Excerpt from An Englishman's Castle

An Englishman's house is his castle, and although the outworks may be crumpled like tissue paper as soon as he is in Open conflict with society, so long as he keeps on the windy side of the law he possesses an impregnable fortress. In the garrison's 1nterest and our own we need permission to enter the ques tion is, what shall we pay? We certainly should make our utmost endeavour to Offer the minimum bribe, but in the existing state of affairs some bribery is inevitable. One thing strongly in favour Of the district nurse is, that there is rarely any real need for her to give material aid. When patients have said to me, 'i s'pose you 've brought all as you 'll want, nurse 2 or, I should think as the doctor won't want nothing but what he brings along with him 2 my usual reply was, I have brought you my ten fingers. It is astonishing how much they can do when they are supplied with the wherewithal.' And then, in the tones of a person parting with a trade secret as a rare personal favour, I would tell them what was needed, where it could be bought or hired, and how much it would cost. My hearers stared and laughed, but seldom indeed did they fail to produce all that was necessary. Collecting implements for the doctor's use sometimes caused a greater struggle. Half an hour before a critical operation on his wife, a man refused me the use Of an absolutely indispen sable basin because the fowls has got to be fed and in similar circumstances an elderly woman declined to supply me with boiling water because the gudeman must have his dinner.' Incidents like these are exceptional, but they have to be faced.

Nor is a nurse welcome in every home. I have sometimes, at the urgent request Of a medical man, visited a house as many as six times before gaining admittance, and even then it has been another fort night before I have been allowed to perform any nursing duties. But - for my encouragement - how Often I found the entrée remorselessly refused to other workers! One day, while attending to a woman who was seriously ill, I heard a constant rapping at the front door. It would have been against all etiquette for me to Offer to go and see what was wanted, but when I observed that the patient was getting nervous and worried by the sound, I went to look for the husband, who had been requested to remain within call. I found him in the backyard, squeezed into the only corner which was not easily visible from the road. There is a lady knocking at the door.' NO response. I think it is Mrs. The vicar's wife.' Lerrer knock, then! He replied valiantly, I 'm not a tome. When the missus is about, she can do 's she like.' In another case a district visitor called time after time at a house, leaving and fetching tracts and magazines, but never receiving more than the curtest of greetings. One day she was welcomed with a beaming smile. Come right in, m'm. I 'm real glad to see you. I was hoping you 'd be round our way.' She had hardly time to renew her faith in copy-book maxims as to the value of perseverance, when the woman added cheerfully, Two Of the children 's down with the scarlack fever. I 'd like for you to look at them.' The visitor was a married woman with young children of her own, and hastily purchased the right to decline this privilege.

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