The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-20
AMATEUR NURSING.


An illustration Showing the Difference Be
tween Truth and Fiction.
Clara Bellies Letter.
All, me- how the truth does differ from fiction!
Doesn't the hero of novel or play invariably get
hurt if at all, in the way of broken leg or
something hat lays him up in nice, clean man
ner compatible with sentimentality? Moreover
isn't it the rule that the heroine, turned nurse,
shalt find her employment in that capacity made
congenial by the duties of smoothing the dear
fellows forehead and reading to himl That's
romance. Hers reality. The pastor of my
church is an earnest Christian, a practical doer
of good and all that sort of philanthropic thing.
He is ali the while getting up visitation COM
mittees for the tenement house poor, cold
victual distribution lotteries and secondhand
clothes agencies. He got it into his
benevolent head not long ago that some of US
girls ought to do amateur nursing in the public
hospitals The idea took we'll, because we hac
heard that London aristocratie maidens were
practcing it, and he speedily had six enthusiastic
volunteers. We went through with prelin-
mary training to the extent of reading a book of
directions for nursing. Then we reported for
duty. We were to form kind of relief gang
each girl to devote one whole day in six to actu-
al attendance in the ward of a certain hospital.
Our services were accepted. We drew cuts for
turns, and hit the first day. Early next MORN
ing presented myself, i'll a very plain but
clan Of the institution. l fattered
myself that was prepared for any
fate which duty might impose upon
me; but down deep in. my heart of hearts l
was hopefully expecSant of the broken boned
hero of the novel and the play for a patient
What was my joy, therefore, on being assigned
to chap in exactly that lina What / mean is
that both his legs and one arm had been frae-
tured. OF course, he wasn't precisely the ideal
thing His brow wasn't as high and white as
the fictionist had described; stubble growth of
beard impaired whatever of beauty his face
might ordinarily have possessed; and they had
stuck him fast in structure of splints and
plaster of paris, so that his immovable po-
sition was not picturesque. l was bound to
make the best of him, however, and at the first
opportunity suggested that might read the
morning paper to him.
UNLESS you want to drive me crazy young
woman" he growled, unaware that l was vol
unteer. and not a hired hospital attendant
you'll kindly keep your tongue quiet.".
The Shock was something dreadful. / with
drew to a corner and wept When that was
done with / returned to find him asleep and
realize my expectations. On his showing the
first signs of awakening, and betraying pain by
low signs (quite dramatically, quietly stroked
his fevered brow. He was wideeyed in
minute.
"For heavens sake don't bang and plow my
head" he exclaimed II can't stand it.
have only a vague recollection OF how the
rest of the day wore YEARLY away. One of the
fondest of my delusions was dispelled; but
when the next days volunteer aud l came to
compare notes. and she related how she had
been allotted to the care of an old hummer just
over an acute attack of delrum tremens, con
cluded that had been rather fortunate. I'd had
broken-limbed patient. at all events, though his
behavior had not been all that had expected.
On the whole, don't think that amateur
nursing has the elements Of fashionable p0pu-
larity.