The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1897-06-25
ROMANCE OF A
HOSPITAL NURSE

"And So" observed to Miss Wre-
ford Brown. you like your new lifef''
II am delighted with IT," she said.
"Ah!" | said. Il rejoice to hear that
you have altered your mind. A month
ago. II recollect right, your mother in
formed me that the duties you had to
perform were injuring your health to
such degree that you seriously
thought OF leaving st. Matthew'S hos
pltal. However. the lapse Of another
month seems to have altered the com
plexion Of matters"
"a little" murmured Miss Wini-
fred, gently stirring her coffee.
noticed that she smiled as she made
this reply.
"In my opinion said, nursing is
the noblest Of all professions legiti-
mately open to women. | cannot im-
agine anything grander than the death
bed scene of an aged sister-the head
nurse Of each ward is caller sister, is
she not?-who. drawing her last feeble
breaths. murmurs TO those around her:
For fifty years have been tending the
sick. and keeping an eye ON the more
glddy Of the probationers when medi-
cal students were present ! have done
my work. requiescat in pace" All! what
n glorious demise is there"
If you believe me, Miss Winifred ac-
tually giggled
Il am not" said sternly. 'jestlng to
you. am sorry that have not arous-
ed your sense Of the ridiculous You
do not appreciate such pathetic mo
ments-you are but 49,"
Twenty. Mr. Wormholt, please"
'Well," | returned, twenty. then.
But" | continued, Il was about to OBJ
serve-as touching the career which.
In opposition to the wishes of your
family. you have seen fit to adopt-that
a hospital has endless claims upon the
sympathy Of ALL is worthy of our full
est gratitude and esteem. For think
does she not give up the worldg Does
she not relegate herself to an atmos-
phere Of sufierng-to the depressing
surroundings of the sickroom? Does
she not cut herself Off from all the
pleasures-such as they are-that So
cial life offers to those who care to seek
them? Is not nursing life of self-de-
NAL. of wearing vigils; \ trying tax
on the patienceY 4 sure test of cour-
ageg Yea! 1t is all these and more.
Miss Winfred. l honor you and your
truly noble profession
Thank you" said Miss Winifred
1t was the after-dinner period We
were sitting in dim corner Mrs.
Wreford- Brown was chatting. in some
what raised tones to her nelghbor. a
retired Anglo-lndian colonel.
Pauslng in my rhetoric. Mrs. Wre-
ford Browns words came plainly to my
ear. She was evidently discussing her
daughter. The one 10y my side-for
there We're three others.
"rhe poor child" the good lady was
saying lis worked dreadfully hard.
she hardly ever gets out for even half
n day. Indeed. this is the first night
she has been of duty for month"
The Anglo-lndian glared fiercely In
our direction. He found me leaning
back in a cheerfully meditative mood
Miss Winifred put down her cap and
took mp volume Of political cartoons
which was lying conveniently at hand.
Perhaps she overheard her mothers
speech. Perhaps she fancied | did. At
any rate she began to draw my atten-
ton to the FIRST cartoon most assidu-
ously.
40 look at this. Mr.. Wormholt." she
said, laughing-in a palpably forced
way--"isn't Il funnyw
"A drawing" | said. (which repre-
sents distinguished cabinet minister
In the costume OF lady of the ballet
cannot very well help being funny.
But was speaking OF hospitals-of the
confined and restricted life which the
nurses live. and Of the unfeeling man
ner In which the authorities debar the
nurses from enjoying even the sim
plest pleasures-judging, that is to say.
from the representations which the la
dies themselves make to their own
families" concluded. shooting a keen
glance at Miss Winifred's by no means
unattractive profile
1T Is comforting to know" l heard
Mrs. Wreford-B Brown say. that the
child Is absolutely trustworthy. AT
hospitals. you know. there are"
"oh. Mr.. Wormholt. just look at
thisw exclaimed Miss Winifred.
THE undignified attitude in which
the premier is represented l said.
does not amuse me in the least.
have no objections TO comic draughts-
manship." | went on, but when a right
honorable gentleman Is drawn in the
guise Of monkey dancing on the top
OF barrel organ. think It is time for
a censor OF cartoons to be appointed. I"
For reasons Of my own. however.
had TO turn my face away from Miss
Ninifred's inquiring gaze. I remem-
bered. then. that had brought the vol
ume Of cartoons to the house and ex-
! plained them 10 Miss Wreford- Brown