The Indianapolis journal., 1893-08-06
A COMMENDABLE CHARITY
Something of the History and Work Of
the indianapolis Flower Mission.
II Ministers to the Bodily as Well as to the
Aesthetic Wants Of the Suffering TEN.
porarily Crippled by q Loss of 81 400.

lndSanapoIls mas long been blessed In
feeling the influence of what have been so
happily called the Saving forces" of
society. The misery that seems nseparably
connected with the life of large and grow
ing city has bere been greatly ameliorsted
By the counteraotIIg tendencies In opera
ton. Our city is we'll known elsewhere TO
be q place where she benevolent spirit 10
strong and the charities are well organized.
Notable among these charitable organlza-
tions is the Flower Mission, which has
been ct work in Indianapolis since 1875. As
in the case of SO many other I'M
portsnt institutions. the idea of the
Flower Mission was originally suggested
by q casual circumstance. IL is said that
in 1869 young lady in Boston was carry
ing bunch of flowers along the street.
when some poor children begged to have
them. Later she observed some pears rot
ting in a garden. The two incidents. not
uncommon. together suggested to her the
idea of making life little less hard for
some of the unfortunate ones by utilizing
these wasted luxuries. The result was the
Flower and Fruit Mission. It has since
spread rapidly. until row the Flower Mis-
sion is found all over the country.
The history of the indianapolis Flower
Mission since it's organization in 1876 has
not been an exciting one, yet 1t 10 fuil OF
interest to one who will read the annual
reports from 1879 TO 1S93 recently reprint
ed for use ct the worlds fair. The mem
bership, at first small. has largely increased.
the enthusiasm and devotion OF the mem.
bers have not abated. and the influence OF
the organization with our citizens
has been constantly augmented. Bat
the true end. to which men,
bership. enthusiasm and the aid OF citizens
are but means, Is found In the work accom-.
plished. Many q suffering person has been
cheered up by a gift of q few flowers
Gods smIies,' IS one blind patient called
them. And many who had aiInoet lost all
hope because of the additional burden of
excessive poverty have been encouraged
by the receipt of timely and substantial
aid In the shape of material necessities.
A hint or the work done In this direction
is given in the statement that there has
been dIstri buted since 1879 four thousand
losyes of bread. upwards of eignt thousaDd
gallons OF milk and nearly ten thousand
pounds of meat. Many other articles have
been distributed in proportiOnate qnan-
titles. including clothing. fuel and numer-
Gus articles of food. Then. represent
ing the original intent OF the
mission, twelve thousand bouquets and
1000 newspapers have been distributed.
Cold figures can. of course. give little idea
of the good complisbed. except when one
reflects that every flower, every pound of
meat and every gallon OF milk given
m-sDs one drop less In some fellow-cres-
lures mp OF bitterness and every one of
the five thousand visits made TO the sick
has been reiteration of the fact that the
human heart responds to the call of the un-
fortunate.
DEPARTMENT FOR NURSES.
Though not q NJ after of pure charity. yet
the Training School for Nurses is CON-
mendaDle institution. and forms q constit-
uent part of the work of the Flower Mis-
sion. There is chosen from the members q
special board of managers for the training
school. and there IL also q superin-
tendent herself q trained nurse. A
tw0 years course of instruction is
given every thing that goes to make
an efficient nurse. including medical
lectures OF q number of our best physi
oians. By special arrangement with the
City Hospital the nursing of that iDstitu-
tion is in the hands of the training school.
This 10 q great advantage to all concerned.
for it gives the hospital patients the bene-
tit of intelligent nursing and at the same
time gives the pupils of the school valu-
able practical training. a suppIement to
tb-Ir course of instruction.
The importance of having q trained
nurse for district duty WAS the main
inOusht that decided the Flower Mission
30 open and support training school for
I.nrses-a nurse, and skilled one being
n-eded in almost all cases that come under
work has been done by q trained nurse
but not until the last year has It been pos
rIble TO have IL done with the completeness
t"at has always been the hope
nld intention of the mission. Her
rk carries q step further the efforts
he regular visitor. and she brings to the
,>t miserable of suffering humanity the
oand skill that is luxury In even the
mes of the rich. In all serious GASES the
rise, as we'll as visitor. visits the patient
each day. The nurse has access TO the
Flower Mission storsroom. In which Is kept
plentiful supply of clothing. bedding of
all kinds, night dresses and all appliances
for the sick room and for use In surgical
oases. Alter her first visit to
che sick she selects from the
stores whatever is needed for the patients
comfort. At all times the nurse is subject
TO the call of the mission visitors anu the
doctors of the City Dispensary. Her re-
port for i've months ending In June. 1898.
shows q total of one Thousand visits made
by her. District nursing In Indianapolis
Is nursng the sick n their own homes. pro-
vIdinR necessaries for their recovery and
teaching them. their families or neighbors
TO care properly for the sick. both In per-
sOnai attention and IN preparing able
nonrisnmeDt. This is com paratively n new
work. but 1t has proved Its right TO exist
by virtue OF the good accomplished.
It Will thus be seen that the mistaken
idea, prevalent IN some Quarters that the
Flower Mission is com posed of sentimental
people who would give q starving man a
bouquet and expect him TO 90 into ecstacies,
has no ground IN fact. The flower distri-
button is a good work and receives much
attention. But AID for the body is never
neglected, as the above figures will show.
The Organization Is NOS only tor the cheer
ing of sick minds. but IL Is also for the re-
lief of the destitute. And the figures show
that the temporal needs receive the larger
share of attention.
WORKING OF THE SOCIETY.
Though there is nothing in the constitu-
tion placing such a limitation, the Flower
Mission is composed entirely of women, In
three seotions-fower section, relief sec-
ton and training school ssction. Those in
the Hover section are pledged TO collect
and distribute flowers trult and
reading matter from May to
Oct !. The training school section
has charge of the training school Those
In the relief section are pledge to "assiss
IN visiting snd administering to the COM
fort of the sick poor. wherever found
ALI these are active memb bers: there are,
besides. honorary members. who become
such by paying 81 annually. The active
members are elected. The active mcm-
bers In the first quarter of 1893 num-
bered forty-seyen. the honorary MEM
bers thirteen. During this time 5S5
vista were made TO the sick. The expend-
Iturss in the course of the work. chiefly
for food. clothing etc.. were Sl.2-i.94. with