Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1893-07-21
For the Independent.
Letter From d. Franklin Beaile
st. Agnes Hospital, Carroll P o,
Baltimore county. Nd,
July 18th, 1898.
Hon. A. Posey.
Editor Nd Independent:
My Dear Adrian:

My Dear Adrian:
"For days I've thosgh; my youthful friend
A something to haze send e;
Tho I. should serve no ither end
Thaa just kim memenio.
The 'sOwethiug" which propose to
send you is not, however, memento
after the manner Of Burns epistle to
youbg friend" which was 6ne of advice,
nor is 1t al ordinary social letter but the
something" here meaRt is the expires
sion Of my most sincere gratitude for
your ready aud generous agency in pro
curing me free room in the Baltimore
City Hospital" where souud-b did
not long enjOy-peace. quiet, rest
R.st-the boon Of the sick and Ian
gushing.
WheH preseated your letter to tn"
sister in charge she received it with
charming courtesy, said it was all that
vas nee ssary fjr my admission and de-
sired to know whether | wished private
vate room or a bed in one of the wards
wls on the point Of speaking for pri-
room but she quickly added that she
thought, it was advisable, in my ner-
yous condition. to take bed iu the ward
where would have cownany. Contra
ry to my inclination | aOte! upon the
suggestion bu. Mon Diem! What a sad
mistake | made for if ever poor wretch
spent a more miserable ten days and
uis hts than dill in two Of those wards
il must have been some hapless Russian
MaIefactor in the dread Siberian mines
had madly petitioned for private
room during this inquisitorial period but
the vacant one previously at my dispos-
al hsd been taken. The obliging sister
assured me however, that she expected
vacancy in a few days and shosld
then be supplied.
For the interest and information of
your readers, will here give you a
brief though partial description of the
arrangement and management of this in
stitutun.
There are two sets Of apartments tho
very dissimilar 10 point Of comfort for
both the innsr and outer MAJ. One is
known as before mentioned as the ward
deuartmeut-the other, the private room
arrangement. The ward is presided
over by sister assisted by a ward mas
ter, so called. These wards are cap lble
Of accommodating from eighteen to tSen-
~ patients. The beds. or m )re proper
ly speaking cots about two feet wide
ale ranged on each side of the hall, a
splce of four feet or more intervening
between them. Meals are served on lit
lie tables standing between the COTS. the
fare consisting of soup, beef, breai and
butter few vegetables occasionally,
With now and then some simple dessert.
Tea and coffee also. In some wards
this same cuisine is served in a much
more inviting style than in others y
There also being natHr~n'7 much diner
ence in the character and manner of the
ward master, the comfort aud satisfaction
of the patients depend largely upon his
disposition.
Tue first ward l occupied was master-
ed BY Mike "a bra Fny. big. hearted
GENIAL son of Erin ever ready to minis
ter to the comfort and pleasure Of his
unfortunate brother With a gentle hand
and soothing word TIE second was bossed
lby churlish lrishman, 'aboHiinable 10
tia sxirenss- In thfa@iys;--iE ..sst7-
ION Inc Whole, me same class o. lBoivId-
uals-" Tray, Blanche, and Sweetheart
and ours of high and low degres." the
last order heavily predominating. In
the pleui.ude Of this nebe charity all are
Admitted 10 the benefits Of this free gift,
all afflicted are dmitied-"ihe MANNED.
the the blind the ignorant and
OBJ, cure. The wards, to one Of refine
m"nt or suffe ing serious sickness are
certainly wrctched places. There is scarce
" quiet moment during either night or
day Continual walking % ard fro and
snoring after themanner ola wheat thresh-
er or fog horn as our genial friend
Vivian Brent would say make the day
unhappy and the night hideons.
But it is a heaven of delight to the
great majority many Of whom are con-
valescent and are happy, in their desti-
tuition, to find free bed and sufficient
food. 1t is this class Sho render it SC
disagreeable to the sick
But my day Of deli,erance ca ne =
As Byron says THINE at lest sets all
things even" So as | sat one day with
aching head on folded hands bem1aning
my lonely situation among unsympathet-
ic strangers, gentle tap aroused me
and on looking up saw the gentle
face of the sister Superior who babe me
follow her, did not island on the or
der of NY going but went at once" and
was soon ushered into an elegantly fur
nished apartment. Here | was supplied
with delicious fare served on large
dainty white covered waiter aud here al
night fosnd Natures sweet restorer
balmy sleep" whose dulcet iDfuen-
ces are so widely sought and sung. but
for few nights only for like a coy maid,
en- she aouts me, she flies me, and only
for brief time in the twenty-four hours
10 recine in the arms Of Morpheus OF
am covered all over like blanket" al
Sancho Panza says of the action of thi'
gentle goddess.
My sGourn here was short as my
friends thought that free, pure country
air might be more beneficial 10 my case
So very unexpectedly aud somewhat
against my wishes was spirited away
10 THIS place where | have be-l sojourn
ing about three weeks. in the ward again,
and again disturbed, though in less de.
gree. by the annoyarces hitherto men-
Iuoued.
In regard to site, this pace Isl. Ag-
nes HospitaD is delightfully."- siiuated
about six miles from, aud overlooking
the city.
The building is very large and very
commodious, sDd the institution. as in
the city, presided over by that self-sac-
riicing aud most useful order-the Sis