PATIENT HERE—Mme. Jacqueline Barget of Norwood before her, discusses points with Elaine Leston, L.P.N. of Walpole. (Eugene V. McLean Photo)
Mme. Barget, formerly of Paris, France, a resident of the United States since 1948, has as fascinating a background as anything written by Ian Fleming, creator of Agent 007.
During World War II, when only a young girl, she worked as a nurse in a sanitarium caring for critically ill French soldiers who had been German prisoners of war. Most of them, suffering from advanced stages of tuberculosis and only a few breaths away from death, had been released from prison camps in exchange for young, able-bodied Frenchmen who would return to Germany as slave laborers.
When the administrator of the hospital, a physician, and leader of the French underground in that area was executed by the Germans, "a most kind, wonderful, and courageous man," she promptly gave up nursing and joined the underground movement.
Well-schooled in all phases of undercover work, Mme, Barget performed many acts of sabotage; carried secret messages all over France; traveled through dangerous mountain passes in the Alps to pick up funds deposited in Swiss banks by the English for the express purpose of supporting the French Resistance.
In reminiscing about her part in the war, she firmly believes that "what we do is simply a matter of fate. I happened to be there when I was needed and I felt nothing was more important than to work for the liberation of my country. Taking risks became a way of life. I was caught up in the stimulus and momentum of challenge. For me it was the only way to live, the only way I wanted to live".
"I was lucky," she continued, "I came through the war without a scratch". The far-away look in her eyes mirrored what she remembered but could not talk about "so many others were not so fortunate".
For the past thirteen years she has been head of the Department of Documentarian Travel Agents and Creadtion for the French Government Tourist Office with headquarters in New York City. In connection with her work she has flown to Tahiti on an inaugural flight from New York as a guest of Pan American Airways, French West Indies. Baham Islands, and almost every country in Europe.
An accomplished linguist, she translates books and documents into French or English; translated Michael Todd's "Round The World Tn Eighty Days" into French; wrote the libretto for B'zn's opera L'Arlesienne in French, then translated the text into English for Mercury Records.
Author of numerous books -and articles, Mme. Barget is currently writing and illustrating a children's book about a cat "Minouchette" which she plans to have published.
The hobbies of this creative woman run the gamut: watercolors, charcoal sketches, and etchings. A dedicated shutter-bug, she has snapped color photographs of her favorite subject, "nature itself" all around the world.
Discussing her stay at Norwood Hospital, "I am a stranger here, yet I don't feel strange at all. Having experienced both sides, as a nurse and as a patient in other hospitals, here I am aware of a certain feeling, a certain gentleness that makes me feel like a human being and not a number on a chart. The staff has been so considerate and understanding, former patients have returned to visit with me; others have dropped by to chat … all this attention has been wonderful. I have such a warm feeling for the Hospital and everyone in it; for the people of Norwood; for my fellow patients from the towns in the area.
We are delighted that you are so favorably impressed with us, Jacqueline Barget . . . nurse, member of the French Resistance, travel representative, linguist, translator, author, painter, etcher, 'illustrator, designer photographer we're tremendously impressed with you.
(All articles originally appeared in the Norwood Messenger unless otherwise noted)
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