Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-10-01
ONE OF OUR NEEDS.

we haven't hospital, dlspensary or any
organized system for the relief of suffering
humanity in our midst. A stranger fall
ing upon our streets would lie there and
die but for the loving kindness of some
passing Samaritan, and the poor unfortu-
nate woman would deliver he helpless Off
spring uncared for upon our pavements,
unless, perchance, some lowIy but tender
hearted and sympathetic fellow creature
were to give her shelter, and the necessary
attention. Suffering unheard of and there
! fore unnoticed, is daily borne in our midst
that, be it said to our shame, might and
ought to be relieved,
We have fifteen or more churches in and
around neutrality-suspicious. designed
to care for the spiritually sick and to give
the spiritually well hygienic suggestions to
maintain their spiritual health. The de-
voices of this great spiritual hospital go
abroad, hunting up the souls sick with sin
and drag them, almost ~ ct ornais, to par
take of the medicine prepared by the Great
Redeemer for the healing Of the nations.
For the intellects perishing of inanition,
starving for proper food or running to
speedy decay for want of properly regu-
lated mental hygiene, we have amply pro-
vided hospitals in the way of public and
private schools. If a mans moral or
mental organization is neglected the fault
lies at his own door. Institutions specially
adapted to care for both are near at
hand and can be had without money
and without price. But let him become
physically ill-let the physical machine
through and by which both the others
work, be thrown out of gear, let his weak
humanity suffer the penalty of the fall,
even in a slight degree, and unless he be
an individual, who has been fortunate or
provident enough to lay by for a rainy day
the only certainty to which he can look is
the proverbial cold charity of a self-styled,
civilized humane community. Why is it
that we provide for the moral and intellect
ual necessities Of our people and SO utterly
neglect their physical wants? These
things ought we rather to have done and
not have left the others undone. We know
that we shall be met on the threshold with
the assertion that much has been done
in this field, both by private ipdividua
and by organizations furnished with funds
by subscriptions that our citizens have
been liberal in their donations, especially
during the past summer to the suffering,
both in our vicinity and in the neighbor-
| ing afflicted towns. And we say
it to their credit, that they have respond
ed nobly to these calls, but at the same
time we feel compelled to say that there is
an UNDECIDED call that amounts almost to q
wall going up continually, in non-pesti-
lential times, that demands to be heard.
Our sick poor need comfortable house to
lie in, good and properly prepared food to
eat, and proper attention-medical and
otherwise. At their homes it can not from
the very nature of the case be given them,
| any more than the minister
and teacher can do their duty in
the house to house visitation J!an.
Aggregate and systematic and you
can work with four times the effectiveness
and with almost 1.-THE of the expense.
What we want is a hospital-not large,
cumbrous one that will break itself down
of its own weight-but one sufficiently
large for our wants, and under the manage
ment of live, active, energetic men, who
recognize their duty to their God and suf-
feeling humanity, and who are not the
slaves to any clique, ring or Organization.
Our city authorities, with the endowments
already made for a hospital and the coop
Grafton Of our most enterprising citizens:
can easily establish hospital that will re-
fleet credit on the city, be of immense ben.
eft to its citizens and in the end keep mon.
ey in its treasury. The amount of money
expended during the prevalence of small
pox and cholera would have been sufficient
to have built with the funds already on
hand) hospital and paid city physician
a very respectable salary. The time is
coming-nay, is here now-when we must
! consider this matter, and the sooner we dc
I il the better will it be for US, pecuniarIIy
} and otherwise.
These thoughts we throw out now, trust
. ing, if we find any interest manifested il
f the matter, to enter, in future article
I more into details. II is subject that in
| terests US all. 1t appeals directly to the
wants of the poorer classes, to the pocket,
I of our men of property and to the bes
and tenderest feelings of all.
LOUISA MUHLBACH.