Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-16

1.-THE authorities of the Central Union
Mission should, and undoubtedly will, be
encouraged to put into immediate opera
ton the plan by which the sick poor may
have that care and attention of which
nearly all are at present deprived. No sac
rifice on the part OF the mission and the
citizens of the District should be account
ed too great to bring to successful fruttfon
this charity by which suffering will be ale
waited and the awful gloom of the sick bed
in poverty flats be irradiated by a few
CLEANS of light"
Suggestion OF Proper Food.
Mr.. W. L. Bruen, banker and philan-
thropist, said:
During the last six. years have visited
the poor Of this city with some diligence,
combining myself almost exclusively to the
southeast section. Two facts have espe-
cially struck my attention-the apparent
entire lack of ventilation in houses and
the large number of persons of both sexes
dying of cancer. Respecting food also, 1t has
been apparent that there exists great ig
norance as to what are the most nutritive
and inexpensive foods, also an equal
amount of ignorance as to the length of
time the same should be cooked in order
that they may be easily digested. While
the Baltimore plan to provide trained
nurses for the poor is a most excellent and
merciful one. it appears to me that If
band of ladies could organize. whose efforts
would be directed toward giving instruc-
ton. both verbal and written. to the poor
respecting the general subject Of hygiene,
including ventilation. and the Importance
of cleanliness about the premises, espe-
cially in hot weather, and the Importance
Of buying foods that have been found to be
the most nourishing as well as the most
Inexpensive. in this case the corps of train
ed nurses when organized would have less
business to attend to-
Unanimous Approval.
Rev. Charles c. Cook, pastor of Peoples
Tabernacle, said:
while there are undoubtedly some forms
of charitable effort the wisdom and utility
of which may well be questioned. surely
there can be only unanimous approval of
the suggestion proposed in The Stars re-
cent article on the care Of the sick.
Many visits as a pastor give me good
reason to know that there is widespread
and urgent need for systematic work like
that proposed. While among the poor
much is done in a private way by kindly
friends and neighbors, yet the service rem
dered is frequently neither intelligent nor
judicious. There is a woeful ignorance
among people generally of some of the SIM
plest rules Of health. Ventilation, cleanli-
ness, the use of antiseptics. rest and quiet
ness, these represent broad field in which
instruction and practical examples are
needed. can imagine no more benevolent
and timely cause than that which seeks to
meet this need.
IF young women are available for this
Christ-like service, and rejoice to believe
there are many who are ready for it. and
if the Central Union Mission will undertake
the management of the project, surely the
necessary means should be forthcoming
An Inestimable Blessing.
Rev. o. NJ. Waller. rector of st. Lukes
P. E. Church, said
TT will indeed be an inestimable blessing
If the plan of the Central Union Mission
to provide trained nurses for the poor can
be carried into effect During a rectorate
of some years in Philadelphia 1 had ample
opportunity to observe the very successful
and helpful working of just such a project.
One could get there the services of
trained nurse for single visit for %
cents. . The visit might last an hour. during
which time the nurse would frequently be
entirely alone with the patient.
Sometimes the clergy find the poverty
stricken upon bed of sickness left en-
tirely alone, not from lack of love and
sympathy, but by reason of the necessity
that demanded money for the rent and
food for ALL