Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-22
DIR. Bliss War Hospital.

THE RECoLLEcTIoSS OF ONE WHO SERVED WITH
HIM THERE.
Mrs. II. G. Ingersoll writes to The STAR as fol-
lows:
The sad news which THE STAR gives of the
end of brave, energetic life will recall to
many who knew DIR. Bliss in Armory Square
hospital a page in his life which was written in
characters of unusual brightness. Among the
many wounded soldiers who received his care,
and the women who, as nurses, aided his work,
1t would be difficult to find one who did not
look upon DIR. Bliss in his capacity of director
and ruler of that large family with any other
feeling than admiration and respect. This
hospital was model hospital Order and
neatness easily prevailed, for he could rule
without tyranny, and, being thoroughly de-
voted TO his work, he inspired in all around
him the same desire of perfection in the hos
pltal that he himself was striving for
There was no lack of cheerfulness in his
presence or his methods, but he did not carry
the idea of entertaining the inmates of his hos
pltai to the extent OF preparing theatricals for
them, as was the case in some others, for said
he, my business Is to cure these men and get
them ready for the field again" OF the earnest
loyalty OF DIR. Bliss no one could doubt who
knew him for an hour. 1t was while was in
the hospital that delegation from some west
ern college came to offer him a chair in their
institution. ''Once," he said to me- that offer
would have satisfied my highest ambition but
/ do not give it thought now. II can serve
my country where / am, and believe / can
this is my choice"
There were surgeons in those days who were
well content to receive the salary our govern
ment paid, when their feelings were in no way
enlisted in the service. One such found in
the ward to which was assigned when / went
on duty at Armory square. On nv first day
there this surgeon, in the presence of men who
had lost limbs IN the cause and were now lying
around 1.-The whitewashed walls in pallid sick
ness. expressed his opinion that the south
would in the end triumph, and that the north
nad no good reason for going to war. met
this talk by telling him that he should have
been ON that side and not here, to which he
replied that he found himself here through
convenience. On going to my room met DR..
Bliss on the plank walk, and he said: ''Why so
SAD, Mrs. :" seems to me you look down
in the mouth" told him 1 did feel sad; that
it made me SO to hear such things said before
wounded soldiers as had just listened 70, and
repeated the words that DIR. - had Just said
to me. 1 never shall forget the flashing ewes
and altered voice in which DIR. Bliss spoke
The wretch, he ought to be strong mp; he
shall be discharged the service" And he was
discharged. 1t was no part of the faith of DIR.
Bliss that such men should tend our wounded
soldiers. In the selection of nurses for his
hospital DIR. Bliss obtained leave from the
higher powers to depart from the methods
established by Miss Dix-a departure which
she did not relish. but found herself unable to
prevent. DIR. Bliss found many ladies among
the educated and cultured classes who were
more than willing to give their services to his
hospital without pay. He liked this class and
found their influence good with the soldiers
There were wives and daughters of Senator's
OF president of Harvard, and others of that
order who were only too glad to serve their
country IN this way and to allow the salaries
drawn for them to be used for the special diet
of sick soldiers. As remember those earnest
| and intelligent ladies am sure that the news
OF to-day will bring to all of them pang of
regret that the surgeon in charge they admired
so cordially and appreciated SO highly had his
NE 700 soon worn out by service in which he
never spared himself
THINNING Our THE RANKS OF THE FEMALE
IHiEvEs--The colored female residents of the
Division" have not been conducting them
selves properly on the streets lately. and the
police determined to break up the gang. Sew
eral persons have been robbed in that
LOCALITY recently, but as the victims did
not desire to prosecute the cases for fear of
exposure the guilty parties were not appre-
hended- Thursday evening a soldier appeared
IN that locality. He was supposed to have some
money and two Of the women carried him bodily
into house. Wednesday night Sergt. Byrnes
went out with ofhcers and arrested thirteen
OF the women. Yesterday they were charged
with vagrancy and Judge Miller COM
mitted eleven of them to the farm For
sixty days. Other arrests of the
same Class OF persons viii soon follow as the
police are DESTROYS of getting them out of the
way before the inauguration SO that there will
be fewer persons of that class to rob strangers.
TIE ART STUDENTS SKETCH CLUB REcEp-
TIoS.-The fourth annual reception of the Art
Students sketch club last night. in the rooms
in Vernon row. was well attended. After the
| sketches and specimens of the work of the
members on the walls were inspected musi-
cal and literary program was rendered by
Messrs. Watson and Bigelow, and Misses Flan-
niken, Daily, Case, Chapman, and Wood.
JOINED THE INTERNATIONAL USrox.-At the
meeting Of the Operative Stone Mason's society
Of the District last night, at st. Georges hall,
an amalgamation was accomplished with the
OF America.