New-York tribune., 1880-02-29
AREuARKABLE ENGLisHWoMAM
From The Spectator.


Dorothy Pattison, better known IN the Black
Country as " Sister Dora was ono OF the younger
children Of Mr. Mark Plttis0n, lork shire Clergy
man. She was born IN 1882, and early developed
force of character that rrcsisby drew her 10 mark
ont for herself line of active work. She was CITED
,yitb two qualities which fitted her emnCntly for
the line she choSe-physical beauty and sense OF
humor II was not. however, until she was nine
and-twenty that Dorothy Pattison finally entered
upon her dciuite career. Ten years aiter outefiug
sisterhood she took sole charge Of small hospital
nc Nalsall, IN StafOrdshire. Energy of VIII, CON-
biued with extraordinary physical strength, enabled
her To combine work aud responsibility tO an extent
OF which few women are capable. II Is related that
on more than one occasion she lifted grown men iu
her arms as II they had been children and long days
OF nursing. followed Dy nights ot anxious watching,
produced no apparent bad results on her health or
spirits.
Her work in walsall threw her into the. midst Of
the mining population In the IRON and coal districts
of south Staiflrishre. IL Is land of Teckossness
and hopelessness. a land OF drunkenness and SIN.
The character of the people suits their surroundings
Sluaiid anG reckless. they become dead tO the dan
gers TO which their special work exposes theul.
With n contempt hrcd Of familiarity. they do not
take common precautions 20 avoid accidents that
are very generally fatal. They carry thcf hFes IA
their hands as they descend into the bowels OF the
earth or tend the huge machinery 10 approach TOO
near To which means instant DEATH or az best, loss
of the limbs which alone give them power of work
and livelihood. Ii was surroundings such "a, these
that called out H. Sister Dora all the nOblents5 ana
herosm that belonged 20 her character. Her sell
devotion knew no bounds. On one occasion she
saved the life of child az the last stage at diphthe-
ra, by deliberately putting her mouth to the tupe
inserted In the chIlds throat aud clearing u OF the
poisonous mucous. More than once she restored
respiration through her own breath 10 smallpox
patients At the last stage Her phy seal courage,
too was immense. One night she barred the entrance
into the hospital by her own arm O. member OF te
swell D. oh who attempted to force himself IN. In
her mission wOrk-for IL was not only by nursing
that SISTER Dora used her influence for good-she
boldly invaded the worst quarters Of the town, by
herself ana at night She would sit up night after
night watching alone IN the smallpox hospital
fn ng0
Once she grappled hand.to-hlnd with delirious
patieut and through main strength and determining
Ton got him back 10 bed. and held hun thefc until
the doctor arrived IN the morning" IL was PROB
oblv through ihi, grand force Of character that ehe
chiefly gained her influence over the poor Her keen
sense ~ humor aud moral and physical courage
aroused tier admralo. WINE het 81 tii-u'NVll"h
aud sympathy with sun ring riyeicd their gfau-
tude
Her skill and touch rivalled those Of the surgeons
themsrl ly,s and one incident In particular buugs
out most stritngly her w,lLgrouudcd sclf-rcii-
anrc. A Young man had been brought In with his
arm 80 mutilated by an accident that the surgeon
pronounced amputati0n alone could save his life;
Sister Dora, relying on her own Judgment anu SKIN
I'm nursing undertook 10 save the arm. The surgeon
washed his hands of the responsibility. and told her
that it would be upon her conscience II the Young
man died Nothing deferred. Sister Dora devoted
herself 20 the day and night Tor three weeks and
had the satisfaction, at the end oi that Ilme' OF
and il will be a uscfll arm to him for many long
Vcarl" II is no wonder that with facts Ike these
coming daily before their notice. the people Of Wal
sail hold her name In vcncralion and That To her
burial came all the population, rich ana poor not
only OF the town itself but of the surrounding dis
trcs. The feeling Of the people that prompts them
10 raise a statue 10 her memory Is touchngy gwen
by Miss Lonsdale, IN the words Of one ot them
selves. Why, n body knows better than DO that
,Yc shan't forget her-no dangerct thatj but want
her 10 DE there, that when strangers come 10 the
place. and see her standing up tney shall asE u-,
WHO'S tha 2 and then we shall say, Who's that1
why, that's our Sister Dora"