Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-02-09
Death From Neglect, Even in the Homes
of Wealthy People Who Cannot
Rule the Servants.

ward.
1t is among those who live alone thai
the searcher for dreary data will chiefly
find a harvest. True, the solitary patient
may be separated only by some thin parti
tion from his or her fellows but in New
York what impossible barrier may moi
those few feet of board and plaster
constitute &? A yeritable Chinese wall
which, if it do not keep out barbarian
may effectually hinder help in time Of
need.
But indeed, it is not obligatory to
search among the lonely ones for victims
They NAV be found in mansions where a
corps of servants rule, and chiefest of all
the cook. Perhaps it does not occur to
every seeker after truth that in proportion
as "help" multiplies helplessness may re-
suit.
Let me illustrate by an example, and /
am sure it IS not solitary one.
A lady was recently taken in the grip of
the grippe. Visited by a skillful physi-
clan, tended by trained nurse, with a
corps of servants at call, what could she
need?
Nourishment.
Where was the cook
In the kitchen.
Then let her make broths.
She made a broth. Watery, weak, sense
less stuff. Strong enough as a preparation
for a five or six course dinner downstairs,
but for sick person starvation.
'sThis is no sustenance for a sick per-
son." says a Mortified visitor.
81 know it, answers the invalid meekly,
ebut what am | to do? If l complain,
Mary will take offense, and if she goes
what will become of everything. Who
will cook Mr.. IS dinners? If you
could only know the trouble have had to
get and keep A cook, you would agree with
me and endure anything rather than ex-
perience the ordeal of finding another.
I e suits Mr.. ~ when we have dinner
parties, and I dare not offend her"
Sympathizing Visitor-"Then let US
cook something up here. Let's do some
thing; you're starving"
Trained Nurse = "'Tisn't possible,
ma'am; don't you see there's no fire."
Visitor looks about her; sure enough,
only steam heat, and if fire were made,
only a wood fire; nothing to cook upon;
only an alcohol lamp for heating or boil
ing some small decoction. Situation ap-
parently hopeless.
Trained Nurse-'It's the way in these
big houses, ma am; tits MT the first case"
Visitor-'T col Id cook and bring in
splendid broth, bu then"
.But then you'd be found out. Jones,
who opens the door, would make report"
Visitor = Couldn't l slip in? If l
only had key, could open the door my
self. | can put the broth in wide
mouthed bottle or two bottles; l can make
a package. of them in a satchel or basket,
and if Pm seen, they won't think of the
broth. | can bring it nice ani warm, and
Won can heat what is left over the alcohol
lamp. Let Mary go on making broth, and
if we keep our own counsel and manage
adroitlv. nobody need ever know word.
Couldn't you eat Mary's broths :"
Trained nurse looks approvingly; a
CLEAN of hope crosses the patients face:
Visitor on her own little range, in her
own fiat, cooks broth, smuggles it in and
the result is-recovery."
In this and other instances, without
doubt, the evil beyond help is that of toe
much help. Heaven guard the unguarded
creatures who on the other hand lie Tor
lorn and without help.
In small town or village there IS al
ways somebody ready to do something for
a neighbor, or if the solitary creature
boards. he or she is not one among dozen
or more Others. In New York 1t Is the
room that becomes important; not the
occupant, who interests the professional
landiady in so far as that no trespass on
other rooms be committed, and weekly
payments be made.
In case of extreme illness she might
awake to the fact that a funeral would be
disagreeable, and something savoring ol
energy be done: but how often an ignor.
ant and careless energy, and more than all
that comes too late. The gentle touch
the watchful ministering, the intelligent
provision that should ward off such conse.
duences, are absolutely wanting In nine
eases out of ten.
1t is not always the impecuniOus who
thus suffer from neglect. Well-to-dc
dodgers or boarders lie and take whai
chances to come. But lately an artist o.
some standing was taken i'll by the grippe
His landlady was not the conventional
one but a married woman of considerable
means, but who, nevertheless, assisted her
husband in business, leaving orders to ''the
girls" to 'get the gentleman anything ne
wanted"
Experience tells me that the average
sick man is the most stupid, most helpless
being imaginable. He has not the slight
est idea what he wants, nor the slightes'
idea how to make or get hold OF any
thing. He Just lies there absolutely with
out brains or comprehension of the sltua,
tion. And the average servant girl
Ditto, to the latter part Of the sentence.
The woman probably knows what she
wants. and could in the first stages OF III
ness procure something for herself, pro
yided she had the cenyenienees. But a.
soon might she think of flying over the
moon as getting anything worth having
unless box of pills or a bottle OF nneNii
cine that feed ehambermaid or messenSel 1,s,
bow can bring from a drugstore: The
kitchen is uncomfortable place ana tnre'
or four staireases away.
This, however, is a digreSs.on, ana car
ries us away from the artist who lay pros
trate in the grip of the grippe. on one
hand and two Ignorant servant girls on the
other. His room fronted north, and nc
raw of sunlight cheered him. The house
was steam heated, and he had not even the
announcement of a fire. Diet-milk anc
bread. A doctor came in and gave hin
some medicine.
What saved him?
z A lady pupil went to see him, and, for
ednately, was of years mature enough t'
be invited into his room. Experience
foreshadowed to her the probable sltua
tion, and inquiry set doubt at rest. Ih'
man was starving.
In an hour afterwards a chicken 10
broth was bought, in short time NOR
the half was on broiling, and by earlii
afternoon the furnishing invalid was fed
He was fed for week, and to-day walk
the streets i.
1t would be tragically interesting L
know how many lie and die for lack Q
sustenance in this city OF butcher-shop
and groceries. Restaurants and hotels ar