New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-21
SOLDIERS IN THE HOSPITALS
ATTENTIONS sHOwERED UPON THEM
BY VISITORS.
GENEROUSLY. BUT NOT ALWAYS WISELY. ARE
THE GIFTS BEsTowED-wARD REGrLA-
TONS MICH RELAXED FOR coNvA-
LESCENT HOYs IN BLUE


access. Is practically assured Of the best kind
of time which II Is possible for sick man
to enjoy. Nothing is regarded as too good for
such patient. and. although he may feel a
natural impotence at being compelled to lie
inactive day after day, while his wounds are
healing and strength returning he is likely
to look back aftcrward upon his hospital ex-
perience period in which he received a
greater amount Of natterng attention than
will ever fall to his lot again
To begin with the hospital authorities are
wonderfully indulgent to the soldier patients
In the various city institutions which now
caring for the Army wounded It is amusing
to note the difference between the rules gov
crnng the general wards and the particular
one two where the soldiers are. a visitor
to the latter wards is struck at with the
lack of the usual hospital strictness There
are the patients. some in bed and others in re-
cllning chairs eating fruit crackers and candy
to their hearts content. and-still more aston
ishing-half dozen are pulling peacefully at
pipes or cigars as they lie back on their pill
lows Truly. this Is a pleasant sort of hospital
| life. or course. such favors could not be al
lowed II the men were very sick. but In most
Of the cases the nature of their injuries is not
such TO affect greatly their general physical
condition. Bullet wounds in the legs
even. In several instances In the body or
head. do not necessarily make man so Ill that
| he has to he restricted regarding his diet. The
wounded men are all surgical cases" and
/ frequently feel as we'll they did with
/ the exception OF the particular spot which
| the target for n Spanish Mauser Besides
| they have been recovering for several
/ weeks. and In much better shape than they
/ were Immediately after the injury
Then. I'm the second place. the scores Of VS.
| itors TO the hospitals do everything they can
| to help the doctors and nurses in making the
time pass pleasantly FOR the military patients.
/ Taking full advantage OF the privilege granted
/ them Of visiting the wards they bring com
| forts and delicacles Of every kind for the boys
in blue. True their knowledge Of what is suit
able is sometimes imperfect. but the goodwill
/ Is there and the men appreciate the thought
fulness shown toward them by strangers.
IN THE WARD AT BELLEVUE
Bellevue Hospital has received the majority
~ the wounded who have been sent to this
city for treatment. and the daily attentions
showered upon the convalescents there
typical ~ those at all the other institutions
Most Of the soldiers at Bellevue are quartered
being only one story high and situated by
Itself the grounds separated from the main
hospital buildings. Is an admirable place for
the warm weather. visitor entering the pa
I vllion In the daytime and looking Mt the many
empty cots would suppose the room not
more than half full. This Is not true. for
every bod is upied bur large number OF
the men able to be up a good deal OF
/ the time and 10 walk around the ward and the
/ grounds sometimes with the aid OF crutches
Others. not quite so far along toward recovery.
are sitting lying in hospital chairs. while
those whose wounds have been more serious
still in bed. though most OF them are able
TO SIT up. propped against the pillows. News
papers. magazines and books are scattered
about on the beds and tables. People have
contributed them literally. and as a matter
/ of fact the soldiers often have more reading
matter than they use. for some OF them
find that the eyes and head become tired II
they rend long. But they the morning
papers regularly and look eagerly for
| about their comrades at the front
Writing letters is popular occupation. The
wounded mans thoughts generally bent
/ upon the home to which he expects TO go when
he leaves the hospital and gets his furlough
and he spends many hours in writing to his
folks" The numerous gifts OF stationery and
| postage stamps which have been made TO the
| ward are highly acceptable, and the nurses
| distribute them nearly every day. Here and
/ there n man whose right arm has been hurt
| and rendered temporarily useless may be heard
| debating I'm low voice. TO n comrade a hos
! pital attendant or a visitor who has offered to
| write for him. The other day a young Vr-
! ginian OF the "a Regular Infantry. who enjoys
] Of ho.p clio
! in the pavilion. but who is improving steadily
now. was observed to be unusually Industrious
with his pen.
You must be writing letters for the whole
ward" remarked a visitor. smiling at the
eaper CHEEKY expression OF the young patients
pale face.
! mo" he answered slowly. in his soft. South
orn drawl. these are all mine. I've written
| every one OF 'em this Misunderstanding up
four-"and now I'm going to quit for the day"
| And he leaned back with n look OF satisfac
| ton. "Oh I'm getting along fne" he added;
! II can eat anything | want and can smoke.
too I'm mighty proud OF that"
FRUIT GREATLY ENJOYED.
Fru,t IS naturally one OF the chief delicacies
| brought by visitors and II disappears with
great rapidity. The men share It with one an
other generously. so that II one patient hap
/ pens to receive unusually large supply he
/ has no trouble In dsposing Of 1t TO his neigh
| bors before It spos. Few Of the men have
| INV friends In this city. but when the same
! visitors come several times they are likely 10
| take special fancies to certain patients and
/ devote more attention to them. Thus 1t hap
| pens that some receive more than others. but
! their habit Of sharing their gifts evens mat
! ters satisfactorily In bringing or sending
! fruit It is necessary to consider the probability
| Of its keeping. Too much should not be given
/ AT once But this Is not always remembered.
| and the result Is extra trouble for the nurses.
a few days ago. for example. one sympathiz-