The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-02
DOCTOR AT WORK.
WOMEN PHYSICIANS ARE AS
HARDY AND BRAVE AS MEN.


of Sleep Between.
From the Neao York sun.
IL was after midnight recently that a
footmEn muffled in a macintosh started
up the steps of a house on Lexington avenue
and rang the bell. The windows Of this
house, like those of every other house in the
block, were dark, and apparently all the
residents Of the street were asleep. 1t was
nasty, rainy night and the wind was
blowing sharp and cold. 1t was almost I'M
possible to hold up an umbrella, and the
footman had put his down before he reached
the stoop. The water was therefore drip
ping from his hat and coat. The
gaslights in the avenue gave only a
dim light through the rain-covered
glass shades. The policeman on the
beat came along while the footman was at
the door, the water running in little streams
from his rubber hat and rubber coat. He
looked suspiciousy at the footman, and
waited in the shadow of a neighboring
house to see what be was doing Tne bell
had rung very loudly and plainly inside the
house, but.as all the occupants had been
asleep it took some time to arouse them.
The footman rang repeatedly, aud finally,
about five minutes after his arrival, the
door was opened aud Woman's head ap-
peared from behind it. 1t was a young
woman, and evidently a servant.
What is it?' she said
'Mrs - is very ILL.," replied the foot
man, land wants to see the doctor at once.
She has got cramps, aud they don't know
whether she'll live or not. They did think
she might not live till got back.n
"Oh, it's such a nasty night for the doctor
to be going out" said the servant, but
will tell her. just wait a moment"
The door closed again, and the key could
be heard turning In the lock, whereat the
footman smiled. The servant ran upstairs
to the second floor, and paused before the
door Of one of the sleeping rooms. She shook
her head doubtfully number Of times, as
though debating whether she ought to rouse
the sleeper or not. Finally she knocked =,
and woman's voice was heard asking what
was wanted
please, doctor, said the servant, "there's
footman downstairs with a message from
Mrs. -. She is very sick, and going to
die, they say and they want you to come
around right away" But" she added.
with a shiver, tits an awful nasty night
out, and you would only catch your own
death of cold if you VENT
AS If to emphasize her last remark, an
extraordinary gust of wind blew strongly
against the windows, dashipg the rain upon
the glass, and making the shutters rattle A
sigh could be heard from inside the room,
and evidently the doctor appreciated the
fearful state of the weather. Nothing was
heard from her for several moments, while
the servant was waiting expectantly in the
hall, but finally she said:
us the footman still waiting2 If he is,
tell him | will be around at oncen
The answer did not please the servant,
but she went downstairs muttering TO her
self, and communicated the doctors reply to
the footman. The latter seemed to realize
the situation, for he said:
at be fearful night for the doctor to go
out. It's too bad, but l suppose a doctors
got to take the chances, be it man or woman.
You couldn't hardly expect to have one
doctor for fair weather and one for foul,
could you, now?n
In the meantime the doctor upstairs had
jumped out Of bed and was getting into her
clothes as rapidly as she could. All feeling
Of sleep and exhaustion had vanished, and
her mind was entirely bent upon the duty
that lay before her. She was very good
looking, if such qualification is appropri-
ate to woman who had acquired stand
ing in the medical profession. She had
light brown hair, with CLEANS of gold In it,
clear complexion, characteristic and at
tractive features, aud an air of frankness
and honesty that was the browning glory
OF hcr beauty. She was of medium hight,
and possessed a robust frame and healthy
color. Without attempting to go into the
mysteries of her toilet, it is proper to say
that it was as simple as any woman's we'll
could be. Many articles that most women
would consider indispensable were not
present. Her dress was of heavy green
plaid, which fitted her snugly, aud was
very becoming. A hat which matched her
dress in color did not hide her features.
She put on q macintosh. the hood of
which she drew over her hat. A pair of
silk gloves, an umbrella, and little leather
satchel completed her equipments. Within
ten minutes after the time she had first
been aroused she opened the door and
stepped out in the hall. The servant had
been dressing also, but had not been able
to flush her toilet as quickly as her mis-
tress. She saw her mistress in the hall, and
called to her:
"Wait minute doctor. will go with
youn
"Never mind, Minnie, replied the doctor.
II don't want you to come. Remember
you have some work to do early in the
morning. So go back to bed now and don't
disturb yourself further. / have my KEYS
and can let myself in when return"
The rest of the household had been awak-
ened by the disturbance in the mean time,
and the DOCTORS mother, an old lady with
white hair, came to the door in great auxi-
ETY..
''Why, Helen" she said, in a fearful
voice, you don't mean to say that you are
going out alone such fearful night as
this!'
The doctor stopped just moment to kiss
the old lady and whisper to her reassur-
ingly.
She closed the door behind her and ran
quickly down the stairs As she opened the
front door gust of rain blew in her face,
wetting it completely and almost taking her
breath away. 1t was all she could do to
step out and close the door. Only few
seconds work in attempting to open the
umbrella convinced her of tue absolute use
lessness of it, and clutching it, therefore, as
cane to assist her, she pressed on reSo-
lutely down the avenue. The policeman,
who was watching in the doorway, seemed
to understand the situation, for he looked
up at the clouds and shook his head grimly
as if wondering at her courage
The doctor walked as rapidly as the wind
and her skirts would permit. 1t was hard
work, but she didn't falter. 1t seemed as
though she would never get down to
Twenty-third street. There the first in
terruption occurred. Two drunken reYel-
ers, with battered hats and their clothes
soaked with rain, stopped right in her. path
to leer at her. The calm serenity of her
countenance was hardly disturbed by this,
but the manner in which she clutched her
umbrella more firmly indicated the rise of
her indignation. She walked around behind |