The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-05-17
SOME HOSPITAL STORIES.
a London Nurse Tells Of Expert
ences il the Sick Room.


''Oh, well, I'm sorry for you. But
if you are interested in hospital life in
a big city and the things which happen
to nurses, you couldn't do better than
call on Miss X. I'll give you letter
of introduction to her. She has de-
voted most of her life to philanthropic
objects, especially in connection with
the London poor. Miss x will give
you more information in five minutes
than the average nurse could provide
YOU with in week. Better go and see
her."
took my friends advice, and letter
of introduction, and called upon Miss
x at eleven one chilly November
morning. Miss Y, having comfort
ed a poor woman who complained OF
suffering from nervous nobility" sent
her away, and, seeing that l was cold,
proceeded to make me some delicious
coffee over little spirit lamp in one
corner of her pleasant morning-room.
The room itself was gay with many
hued chrysanthemums, with pretty bits
of old china and quaint japanese hang
ings Behind the curtains were lint
bandages, stores of necessaries, ETC.:
but ONLY became aware OF these when
something was wanted in a hurry and
the curtains were Withdrawn. When
Miss " had disposed OF another Wis
itor whose complaint was Fathers
been took bad agin," she sat down in q
comfortable armchair, and proceeded
to tell me stories just as they came into
her head or were prompted by my desul'
tory questioning.
Yes" she said, ''many girls come to
hospitals as nurses after having had some
monentary tiff with the objects of their
| affections One pretty girl brought
matters to a crisis in this way. Her
lover had, been hanging fire for
long time Suddenly, she con-
ceived it to be her duty to give up balls
and costly dresses and to become a
nurse. She went away without a fare
well to her lover, who became frantic
when he learned that he had probably
lost her forever. At last he was al
| lowed to see her-in her nurses cos
! tune. Her eyes wore look of chast-
ened resignation; her pretty print dress
! fitted without wrinkle: her cuffs and
collar were of the snowiest; he thought
her an angel Of goodness. She stayed a
| fortnight, and asked us all to the wed
ding, which took place at st. Georges,
Hanover square.
after she went, we had very high
ly-strung, nervously- exalted GIRL who
wanted three months hospital training
before becoming missionary's wife
and going out TO do Zeuana work in In
dia. But she didn't have much time to
learn nursing Her relations continual,
lv came to weep over her and eXhibi,
her to friends, who, in their turn, in
sisted on the poor girl showing them
all the interesting cases. The friends
and relatives would keep asking heads
of wards II such saints often came
there. and wanted to know why she
wasn't put in glass case or wrapped
up in cotton wool l warned the poor
girl that she was not fit to go to India
but she went, and died three months
after of climate and nervous excite
ment.
The next probate was Dur Lady
of the Jonquils.' Her pceol;al;ty wa:
that she wore jooquJls a. 81 se4sons
and was so distraetingiy pretty ina
most of the patient s-A l.. love = 4
her. When it came u her r-sillL-i-, par
Of bunch of jonquils On a cookbook
ing young fellows dressing-gown, ant
putting the others in her hair, it wa
thought better that she should return
to her people
Cinderella her successor, was q;
exceedingly handsome, olive-skinne'
girl with picturesque tendencies Sh
could not endure cold, and every morn
ing sat with her feet in the hot ashes o
the fireplace when she first came Oh
duty. In a cotton frock. she looke'
draggled ard pinched with cold an
was not at all effective; but, later in til
day, she had habit Of twisting al
oriental handkerchief in her dark hal
and looking like an eastern queen
grateful East End patient once Pre-
scented her with a new half crown 70
looking so like King Solomink's quee
OF Sheba, miss She fastened the hal
crown to her chain ana wore 40 as 100.
as she stayed with Us
"Of course. nurses are forbidden {
take money from the patients. Thoug
twopeuce is large sum % poor Eas
. End patients. child once gave me SIS
pence. Mother says you've saved n
! life, and you must have it She turn
a nangle. and when she'd turned tha
sixpence she said:
80 "Tha nix the Lord for this; now W
can get her something good Anothe
grateful patient once brought ne a
art peacock-green on a yellow groun
to pu, on nv char. endured shs
antinacassar until one of the patient
said it gave him hcnicidal mania. 81
. the ward surgeon had it taken away
! order 70 prevent a catastrophe
~ have frequently numbered police
!. men among my patients, and like the'
! very much: they are 50 amenable TO Iii
cipline when il hospital One burl
, fellow was knocked down BIZ WACO
and los. both his legs lie took mo:
, philosophical view Of the situation
No more rain dripping down my leg
on winter nights, nurse. The govern
Eneut's gut 10 provide for me now
was necessary that he should be kcg
very quiet; but so many of his :rien2
! II, tho .Fn-s..a' vronid e1ror1 IN AZ al hou,