Kansas City daily journal., 1896-09-27
HAWTHoRNE,s DAUGHTER.
Mrs. Laihrop to Become a Nurse In n
Cancer Institution.

cancer ln1t1tutlOns
From the New York Journal.
Mrs. Rose Hawthorne Lathrop, daughter
of Nathaniel Hawthorne, begins tomorrow
her voluntary exile from society and en-
ters into her chosen work, the care Of can
Ger among the poor, For several years
the scheme has been near to Mrs. LathEop's 3
heart Study convinced her that cancer
was the one disease least cared for. and
that its victims stood most in need OF help.
Now, in spite of the determined opposi-
ton of friends. she is about to take the first
definite step towards her ultimate goal,
the founding of private hospital conduct
ed for charity.
proposed work and of the misapprehen-
sions which prevail in regard to it. In .
recent conversation sae said:
=, -. i[Sl t:a iee me corrsct laise stalement
ing does not involve separation from my
husband. regret to say that he is not at
present in as complete harmony with my
work as should wish, and that he thinks
am undertaking more than my strength
allows. / am convinced, however, that
when I can prove to him that the work
little success, he will be won over to the
cause.
II can hardly tell how the idea first came
that my sick friends wanted me with them.
that my presence and touch seemed to
bring comfort. Before this I had not
the sick room. The cancer has always
seemed to need peculiar sympathy and de-
votion- The public generally looks upon
the disease as incurable. Persons of ex-
parience, however, those who had seen near
friends or relatives suffer, have encouraged
me in the thought that there was work to
be done in alleviation.
Just about the time that I formed this
Idea friend sent me the life Of Mme
Sarnfer, and that proved the final bit of
Inspiration needed. The story of her work
E(Ny ont
tabnshed 9. home for incurabies in Lyons,
where unfortunate victims are sufferers,
truly: but are happy nevertheless. .Wom-
live deeply religious, happy life. OF
course. 1t will be many years before any
such goal can be reached by me. if there
work, but 1 feel that 1 can begin in a
quiet, simple way and do some good from
When l first determined to undertake
the work was Ill. The moment my health
was restored l entered the Cancer hos
pltal and studied there for six months
N now w,. the physicians PHI declare me competent
that am ready to begin in earnest.
yes, many of my friends are shocked
as a loathesome disease, but it has % proved ed
a most interesting study and the fewer
there are who feel drawn to the work
the greater the need of laborers Until
one has had experience he has no con-
ception how much can be done to alleviate
the suffering and what a priviIge it is to
carry healing to such poor souls as can
OBTAIN IT IN no other way. The rich have
everything at their command, but the poor
cannot even afford the remedies they are
so costly. The hospitals cannot keep a
patient more than six months, then what
Is to become of sufferers from this tedious
and terrible disease? One young girl who
came under my notice was finally sent to
Blackwelfs island, and her agony and de-
spair alone would serve as Inspiration to
Supply some part of the demand for nurses.
II did hope to take few rN'ms and to
open open a Isl small private hospital Ss once, but
l find that Is impracticable. My own means
are limited. Until I have proved myself
capable and business,like am determined
begin as a district nurse. There seems to
be a popular superstition that cancer is
contagious, which it is not, and people
We're not willing / should bring patients
into their houses. Finally found a little
place on the East side in the neighborhood
OF Grand street, and Tomorrow l move in.
"A dear friend, who Is an all-round
start We both feel that By doing ing general as aai
to discover the patients whom I seek. Many
people have cancer without recognizing it
My first plan will be to visit all cases of
sores that come to my knowledge. You
will be surprised, perhaps, to know that
cases Of sore legs are as common among
eases among children An important part
of my work will be to seek those people
out, for they are reticent. In the morning
shall visit among them and in the after
moons have those who are able come to me.
NO; there is no religious principle in
volved. Certainly there is nothing sec
tartan. Creeds have nothing to do with
the work. Where there is suffering and I
hear of it I shall go and hope shall take
healing and peace. No one who has not
| witnessed 1t can conceive what cancer
means or what delicate handling it re-
quires. 10 leave these people to one an
other to care for is cruel. 1t requires re-
finement and cultivation to produce capable
nurses.
Later. when I have demonstrated my
ability, I may ask aid of my friends. My
great ambition is the establishment of a
permanent home. where patients can be
kept indefinitely. Such a home would re-
quire funds, but l am confident that once
prove myself able they will be forthcom-
ing. For the present 1 shall depend upon
myself and my own small means"