National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-06-20
HOSPITAL HEROES.
THE Ex-NURsEs OF The LATE WAR.
They Meet and Form a National Organization for
Cooperative Effort and Mutual Protection
Hiss d. l.. Dix, the Eminent Philan.
ti,ropist, Elected President.

Survivors of the late war, of almost all
classes of participants, have their organizations
whose annual reunions arc occasions of renewed
| friendships, rehearsal Of "reminiscences and the
consolidation of compacts for the protection oil
| mutual interests. But there is one humble though
very meritorious class that was the means of pre-
serving to the Nation some of the most valuable
lives that were periled in the great internecine
| contest, which has never heretofore organized to
prefer claims of recognition services rendered
! The army nurses is the class referred to here
| There are quite Il number of these modest peo-
pie now residing at the National Capital. Some
/ of them have been employees of the Government
fora time and many still receiving small sala-
ries as clerks, cOpyist messengers while Others
! have been dropped in the reductions" for lack
| of political influence or cheek" to press their
claims. The case of one or two of the latter in
stances having reached the ears of that noble
woman and gifted artist, Miss Caroline L. Ran
som, she at once set to work in her practical way
/ to devise and apply remedy. Finding upon in
| quiry that these worthy ladies had no
| ORGANIZATION FOR COOPERATIVE EFFORT
| toward mutual protection, and in many instances
were even strangers to each other. She conceived
the idea of getting them together to become ac-
quainted and confer touching mutual interests.
She enlisted the wife of Senator Blair who is pro-
verbal for her philanthropy and kindness to I'M
protected womanhood; General Eaton, commits
sioner of education. and Professor Gregory, of
Illinois, i'll the good work. and convened them
and the following ladies at her studio by invita-
ton last Saturday night Mrs. W. w. ChisOlm, L.
y. Wood, Harriet p. Dame, Anna Haaks, Nancy
True, l.. X. White, NJ. A. Wood, A. L. Gridley,
Mile Hoard, Ada L. Macombcr, Maria Barton
Greene, Il. N. Bigelow, W. +. Harris, Mrs. Miranda
Tullock, DR.. f. A. Burghardt, Emma N. Gil
lett, Mrs. f. l.. Shepherd Mrs. Kimball,
Miss Gay, and others The studio was charmngy
decorated with some twenty choice bouquets.
thoughtfully sent by Mrs. Garfield, accompanied
by the strongest expressions of sympathy in their
cause. The truthful portrait of Mrs Garfield, by
Miss Ransom, now nearly finished, stood just be-
hind the flowers. General Eaton presided and
briefly stated the object of the meeting in Il neat
little address upon the important part
borne by those heroic women who sacrificed the
comforts and luXIricS OF good homes to share the
privations of field and hospitals with the sick and
wounded soldiers, and the prOnencSS of the public
to forget the services thus rendered i'll the multi
fariouS employments of the battle of life. and
showing the necessity of organizing for sclf-pro-
lection DIR. Gregory eloquently praised the nurses
and gave numerous incidents of the expert
ences of himself and others in hospital work
among the soldiers. He alluded most pathetically
Garfield, who, just conYaleScng from serious i'll
ness, felt keenly the benefits of good nursing and
expressed her heartfelt sympathy with this move
ment and supplemented that expression by the
gift of rare flowers. On notion it was decided to
organize
SOCIETY OF EX-ARMY NURSES,
and the following officers were chosen: President,
Miss d. L. Dix; first vice president DR.. Susan A.
Edison; second vice president, Miss Harriet P.
Dame; secretary. Dr.. Z. A. Burghardt; treasurer,
Mrs. T. L. TullOck. Miss Dix was not present nor
is it expected that she will be able preside at
the meetings of the society, but it desired to
secure her counsel, and to reflect upon her ali
possible honor as the protector of the army corps
of nurses. resolution offered by Mrs Shepherd,
complimentary to Miss Dix, was adopted and
letter informing that noble woman Of her election
and rccOunting her eminent services to the
wounded soldiers was sent 10 her in the name of
the organization