Frictional Electricity

I happened to visit the accident ward of St. Paracelsus' Hospital because a friend of mine who is interested in the Flower Mission asked me to stop there during my afternoon walk and give a few flowers to the sufferers. When I had arranged the last half dozen of the roses in a vase upon the little stand by the bedside of one bruised and battered patient, he looked at me gratefully, and said: "Oh, thank you, sir! And would you mind, sir, stopping for a bit of talk? I'm so lonely and miserable. " I sat upon the chair by the bed and with my hand smoothed the counterpane, while the patient asked me: "Do I really look like a burglar, sir, do you think?" I hesitated to reply as I examined his face. It was really covered with bandages, but his nose seemed swollen and there were bruises about both eyes.