The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-05-18
AN IDEAL NURSE.
A Merchant RecOunts His Efforts
to Secure One.

H. DON'T claim to be physiognomist nor
mind-reader by a great way, but 1 do
~ claim the power of estimating the hu-
man character and drawing my inferenc es
pretty correctly from short conversation
with man or woman" said a prominent
merchant while in conversation with the
writer. 1T is no vain boast. for when you
take into consideration the fact that |
started in life as a chore-bOy for stove firm,
you will not marvel that have a little in
side knowledge of the dispositions Of peo-
pie from the many classes and varieties |
have met in my climb up the ladder of life.
" Armed with this experience, l recently
started in search of nurse. My daughter
was suffering from a mild form of typhoid
fever, which was rendered dangerous by
nervousness, and which required the ten
derest treatment. My wife insisted that
should personally choose the nurse, as sick
ness was so rare in our family that we had
not had one of the attendants on the sick
for some years. l started out on nv
journey with the sentiment of what can't
be cured, must be endured in my heart.
for | knew l must choose nurse, there
was no help for it. After procuring list
of the most eligible. finally made my first
visit.
1T was in the Western Addition, and
WHICH uSutlcu lutO tu6 DdElOT OF q DdN
window residence, was not little aston
ished at the elegance of the apartment A
woman of about 40 shortly afterward en-
tered. She was well dressed aud dignified.
y on desire to see me with relation to at
tending the sck?' she inquired in a voice
which indicated that business alone oceu-
pied her mind.
YES l answered, Il have daughter
seriously i'll and am in search of nurse
for her,
remarked. with an accent on the admins
trlX, consider myself perfect. My
charges are $50 a week, treatment the same
as the family. and attendance Of servant
II looked the woman full in the face.
There was not vestige OF sympathy in heI
face Her very expression showed that she
cared as little for the death of a patient
under her supervision as going through the
ordinary routine of life. EXcusing myself,
and promising to apprise her of my decision
next day, L sought second professional
nurse.
g Indeed, SIR said this party, 'you have
been very fortunate in being aDprised of
me. | consider myself the most skillful
nurse in this city, and often physicians have
consulted me and paid high compliments to
my opinions as to the treatment of invalids.
L have been engaged by the first families of
the city and have always been classified on
the same scale as the family. My neeessaries
for the sick-room are always prepared by the
servants. My changes are S25 week if
for protracted illness, but $50 for a stay
of less than month. | have number Of
references from the elite she continued,
approaching an escrltoire. Would you
like to read them?'
II answered that it was not nece ssary
and left this iron-hearted benefactress of
the sick.
Il called on at least a half dozen other pro-
fessonal nurses, but failed to find in any
one that which L sought, sweet, sympa-
thlzng disposition, disregard for business
and tender mOtherly feeling. Self-praise
absolutely perplexed when by chance l
passed slde-Street in the Mission and saw
modest sign of ladies nurse over an I'M
pretentious cottage | was astonished at
the neatness though LONELINESS of the in
terrier. The sweet odor of cleanliness per-
meated the little household. modest
looking woman of about 80 announced her
self as nurse. When / told her my mis-
sion she said that she hardly thought she
could ill the bill. She had no references
to offer, as she had tended to only people of
her own standing. who were compelled to
work for a living. The sincerity, the ten
derness of the woman's voice, the humility
with which every word came from her
she had not catered TO the best of
be my child's nurse. She asked the small
sum of $40 a week, but l would hear of
noLnlIS ouL TIE StauuaIu pTlce. winch peo-
pie who can afford it pay-S25 a week.
And would you believe it? That woman
by her sympathy, by the magnetism of her
tender touch, by her motherly interest and
cheering smile restored my child to health
in less than a month.
That's why l say that sympathy and
tenderness are far more preferable in a
nurse than skill, for doctor can provide
the latter and leave his instructions. So
would suggest that in instructing people
for nurses the first points to be considered
as to their qualifications are whether they
have tender, sympathetic hearts or can be
educated to have them"