St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-10-22
NURSES FOR THE poor.
Ladies IMaugurate Diakonissen
Service.


''Diakonissen" is a term from the Ger
man language, but its significance is less
terrible than its etymology. To the Teu-
tonic ear it conveys kind and benefcent
meaning. 1t is applied to those women
who, after having received the necessary
education and instruction. devote them
selves to the attendance of the sick in the
capacity OF trained nurses.
Dlakonissen 9rvice is a novelty in this
city, although for many years the sick pooI
of nearly all the more populous cities of
Germany have enjoyed its many advantages.
In 1883 the 'sDiakonissen Haus,n BethIe-
hem in Ludwigslust, Germany, had 130
sisters. of whom SO were educated ':Diako-
nissen" and IS were passing through the
details of instruction s'on probation.''
''An Institution such as this will be es-
tablished in New York city this fall,'' said
William H. Wiley, of No. $50 Reade
street. yesterday. ''It will be an adiuncl
to the Western dispensary of the city of
New York, which was Incorporated April
6, 1880, and is located at No. 201 West
Thirty-eight street, at the corner of Seventh
avenue"
WHO are the projectors of this Diakon-
issen?"
Mr.. Wiley is well known as a most active
opllit LII Gil OHtCl pIloCS VI ulSulClIldl
throphy, and he has held the position of
treasurer of the dispensary corporation
since its organization. He is therefore,
fully authorized to receive all contributions
from people who become interested in this
new and much-needed charity
1.-The wonderfully generous response to
the appeals for money to erect a pedestal
on Bedloes Island and shaft over the re-
mains Of Grant, leads me to hope that the
public, especially the German public, will
respond to a appreciablc degree to this cry
ing need for an unsectarian school to create
skillful nurses. This is live issue" con-
tinued Wiley,
Are you greatly in need of funds?"
eve are prepared to put to good use
every dollar contributed, but we are not
who have taken this Diakonissen scheme in
hand have already raised 1000, largely
through the individual efforts of Mrs. Dr..
Guernsey.
There is a very large tenement popula-
tion west OF Ninth avenue, among whom
the Diakonissen can supply other needs,
such as giving instruction to the poor, in
sanitary and hygenic matters, the improve
ment of the slothful and uncleanly habits
incidental to poverty, and the education Of
the children by the system of kinder
garten.
1t is also proposed to connect a hospital
with this institution, where the poor will
be supplied with free beds, free nourish-
ment, free medicine and free attendance,
and yet all will be of the most complete
and scientific nature, and in no wise differ
ent from the care that is afforded to those
who enjoy the comforts wealth can give.
During the Franco-German war, in 1870,
the work of those nurses trained as Diako-
nissen, was simply invaluable upon the
battlefields and within the prison hospitals.
The services of these devoted women were
heartily acknowledged by both Govern
ments although Germany alone has in late
years fostered these institutions.
Among the gentleman who have inter-
ested themselves as trustees of Mrs. Guern
sey's enterprise are Fletcher Harper, the
publisher; Henry Clews, the Banker; j.
Edwards Simmons, President of the stock
exchange; Francis B. Thurber, the whole
sale grocer; Washington E. Connor Jay
Gould's partner; Charles Watrons, the
lumber merchant; John l.. levitt, Presi-
dent of the Irving National bank; Hon.
David r. Jaques. Birdseye Brakeman and
Augustus c. Taylor, the publishers; Henry
j. Davidson, Hamilton Rickaby, M. D.,
James B. Gilbert, NJ D., William G. Dor
min, the New street broker. and j. Edward
Mastin. the Broad street stock broker.
Mr.. Wiley said the present building will
be enlarged so as to occupy the entire block.
The Diakonissen nurses will differ from the
Catholic sisters of mercy in their utter dis
regard of the religion of their patients.
The society will give them home and
after being trained, they will either attend
the sick gratuitously or divert whatever re-
muneration they receive to the maintain
ance of the institution. 1t is in this way
that the Diakonissen will be made self-sup-
porting.-New York journal.