The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-09-18

usual pleasures or q comfortable nome
became monotonous to her restless
nature, and sbe answered an advertise
ment for a village school mistress at
Woolston. While this occupation was
not just what she desired or intended to
pursue, it offered an avenue OF entrance
to the worlds work. and. against her
fathers wishes, she accepted the offer
and spent three years in teaching
Busy as we're her days there, she spent
most of her time after school hours in
visiting children. especially the sick,
giving the latter as much nursing as
possible under the circumstances. Thus
she kept alive her ideal of becoming a
professional nurse, and her life at this
point was turned into the long cherished
channel of usefulness by an attack of
pleurisy, for which she went to Cortham
under the care of sisterhood of nurses
The surroundings of fellow sufferers,
busy nurses and hopeful convalescents
exerted their natural influence, and on
recovery che resigned teaching to enter
the sisterhood under the name which
she made famous. "Sister Dora" Even
for the strong minded young enthusiast
the severe discipline of the training che
underwent was sometimes too much,
and woman's tears would come when
beds she had just made were pulled to
pieces, and she was ordered to make them
anew. After her training was done,
she was sent to care for important pri-
vate cases and finally to assist at small
hospital-W Walsall-of four beds. This
was soon found inadequate and enlarged,
and here, at last, she found scope for
her natural talent for nursing, by having
entire charge given her, besides being
allowed to do much dispensary work.
We who, with rolled up sleeves. have
experienced the pleasures of such
things, can readily understand her
partiality to the surgical pleasure of
suturing scalp wounds or amputating
fingers. and in few days thereafter
seeing the good result of carefully
applied dressing or of skillfully used
knife In the wards she was delight
to the patients. There was always a
cheerful word or sympathetic touch.
Later, when the hospital was enlarged,
she spent as much time as possible in
reading or talking to them and cheering
the depressed. In more modern days of
hospital life, when cases are hurried in,
operations soon over and recovery
usually speedy. with the improved
methods Of management. the present
day nurse seldom finds time sor any of
these ideal things which Sister Dora
took time to do. 1t is perhaps part of
the pleasure of nursing to entertain
ones patients when they are comfort.
able as we'll as to care for Them when
suffering. but in modern hospitals there
are always statistical records to be kept
up and thorough system of details
attended to.
A few years ago these were not con-
sidered of importance-perhaps we're
not, under different circumstances. Now
they are justly deemed Indispensable
though Sister Dora's patients may have
been as we'll cared for without them.
During her whole life at Wa!sall, she
endeavored to make her patients happy,
whether with books. music or other
kindnesses. Physically. she was as
richly endowed as mentally. For days
and nights together she would work,
with only few hours rest at time,
and she devised sort of sling by the
aid of which she could carry men heavier
than herself upstairs. With unhesita
ting courage, she went through an cpl
demic of smallpox, finally herself con
tracing the disease, yet recovering.
only to ultimately fall victim to can
Ger in 1878.
In reading her biography every nurse
must realize that she herself has en-
tered on field of boundless value and
experience. Sister Dora was a woman
far in advance of her time, for while
women now sometimes leave homes of
luxury to become nurses, they are but
keeping abreast of the times in doing SO,
while hers was conspicuous example
of innovation which doubtless led many
others to follow it in later years. Not
all her hospital methods would stand
the test of later-day knowledge, and her
delightful personality led every one to
overlook some manifest defects of char
acter, but when she passed from the
scene of her earthly labors all who had
known her realized that an exceptional
woman had been for eleven years an
angel of mercy and sompathy among
the suffering of Walsall. Her life's
story will influence many yet TO come
as it has the many who have already be-
come nurses through knowledge of il.
Thus we once more realize the force of
Longfellow' e lines.
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time. -
NEW YORK CITY.