalids made it a terrible abode. The wife of Fichte
shuddered at these horrors, but he endeavoured to sustain her in his
noble way. When she was overtaken with nervous fever, he nursed the
invalid, caught the infection, and died. Reil also, the great physician
and scholar, died there in the midst of his philanthropic efforts. Frau
Reimer was preserved; her house had been, before the war, the resort of
the Prussian patriots, now her husband had become one of the Landwehr
under Putlitz; her anxieties about him and his business and her little
children, neither damped her spirit nor en