Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1863-10-07
NERVOUS WOMEN

led first by the Dispatch, and since by many
other papers, The author has chosen for
her model the generally coarse and occa
sionally original Fanny Fern" But
whilst she 1--WE are happy to say does not
equal Fanny in coarseness, neither, We
regret 10 add, does she approach hel
in originality. Indeed her sketch ha.
neither piquancy nor force, and is
only worthy of comment from being a
faint echo Of the many loud cries con-
stontly being made by people Of more
common sense, who, strong themselves in
physical health and devoid of sensibility
believe all Of delicate nerves ard impul
sive temperamentS subjects for ridcule OF
distrust,
The writer Of the article alluded to, nC
doubt congratulated herself heartily thai
her nerves are not easily irritated nor hei
sensibilities readily wounded. She i'm
plores and beseeches her readers not Il
make themselves disagreeable and trouble.
some by possession of such things as
nerves. good constitution, firm nerves
aud complete self-control, add largely
to ones comfort, and are gifts to be most
grateful for, but are not such as TO en-
title their possessor to regard with con-
tempt others Of more delicate and SEN
sliVe organization, II is noticed that
persons Of quick intelligence, acute per-
ceDtions, and refined tastes, are those
among whom nervous disorders mostly
abound. Women of earnest and self-sac-
rihCing natures, warm affections, aud
small self-esteem, are generally nervous
women; and those, too, are they whom
neither fatigue, cold nor hunger can intim-
idate when engaged in a work of mercy,
and TO whom pestilence ana death bring
no terror when encountered for an object
Beloved. Show me a woman who prides
herself upon her strong nerves and great
selfpossession, and will show you one
utterly incapable of wonanly thoughtful
ness or wOmanly feeling.
A very celebrated surgeon was once
heard to remark, 81 have performed many
hundreds Of operations, but never could
anticipate one without a shuddeI, and
could never look upon a wound without
horror and nothing is more abhorrent
to me in sick room than a woman, un-
less, indeed, she be piofessed nurse,
who can witness the one unmoved, or bind
UP the uAlltI NlltlOul tlllbIlObs ! lltNtI
would, If avoidable, entrust a patient to a
nurse who boosted upon being stranger
10 nerves." And he was quite right, too.
A sudden glare, cold draught. a disa-
greeable whispering, creaky step, does
no Inconvenience TO persons of strong
who regard weak ones as sfiecta-
tions or hyrocricies. 1t is only the ner-
vous woman that feels the pain of the
sU,lleu glare, the chill of the cold
draught, the agony OF the Kissing whisper
and creaking shoes. These things are to
her real, tangible causes of suffering, and
are very carefully guarded against for her
patient. Ii is true, she may not be skill
ful in administering medicines, or SO ex-
pert in dressing wounds, or strong in lift
ing, as a caluler and less impulsive, less
loving person would be; but oh! she is
more terder in soothing aud
Every sick man knows how
much less nauseous bitter dose becomes
when administered by the gentle hands
Of those who love him, though tremulous
with anxiety and hope, than when offered
10y the most practical and experienced
man that ever adorned a quarantine or
hospital. Composed, self-possessed, re-
liable, such may be, but they lack the
tenderness 50 welcome to the sick aud
sToudent-they are proverbially hard.
Skill comes both from strong nerves and
from strong affections too, bat that which
comes from the affection is best.
A cousin Of Florence Nightingale, late
ly on a visit 10 this country, remarked in I
the herring of the writer that to none did
the determination uf q at lady to devote
her lie Ia the care Of the suffering and
wounded, bling more surprise than TO her
family, sensible as they were, that she
was an extremely nervous woman. Ner-
vous she was, and weak in form, but
strong sense of sympathy with suffering
took possession of her, and her grand
heart urged her to the work and her
,reat humanity, have become theme for |
tonnage and gratitude the world over.
Hundreds Of women might be named .
who, physically weak, with nerves ali un-
strung and frames all powerless, inspired |
by affection, have taken upon themselves
new duties, encountered dangers and IA
.igues almost incredible, TO succor or sus-
ain those in distress. Few persons there
ire who cannot number among their own
rienos some warm heart who has battled
gainst want, suffering, perhaps shame,
'ith vigor aud courage that might be
allied wonderful among strong men,
Not long since the writer was told of n
ady whose left side had for many months
,een rendered nearly useless by neuralria
Who when her dwelling took fire, and She
yas being carried out by her neighbors.
uddenly recollected that in the cellar
here was deposited a quantity of powder,
Shich, if it should explode, would probs-
ply cause loss Of life, and certainly great
oss Of property. Immediately she re-
luested to be set on her feet. This being
lone, she turned at once into the burning
building without saying word to any
'ne, and soon appeared claspipg in her
inns keg which she bore TO q stream
bear, aud cast it in. thus averting great
''Sslamity. Strong nerved people will say
me was an lmposter, that her illness was
~ iaitectation. Oh, good friends, equally
lR9ut heart and without nerves, YOU
,ure. ,
ne daughter Of a senator from a neigh
'Vlng slate, delicotelv raatad and ~ a