The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-07-19

women so much weaker than nature intended
they should be. Individually / have nothing to
complain of; but know those who have been
otherwise circumstanced; and, at this moment,
when it is surely not too much to say, hundreds
of strong.born men owe their tires to the
presence and exertion of weak-born women--it
ought to be a matter of consideration whether
a very useful movement might not be made
here, as we'll as in America, to give well-born
and well-educated women opportunities of
graduating in profession, the domestic use
fulness of which brings it'so entirely within
woman's province and woman's power, and
opens a new door for profitable female occupa-
ton. However the public may complain of
Ministerial Encouragement there was no want
of management or judgment in sending forth
Miss Nightingale and her faithful friends and
followers to the rescue of our poor soldiers from
disease and death whether Mr.. Gladstone sub
mitted mistakes" or not, it is not my business
to inquire but surely that was not blunder
which sent so many messengers of mercy to
| the East. When so much good has been done
by women comparatively unprepared for such
a task, what might not be expected from women
educated to cure as well as nurse-more par
ticularly their own sex and children, whose ear
ly years are especially under their dominion
Yet how few mothers know aught OF the wonder
full and beautiful structure of their children's
bodies, or of their mental or spiritual organiza-
ton. In all that concerns this important branch
of female education, cannot but think that
woman has been kept not only aceGker," but
more ignorant than nature intended her to be:
but must return to my text. "Doctor Clarke "
had studied and received her degree in Bos-
tOn-she had been recognised by the medical
profession there, and been taken into "con-
| ,ltak.< - &C ~&l
was not satisfied with her own knowledge, and
resolved to enlarge it; for that purpose accom-
panied by her brother, she resided several
months in Paris, attending lectures-in fact,
walking the hospitals" She was well re-
ceived; and, finding that she was In earnest,
| the schools We'd with each other in giving her
information. The result was most satisfactory /;
she passed her examinations triumphantly, and
carried back to her country the highest test-
monials. She remained too long in Paris to
give more than a couple of days to London !;
and, en- route to Liverpool, called upon our
city friend, who, having recovered from his
astonishment at finding CDR. Clarke" deli
cate, feminine woman, with such blue eyes I"
at once forsook his letters, and all belonging
thereunto, and, with his usual good sense and
good feeling, determined to show her every
thing likely to interest her peculiar mind, which
it was possible to see within the brief day she
could call her own. First of all, he took her
to the famous old Hall of the Barber Surgeons
of the City of London-the rare old Hail. which
enshrines probably the finest Holbein in the
world, and of whose value the late Sir Robert
Peel was so cognizant, that whenever q for
eigner, skilled in art, visited Whitehall-place,
he drove him to BARRIERS Hall to "see the Hol-
bein." Perhaps the Theatre of Anatomy was
even more interesting to the American lady,
than the time-honored hall-picture included.
1t was, as l hope everybody knows, built by
lingo Jones, and for many years was the only
Hall" in London where anatomical lectures
were delivered. Passing from thence to "Bar
tholomew's," doctor Clarke" (who, despite
her Degree, prefers being called Mrs. Clarke)
told, with the ingenious frankness of gentle
woman, how it came about that she commenced
profession over whose threshold no woman
had yet ventured. She married young, but,
being of thoughtful disposition, she was
chilled and terrified when she remembered that
though she was soon to become a mother, she
knew nothing of the requirements of infancy
beyond the caps and robes in which custom
decks the newborn babe. She Immediately
sought out such books as were likely to yield
her the information she required her desire
for knowledge increased "with what it fed
on" her husband did not attempt to lead her
from those studies which he had the good sense
to see increased her usefulness while enlarging
her mind and by the time her infant awoke
her to new Joys and new anxieties, she had
gained degree of knowledge which interested
her medical attendant, who encouraged his
patient to persevere. She did so. But house
hold cares and household duties had their hold
upon her heart as we'll as upon her time, and it
is a matter of question, if she could have
achieved her present position, if her family had
increased, or even remained TO claim her care.
1t pleased God to remove both her husband
and child, within a short period of each other
and when the first agony was passed, and she
was called upon to consider what her future
course of life should be- instead of sitting down
with helpless sorrow, or seeking to divert her
grief by change of scene or frivolous amuse-
ment, she reused her earnest mind to work
gathered her energies home, and set them their
appointed tasks, resolved to brave the opinion
of the world, in what she honestly believed to
be good cause, and prove that the art of heal
ing was not confined to men alone.
1t is, / think, greatly to the honor of the M.
DIS of Boston, that they threw no obstacle in
her way-did not attempt to scout or scorn her
efforts; but, after steadily observing her course,
held out the right hand of fellowship to the
meek hearted but undetermined woman who
studied in their schools and, as have said,
when they considered her duly qualified, did
not question to meet her in consultation, or re-
fuse to come when she called them in, as she
herself said she did in cases which, before her
visit to Europe, she had found beyond her skill.
Our friend, being q Governor of "Bartholo-
NEWS" introduced the fair American to the
principal men of that mighty charity the cup
of her happiness seemed full to OVERLOOKING
while inspecting the wards, and hearing of the
multitude of cases that found relief within its
time -honored walls. She expressed great graf
ification upon seeing that children were min
gled with women in the female wards; thus, as
she truly said, diverting the women from their
own sufferings, by permitting their minstering
to the sufferings of childhood She thought
this much preferable to the system pursued in
the hospitals at Paris, where children had sep
arate wards. This observation proved her &C.
uuaintance with natural emotion; for women
are as necessary to the happiness of children,
as the presence of children is necessary to the
perfect happiness of woman. There was little
infant. not six months old, whose broken leg
was in splints, and the female patients were
trembling with sympathy around it, as if each
claimed the baby as her own. Here was an
other argument in favor of female superintend-
ence in cases of infant illness. No man can
minister to an infant with a woman's tender
ness. WHY should woman's want of knowledge
deprive her of the happiness of preserving in
| FAINT life?
| Our American had full day but she might
have had a month full of such feelings, and yet
much remain unseen; as connected with the
sanitary movement, she ought to have visited
our model lodging houses, and our baths and
wash.houses. She left London to resume her
professional duties in Boston, with much regret
that she could not be longer among us.
The Americans prefer Paris to London, un-