The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-01-15
THE Proposed Hospital,

ago by the Kings daughters VI StauH
ton, for establishing hospital in this
city, are meeting with general encour-
aoement from all persons whose attention
has been called to the movement. pc
ttion has been sent to the City Council
for a regular periodical appropriation
toward the maintenance of the proposed
hospital; and petition has been or Is
to be sent to each land company OF the
city. for the donation of a lot from each,
to be built upon or disposed OF as the
best interests of the hospital movement
may require. The petition sent to the
Council was referred to it's committee on
finance. Assurances of favorable action
have been received from one or more OF
the land companies. Later on contrlbu-
lions will be solicited from the people IN
general. A number of physicians have
expressed willingness to aid the hosplt-
al with gratuitous professional services.
A definite course to be pursued in the
work of establishing the hospital cannot
vet be determined 1t is probable that
for beginning rented apartments will
be furnished for hospital service. But
the hope is that the ownership OF suit
able lot and building may be acquired
for the hospital, and that the ownership
of building, with continuing efforts by
the Kings Daughters, may make the
hospital permanent institution OF the
city. The care involved in the manage
~ ito1x 10
by the Daughters themselves. Income
sufficient in the aggregate for its main
tenance could doubtless be obtained from
fairs and entertainments, from board
paid by patients able to bear such ex-
pense, FROM the regular appropriation
expected from the city, and from mon
ey contributed by churches, corporations
and individuals.
In a city as large as Staunton there is
always need for an emergency hospital
Unless taken to properly equipped hos
pital railroad employees and other work
ingmen injured in accidents, and any
sick persons not boarding at home, are
very often compelled to undergo the pain
and danger involved in unskillful or in
adequate nursing. Nothing is much
sadder than the death of worthy per-
son caused by insufficiency in nursing or
MEDICAL care Such deaths have occur
red in Stauntsn. There is now no place
in the city that would serve as hospital
for q person without home here. Hard
ly a month passes in which Staunton
physicians are not treating patients who
come from elsewhere and are lodged in
boarding houses that are devoid of con-
veniences for the sick. In Richmond,
Norfolk. Lynchburg and Charlottesville
hospitals are supported by contributions
from the charitable and by money re-
ceived from patients able to pay for hos
pital service.
The Kings Daughters are humble
society, doing good without publicity,
and for this reason their merit and the
value OF their work are not generally
known The members are ladies and
girls OF any or all religious denomina-
tions. united in {; simple organization to
do good for Christ sake. Their motto is.
In His Name" Though founded only
FIVE years, the society of the Kings
Daughters nov has active and growing
circles in nearly every State, composed
of good women from different ranks of
society. including some very efficient
members from families occupying the
highest social position, One of the Off
GERS OF the central organization for Amer
lea is Mrs Seth Low, whose husband is
president of Columbia college and a bus
mess man of great wealth and sagacity.
The Staunton circle of the Kings
Daughters was organized in December,
1888, and has now about $50 members, q
portion of whom are girls between nine
and fifteen years of age, Its members
have been doing among the poor much
charitable work that is beyond the re-
sources of the churches. Upt the pres
ent time the Kings Daughters of Staun-
ton have solicited or received no contri-
buttons from persons outside of their
order. Their work has been done by
Themselves alone. They aim to relieve
the pressing needs OF the sick and suffer
ing poor. About forty families were
blessed by their kindly charity at the be-
ginning of the Christmas season recent
~ ended. A part Of their work, the Civ
ing of food to the suffering, is similar to
that of the City Mission. All the daught-
ers OF the general circle in Staunton are
divided into companies of ten members
each, to facilitate visiting for ascertain
ing the needs of the poor. A meetingof
the general circle Il held once a week
from October to June, and once a month
during the remainder of the year. Mrs.
James Ker, ST., is president of the gen.
eral circle. Among the heads of the
tens are Mesdames Mary Wake, George
Wilson, Fannie McKeever, Heber Ker,
A. H. Fultz and Frank Alexander.
IT g.. H.