366 A Short History of Nursing most beautiful of all arts. The great nursing leaders, whose example we want to keep always before us, were first of all great nurses, but with all their tenderness and devotion, they were vigorous, forceful, persistent, capable men and women, with clear vision and judgment, and with fearless cour- age. Florence Nightingale is probably the finest embodiment we have of this ideal. With reactionary and progressive tendencies again struggling for the mastery and with oppor- tunities for public service which have never been excelled, there is the greatest need in nursing today for just such forward-looking women — women of generous spirit, neither timid and subservient nor ambitious and self-seeking — who will serve as torch-bearers of the new age which is just opening out before us. In most of the countries of the world, the level of progress on certain lines, especially of women's work is far below what it is in our own coun- try. In this new age, under the influence of the spirit of international brotherhood, we cannot be satisfied only to work out our own salvation, but must try to extend our interest and our help much more widely to others. The nurse speaks a univer- sal language and no one can carry the message of good-will to other nations more effectively than she.
