Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-11-05
TRAINING SCHOOL FOR NURSES.
Fourth Opening Of the school.

Il.
reference has been made in The STAR to the
address by DR.. Toner at the opening Of the
fourth course of instruction in the Washington
Training School for Nurses, but it contains SO
much matter of interest that full report is
given below:
Lddies and Gentlemen, Members and Profess
sors Of the Washington Training School for
Nurses: We assemble tonight to open in pub
lie manner the fourth regular course Of instruc-
ton in the Washington Training School for
Nurses The presence of this distinguished as
sembIy is particularly gratifying to the society
and the friends Of the enterprise. Our work is
each year becoming more and more appreciated
by the public. The encouragement given to
trained and competent nurses. and the demand
for their services in the sickrOOm, is everywhere
constantly increasing. Schools for training
nurses are being established in nearly all our
large cities, and the calling of the trained nurse
may now be considered one of the established
and honorable pursuits of life. This society is
still labOring under an embarrassment in not
having home of its own for the systematic in
struction and training of its pupils; but by cour-
age and perseverance we hope finally to obtain
suitable quarters, and we think we see in the
near future prospect Of our nurses having a
suitable home i'm the projected National Garfield
Memorial Hospital. During the past summer
had the opportunity of a conversation with a
lady of great practical experience in nursing,
and one of the most noted and influential living
advocates of the utility of training schools for
the education of nurses. / allude, as you will
infer, to
FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE.
This event came about as follows The even
ing before left for Europe the graduates who
received certificates at the close of our last
years instruction called to pay their respects
and wish me pleasant journey. and left with
me card bearing their photographs. at once
concluded to put the photograph in my trunk,
and If opportunity offered while in England to
give it to Miss Nightingale. l also took with
me for the same purpose plate and cup and
saucer of the china decorated for the loan eXhi-
bitiOn held last spring in the interest Of the
Washington Training School for Nurses. It
happened that a few days after my arrival in
London / visited st. Thomas Hospital That
institution has corps of trained nurses, pre-
sided over by Mrs. WardrOper, lady of much
executive ability, and who is an efficient CO.
worker with Miss Nightingale. This old and
very extensive hospital Is q handsome stone
building near the center Of the city, on the bank
Of the Thames, Immediately across the stream
from Parliament House. The institution is
richly endowed, and is kept in admirable con-
ditiOn in all its appointments Its administra-
ton and nursing are unexceptiOnable. From
Mrs. WardrOper, who accompanied me through
part of the building obtained the address Of
Miss Nightingale, and the following day / took
to her residence the photographs and china
have referred to, but without having any hope
that these trides would lead to an interview
However. the next morning Ireceived from Miss
Nightingale very polite note of acknowledge
ment, which Is as much
COMPLIMENT TO THIS SOCIETY
as it is to myself, fact that induces me to read
1t is in the following language:
Dr. Toner, Henrietta street, Cdce'slssh Square,
london:
my Dear Sir: thank you thousand times
for your great kindness in bringing me your
books. the photographs of the nurses, and the
china manufactured for your nurses training
school, all things which shall value so much.
L cannot bear that you should leave England
without my seeing you personally on a subject
so interesting to us both; but / am 80 over
worked (and alwaysa prisoner from illness) that
can only say: Could you give me few min
utes on Monday at half-past twelve or on Tues
day at half-past twelve or five? Please let me
have word in reply, and for the nursing cause
pray believe me ever your and it's faithful SER
want. FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE"
replied promptly to her note that would do
myself the honor of calling at the earliest hour
she had named. I kept the engagement to a
minute; and upon my card being sent to Miss
Nightingale l was Immediately conducted to her
room on the second floor. Here found Miss
Nightingale reclining upon lounge, by the side
of which stood small table, with writing ma
terial upon it; also the photographs Of the
nurses aud the pamphlets and china had sent
her. She held my card in her hand and, ad-
dressing me by name as approached and with
out rising. extended her hand and babe me vel
come. Florence Nightingale though of English
paIentage. was born in Florence Italy, in 1920,
and is therefore s:xty-One years of age but she
looked not day older than fOrty-six. Miss
Nightlngale's features are regular, her face is
smooth and unwrinkled, she has an English COM
plexiOn, large brown eyes and well nOurished
body, which would weigh 165 pounds. SO that she
ia no lirht frocr %bo
engraved portraits, taken just after the Crimean
war, represented her to be. Nevertheless she is,
and has been, for years, a sufferer, and confined
most OF the time to her room. Had she the
health to appear in public and to fill the place
in society and the social world which her talents
and worth entitle her to occupy, she would be
the most popular lady in England. And not
withstandng this enforced retirement, believe
Florence Nightingale is to-day (perhaps except
Ing the Queen the most universally beloved of
any woman in Great Britain. In personal ap-
pearance Miss Nightingale very much resembles
a lady Of high culture and literary ability in this
city, and who is well and fayOrabiy known for
ner many charities, and as contributing men,
Der of this society.
Though Miss Nightingale sat upright much
OF the time when entered the room and again
several times during my stay, yet she did not at
any time move her lower limbs which rested on
the lounge and were covered with shawl I
DO not know the character of her inya;idness
Oue, whatever lt Is, IL In no way affects her
mental energy or sympathy with
THE WORK OF EDUCATING NURSES.
She has enlarged, clear, and distinct views ON
the subject OF nursing and the training of nurses
and expresses them forciby and fluently. Dur
Ing my visit servant woman brought her a
glass of milk, of which she took a coup,e Of
swallows. After few riefremarks relative to
my visit to England and the importance and SIR
nificance Of the International Medical CONGRESS-
then in session in London, she proceeded to in
quire very particularly about our training
school in the city OF Washington. She had read
the pamphlet Of the announcement of our school
and had the names Of a number of the incornor
ators and the teachers and officers of the society
well in mind. She asked how our wealthy.
educated. and philanthrOpic citizens were
disposed toward the school, and recon-
mended strongly that we should not rest
until we obtained home for the nurses and
that We should be particular to admit to the
honors Of the school only those whose character.
physical strength and zeal in the cause give
promise of efficient services. She was also par
ticular to inquire what aid we received from the
government and from organized societies, and
II We had fixed fund. She was quite SUP
prised that sufficient voluntary contributions
could be obtained to support the school. and
that We should have been so successful without
a q I'd ufo nd