Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1882-11-24
Home Talks.

learn some work or profession by
which they may support themselves,
and the earnest endeavors of philan-
thropists to open the doors for them in
every possible way makes everything
regarding the matter of great interest,
One of the things which they are best
fitted to do by nature is the care of the
sick. Intelligent nursing saves many
lives, while lack Of knowledge shortens
them. Elderly women often take up
the work through love for it, and
bringing to bear what experience has
enabled them to gain are angels Of
mercy in the neighborhood where they
live. Almost everybody knows some
such person and call to mind times
when their appearance upon scene Of
distress was hailed with the feeling
with which a drowning man sees APP
proach certain deliverance.
In the country these nurses are
known far and wide. They are the
good Samarltans. for though they may
have taken up the work because all
other interests have been torn out of
their lives, or that fate has left them to
plod on through the years alone, and
they have turned to this as last re-
sort, they are usually impelled to earn
est endeavor through personal interest
in their patients, and sort OF pride of
power, even though they havehad no
professional training.
In cities, however, where people are
strangers to each other the first mcen-
tive Is lacking and the want of trained
nurses has long been felt. So many
people are utterly helpless in the case of
sickness of their loved ones that it be-
comes an absolute necessity to have
those who stand ready to answer such
calls even though perfect strangers.
There are already many such VINO
make large wages, as indeed they
should do if faithful and competent,
for there is no life more wearing, but
there is still lack of such as are thor
oughly trained for their work.
In the November Century is an ex-
ceedingly interesting article concerning
an institution whose like Should be
found in every city in the land, namely,
the Bellevue Training School for Nurses.
This was founded in 1873, the result
ofabsolute need OF coed nursing among
the patients Of Bellevue Hospital. One
of the leading physicians of New York
went to Europe at his own expense 10
study foreign systems. He saw and
consulted Miss Nightingale, who wrote
a letter in which were laid down the
principles which have since governed
the school. Subscriptions were taken
and the institution established.
At first there seemed to be more OF
less prejudice against the whole thing,
and for time it was up hill work.
People had a horror of professional
nurses, and women declined to put
themselves in training for the duties,
but time, patience and energy have
!, brought success, and now a diploma
from the Bellevue Training School is a
guarantee of proficiency, and is so re-
garded all over the City. The nurses
find themselves in demand at fair wages
and great good has been accomplish
ed.
To show how high is the Standard
which should be equally high in every
other such school that may be estab-
lished-we make the following quota
tons from the Century article:
The scheme adopted-that develop
ed by Miss Nishtingale---demanded
in the applicant combination of re-
uuisites the mere enumeration ofwhich
appalled, many who had been encourag,
ed to seek admission to the school
These are good education, strong con-
stitution, freedom from physical defects
including those Of sight and hearing,
and unexcepuonable references. The
course of training consists In dressing
wounds, applying lamentations. bath