The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-06-22
IN THE CITY HOSPITALS.
Pathetic Scenes in These, Grand
Asylums for Broken Lives

It'll be such change from the nos
pital to Heaven. l don't complain. The
leddies is good to me, but please God l
want to go home"
Poor old dame; she had uttered a
poem. Her withered face holds the Sc
crets of the long days march which is
just about to end.
You pass OF through the long room,
with its shiny floor and rows of iron
bedsteads. with the little altar away at
the upper end, and here and there a
white face upon the pillow.
Here comes a little old woman cour-
tesying and smiling. She has news
paper in her hand, holding it close to
her bosom. and is evidently anxious to
tell us something.
''See here, leddies, read this!' She
opened the paper and directed our at
tention to a notice. 1t was simple
notice saying that information was
wanted of John Raglan, and that he
might hear Of his mother by applying
to st. Mary's hospital.
1t had cost some friend trifie to put
this in the evening paper, and the prin-
ter had set it up between notice of an
indignant husband who warned the
public not to trust his wife, and one
from a gay worlds man who wanted
the blonde lady he had met somewhere
to send him her address
Into this personal column of tragedies
and comedies went the mothers inquiry
for her lost son.
There it is" said she, "all in black
and white. He can't miss it, and he'll
be sure to come, my John, and he'll
find me a-waitin'."
Yes, there it was, indeed, in black and
white-say, rather, in letters Of gold,
SO bright that they kept hope warm in
that forlorn old heart over which she
carefully folded that worn copy of the
Evening Star.
1t had been published more than
year, yet her faith that John would
come was not made of such fiimsy stuff
as wears out in few months or years.
When she goes to bed at night she is
sure he viii be here on the morrow.
Thus she keeps the love lamp burn
ing in the window of her soul. 'John
will surely see it." Her eyes are bright
and restless and she cannot be induced
to leave the place for an hour, for john
might come and she must be there to
meet him.
1t is large and comforta BILE building
overlooking the broad blue lake, but
we remember that it is hospital,
place consecrated to pain and suffering.
Many of the inmates are but frag-
ments of mortals, humanity's mutilated
coin, and will never circulate again in
the worlds exchange. AS L looked
along the line of withered faces and
thought of broken, storm-tos lives
my heart ached and yet gave thanks
that some were found to make the sac
rifice-some good women of whatsoever
sect or creed-who were willing to pour
their rich, abundant personality into SO
many empty lives.
/ asked one old man if he had any
relatives living. NO" said he. Il am
only meself, with no relatives but me
neighbors."
The. Germans and Norwegians never
joke. but the Irish. even in pain and
poverty, never lose their native wit.
One summer morning. some ladies
of the flower mission went about the
hospital offering bouquets to the sick,
which the men, as general thing, re-
fused.
why did you not take the fowers?"
inquired the sister.
What do them fine leddies want to
sell flowers TO US, fcllers for?" asked one
of the men.
"Oh, they did not want to sell them
but give them to you," explained the
sister.
Then said the old sailor, IF they
want to give us somethin' why don't
they bring bit of tobaccy?'
Indeed" said another, or drop o
whisky. We won't refuse that, an it'd
be more appropriate like.
Withal, they are most respectful TO
the nurses, whose influence over them
is great You have heard Of the order
ana cleanliness which prevail in these
institutions-t white beds and clean
floors and discipline and sacrifice The
most curious and interesting thing IS
the life of the inmates
The most Of them have walked in
crooked paths. eontending with misfor
tune. their lives either pale with want
or discolored by passion Il is not al
ways easy 10 discipline 50 many undis-
ciplined lives. with long habits crystal
lied in soul and body. The grabbed
ress of cid age and pain. the love of a
bit Of neighborhood gossip. and no one
20 scold or complain Of, which is IN
deed no slight privstion-
bernardo de s. Pierre SAYS: Among
all the unfortuna;es / have tried 10
bring back 70 nature, have 10. found
one who was not intoxicated with his
OWN misery
The caryatid bears burdens. and even
when the load 5 lifted. It's wings are
still stretched TO the tension 20 which
The habit of burden bearing has aecus- !
TONED them.
We will Touch kindly the history Of
those who have ths backward look IN /
their faces. the light II whose eyes Is /
that % ret-ospection-
We found al old sai'7- upon his back /
=, a Gt-Ie -.r~ ~1rsrss which he had rf.-fS- !