Western Reserve chronicle and weekly transcript of the times. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1854-1855, 1855-03-28
AEVE71 s11N H71Il1E1II
Who is Mrs Nightingale?

Nightinga e, or rather Miss Florence
Nightingale, the youngest daughter and
presumplive co-heire-s of Ter fat er, Will
liam Shore Nightingale, CT Embleypark,
Hampshire, and the Lea Hurst Derby.
shire. She is, moreover, young lady
of singular endowmens both natural
and acq ired. In know edge of the
ancient languages and of the higher
branches of nat ematics, in general art,
science, and literature, her attainments
are ,xtraoriin 'ry. There is scarcely a
modern language which she does not un-
derstand and shespeaks French, German,
and Italian as fluently as her native Eng
lish. She has visited and studied the
various nations of EuroTe, and has as
cended the Nile to its remotest cataract.
Young (about The age of our Queen
graceful, feminine, rich and popular, she
holds singuIarly gentle and persuasive
lunucuCc Ofci dlI VIII HhOu SilC COtucS
in contact Her friends and acquain
tance are of all classes and persuasions,
but her happiest place is at home; in the
centre of a very large band of accom-
plished relatives; and in simplest obedi-
ence to her admling parents.
Why then should being so highly
blessed with all that shonld render life
bright, innocent, and to considerable
extent useful, forego such palpable and
heartfelt attractions ? Who quit all this
to become-a nurse.
From her infancy she has had yearn-
ing affection for the knd--sympathy
with the weak. the oppressed, the desti-
tute, the suffering. and the desolate.-
The schools aud the poor around Lea
H rst and EN- ley first saw snd felt her
as a visitor, teacher, conseseis exponn-
der. Then she frequented ard studied
the schools, hospitals, and reformatory
institu rs of London, Edinburgh, and
the continent. Three years ago, when
al Europe had holiday n and after
the Great Exhibition, when the highlands
of Scotland, the lakes of Switzerland, and
all the blight spots of the continent were
filled with parties of pleasure, Miss Night
in. ale was within the walls of one of the
German houses or hospitals for the care
and reformation of tie lest and in6rm.
For three ling months she was in dai-
ly and nightly att, ndancr, accumulat-
ing expeEencr-. in all the duties and Ia
bors of female minisfration. She then
returned 10 be once more the delight Of
her own happy home. But the strong
tendency Of her mind to look beyond it
own circle fer the relief of those who
nominally having all, practically have
but too frequently none to help them,
prevailed; and, therefore, when the hos
pital establi he'd in London for sick gov
erness was about to fall for want of prop
er management, size stepped forward and
con enled to be placed at its head
Derhyshire and Hampshire were ex
changed for the narrow, dreary estab-
ishment in Harley street TO which she
devoted all her time and fortune.
While her friends missed her at assem-
blies, lectures, concerts, exhibitions, and
all the entertainments for taste and intel.
lect with which London in its season
abounds, she, whose power could have
best appreciated these, was sitting beside
the bed and soothing the last complaints
of scme poor. dying, homeless, dueru-
lous governess. The homelessness
might, not improbably, indeed result
from that very querulousness; but this is
too frequently fern nted, if not created
BY the hard, unr' fec ing folly which re-
CARDS fellow creatures int,usted with
forming the minds and disposition of its
children ingenious, disagreeab'e ma
chimes, Leeding, like the steam engine,
sustenance and covering, but, like it,
quite teyond or beneath all sympathy,
passions, or affections. Miss Night ngale
thought otherwise, and found pleasure in
tending the poor, destiIue governess in
their infrmilies, their sOrrows, their
death or th ir recoveries. She was 5, l.
dom seen out of the walls of the institu.
ton, and the few friends whom she ad-
mitted, found her in the midst of nurses,
letters. prescriptions, accounts and inter-
ruptions. Her LEI lth sunk under the
heavy pressure, but little Hampshire
fresh air restored her, and tie falling in
stitu'i ion was saved.
Meanwhile, cry of distress and fol-
additional comforts beyond those of mere
hospital treatment came home from the
East for our wounded brethren in arms.
There instantly arose an enthusiastic de-
sire 10 answerit. Blu: inexperienced zeal
could perform little. and bevy of i'll or
ganized nurses might 'lo more harm than
good. There was fear lest noble i'm
pulse should fail for the want of head,
a hand, and heart to direct it. 1t was
then that field was opened for the Wi
der exercise of Miss Nighlingale's sym
pathies, xyerience, and powers of CON-
mand and control. But at what COST