The New York herald., 1877-09-14
THE SCHOOL FOR NURSES.

The first annual commencement OF the training
School for Nurses at the Charity Hospital took place
yesterday afternoon at haifpast two O'Clock special
steamboat took the invited guests from the foot Of
East Twenty sixth street over TO Blackwes Island
The exercises which were held In the large hall
Of the west wing OF the hospital, were somewhat
upusual Blackwcll's Island The hall was literally
hung in green's enlivened with bright colorcd bunt-
ing The platform ornamented with flowers and
iruit and growing plants, and overhead the names
Wckham and Ely were wrought in green's with the
dates 1875 and 1877. The hall was well filed with
guests and prompt the hour the nurses, or pupils
of the training marched in and took their seats
on the first two rows of benches the graduating class
occupying the first row. All OF the young ladies'
becoming caps on their brads OF hair and ali but the
graduates wore long white aprons On the platform
were seated Mayor Ely and ex-Mayors Wickham and
Vance, jackson S. schultz, Dr. Wilson, Rev. .. d.
Tiffany, Commissioners Isaac H. Bailey, Townsend
Cox, Sinclair Touscy, John I. Agnew, D. f. Appleton
Raymond L. Ward, William Wood, President OF the
Board Of Education and Drs Gi.tclle, Van Wyck and
Frankel and Rev. Mr. Olmstead The meeting
VAS called TO order by Mr. Isaac II. Bailey, IN
the absence of Commissioner Brennan, who
nominated ex-Mayor Wickham as presiding on
Ger. The exercises opened with short
prayer by Rev. Mr. Olmsteaa, when Mr.. Wlckham
arose and made a few remarks, III which he gave a
compact history Of this training school since It's foun.
dation in 1870 He said tna the abuses OF unframed
nurses suggested TO Commissioners Brennan, Bailey,
training school for nurses in connection with the
Charity Hospital The idea was. not received with en-
thusiasm, but still its orgnators inserted an adver-
tisemont in the City Record, they allowed to
use other paper ana that journal not being gener
ally read nothing came OF il: Finally the project
they had twenty applications IRON young ladies, out
OF which they accepted nine The school has gone on
increasing, until II has now reached It's limited num-
ber forty The influence OF these lady nurses
has made a complete cnnnge In the hospital regime.
Severe pun,srments became unnecessary, and there
"a mi
mostly young ladies OF straitened circumstances
who show aptitude for the care OF the III they are
paid small stipend and live at the hospital, where
they we'll taken care OF. They attend course OF
lectures thorough experience ana before they
graduate pass satisfactory examination. Mr. Wick
ham called upon tho medical profession to bear in
mind the qualifications Of these young ladies TOR tho
position OF nurses and said that their capacity Tor
this work NO longer an experiment, but an estab
lished TACT
The reading OF tho essays followed Mr.. wickham's
marks. One the "Nurslng OF Children, by Miss
Josie Drew, who gave many practical suggestions;
''The Nursing OF the Eyc' by Miss Mary A. Eagan,
which showed careful study Of the subject; '.rhe
that she appreciated the responsibilities Of the posi-
ton; "Biackwells Island, an amusing composition,
by Miss Fanny NJ. Clapp, which won great applause,
and tho vaedictory, by Miss Addie Mabie MISS Aabio
chosen valedictorian by the unanimous vote OF
her class. The essays not read were by Misses
Marion A. Murphy, Emma J. Riggs, Jessie
II. Barber Julia Murphy and Nance 5.
Riggs. :, They are to be printed in pamphlet
form. Mayor Ely made few remarks, conlning him
self 10 expressions OF sympathy with and best wishes
Tor the class about to start out into the world. He
then presented diplomas TO the following yonng
es-Misses Mary A. Eagan Julia q. Drew, Jessie
IL. Fowler, Marion Murphy, Emma J. Riggs, Nance 5.
Riggs, Mary A. Gibson Lizzie German, Rose Marble,
Addle habie Mary McGowan Fannie NJ Clapp, Marie
Hartig, Fanny Tryon, Matte NJ. Broadwcl ana Julia
Murphy. The Misses Eagan, Drew ana Fowler
ccived prizes Tor proficiency offered by Dr. Easabrook,
Chief OF staff The first was hospital case
and Instruments the other two were fever
thermometers Mr. William Wood was called
upon for speech, and made few remarks, In which
he compared the nurses before him to the Sairy
Camps aud Betsy Prggs Of old. He said that he had
practical knowledge OF nursing, having had thirteen
children 10 look after A basket of flowers pre-
sented to Mayor Wlckham by Mrs. Clute behalf
OF the nurses and bouquet each to Mr.. Bailey and
Mr. Cox. The flowers tor decoration the gift OF
the aaes ofthe flower and trut mission Mr.. Charles
Pratt furnished the music.