The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-11-14
WITNESSES MANY LITTLE
SCENES THAT TOUCH THE
DEEPER SPRINGS OF LIFE.
VISITING HOUR IN Chill REN'S WARD
There Are Pleasures Even Amid the Sufferings
Interest That Binds Our Cannon
Humanity Together,
Humanity Together.

keenly felt than among the sights and
sounds of large hospital in New York
city.
TO a nurse it is given to witness many
little scenes that touch the deeper
springs of life as she passes to and fro
apparently absorbed in mechanical work.
The mass of the patents is of the peo-
pie, the everyday working people,
whose lives are too hemmed i'll by cir
cnnstances to hermit of any but simple
pleasures ana the common griefs OF
mankind. o3f'5G IJ
One of the prettiest pictures to be
seen is on a bright afternoon when it is
visiting hours in the children's ward.
The slanting sunlight falls softly like
a benedction upon the visiting mothers
who have stopped their work to make
their semi-weekly visit to their babes.
They lie peacefully in their mothers
arms, the heaven of the week to them.
At some crib stands a mother with
worn-face, looking down in awe-struck
solicitude upon her child whom she must
not touch or even speak to some times.
How beautifully woman's love shines
forth in these hospital scenes. How the
desire to get only Il look Of recognition,
a single word from the loved one Is
crushed and pushed back in loving sub
mission To the nurses Mo-
When the time for the mothers to
leave comes, the wall of the forsaken
babies makes ones heart ache.
In the woman's wards it is pleasant
to watch the husbands come in the eve
ming. after working hours, by special
permit. stepping on tip-toe in their
creakng. heavy shoes and bringing Il
bag of fruit or some home dainty of
simple make that they may. il possible,
tighten the wife's hours of pain,
whose brow they touch almost reverent-
ly with their hard hands,
In the mems ward the wives, with
their whole families Of children, come
to see the father who beams with pride
upon them, and who probably has never
had time in his working days to give
the same smiling attention to them as
he can do now.
1t is interesting to note the different
classes of patients who are brought to
the hospital. The prisoners accompani-
ed by policeman, brought from the
station house, the policeman remaining
with their prisoners. so that it is a ia
miliar sight, these bue-coated officers
sitting here and there abont the wards
and corridors on guard night and day
until their prisoners shall be well enough
to be taken into custody again.
1t was touching to see one OF these
last. mere lad. putting together few
bright flowers as an offering to his
nurse when she should make her rounds.
showing a susceptibility and responsive
ness to kindness, who, if it had been
his fate TO meet with sooner, might
have prevented his downfall.
The negroes have their place in the
ward alongside of the white patients
and look about them with pleased Won
der at finding themselves cared for on
such basis. They are markedly on
their dignity lest they may not be equal
TO the demands of the occasion, but
the darkey:sms break forth occasionally
nevertheless. in spite of their carefully
chosen language.
Use cold as frozen chicken" said
one dark-skinned patient in reply to the
nurses inquiry. snow take good keer
yourself" was the farewell speech of
another.
They usually make good patents, be-
ing inherently submissive.
There is the reckless boy, just out
from the clutch Of some agonizing ILL
ness. brought on by dissipation, minis
tered to by the old father and mother,
who hover about him, looking with eyes
of love upon the half-sullen, half
ashamed face Of Jimmie" as they feed
him by spoonfuls with ice cream.
The poor creature, rescued and brought
to the hospital by Y. NJ. G. A. young
man. has his ice cream, too. as his
friend in need sits near him with pleas
ant smile and cheering words.
The would-be suicide, who, when re-
covery is sufficient. finding herself
dra gged back from death and cared for
with kind ministratiOns, face to face
with the priest. sent by her friends to
hear "Maggie's" dying confession,
bursts forth with one sobbing cry OF
shame and anguish.
A touching sight was that OF big,
rod faced man leaning over the white
bit of his baby girl, holding the tiny,
soft hand in his rough, begrimed one,
the tears in his voice and eyes, as he
ctroye to get smile or look of recogni-
ton from his apparently dying little one.
| The habit of self-control and self-de-
NAL. acquired OF necessity, in a hard
| working, ret;cent life, is pathet:>rfly
evident among these people even in theii
| greatest SUupTlUE. uc lulCty
| look OF strength which comes over the
| face OF the man whose life-blood Il
steadily oozing away, when the nurse
whispers 'be brave" may well be mar
yelled at.
There is the heroic effort Of the mar
| in dying agony who, when told to try
| to keep himself as composed as he can
answers with blanched lips and fain
but courageous whisper, IL am trying
| A few brief moments and there Is n,
longer need for trying.
To turn from the patients to thos'
who care for them: it Is interesting 4
watch the ABSORPTION OF the physician
IN their patients hours Of danger. b
sec the ea.erness with which four o