The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-06-01
ideas for 1Momen

" nat are the preparations Tor the care
Of the sick and Wounds of opr army? In
answering this question, the first fact
that strikes one is the great advance
that has been made in these thirty-seven
years since these questions last were
forced upon our national attention, says
'Harper's Bazaar" We remember that in
the early sixties we had not that large
and able body of women-the trained
front and acted as nurses had neither that
strength of organization nor yet the power
of ease of working possessed today by
our trained and experienced nurses There
was the Astounding wisdom of heart and
the courage of s~elf-forgetful patriotism
and devotion. But they paid most dearly
for the service they rendered, because
their heroism was not REINFORCED by
practical preparation.
Today we have hundreds of trained
nurses. who add to the same womanly de-
votion the discipline of nerve and brain
and hand. making a grand sum total of
usefulness.
Another advance is the wholesale manu-
facture of all that pertains to surgeons,
hospital and sanitary supplies. Today
we have great factories capable of in
definite production of the most scientific
cally perfect. as well as the most com-
pactly transportable disinfectants, wound
dressing and general surgeons supplies.
This is an incalculable advance. And
while we almost envy our women of the
earlier times. who could satisfy. their
jealous Instincts by rolling bandages and
spicking lint, still we must concede the
c~onafort yielding advantage of the surgi-
cal supply factory, and seek other fields
of activity.
AS regards the executive in the Sur
geon Generals department.. one has but
to know that there is at the head in the
regular army Surgeon General Sternberg,
axman so eminent in allTthat pertains to
sanitation and special scientific and medl-
cal research. Every regiment, troop ana
battery has its surgical and nursing stan
regularly enlisted. This is also true OF
the volunteer troops, as we'll as OF our
naval forces. These men are chosen, II
is to be supposed and expected, with a
discretion and care very much emphasized
by memory of the cases of inefficiency
which came to light during the civil war
in this branch of the service They are
equipped with the most approved outnt
for doing their work on the field or on
board ship. So much have men done for
the care of sick and wounded, and notice
is given officially from the Surgeon Cen
eral that women will not be employed at
present. ~intimating. however. that should
the war prove serious in point of heavy
engagements and should it become neces-
sary 10 form large general hospitals,
women may be needed. And It is towards
this possibility tina we must look
The fact that this bids fair to be
largely or entirely a naval war dininishes
the chance that these large hospitals will
be called into being. 1t has been DELI
nitely stated that no women in any ca
pacity will be employed on the hospital
ships. The suggestion that a rich and
patriotic woman might purchase and
equip such an auxiliary provokes the
question why women who should be care
fully chosen in regard TO physical as well
as professional fitness might not have
some part in the personnel of the ships
company. Some of us nave seen quite as
much of the class of work to be expected
as the majority of the young male doctors
who are being taken into service.
Not asteW society women anu Siiis, botii
in this section and in the East. Widths
year forego their usual trip to Europe
the war having in some way mad TINS
effect. For the same reason men will be
searcer than ever at lake, mountain and
seashore resorts. and as a consequence
the girls are looking for pleasant methods
of passing the long summer days. In a
number of Eastern society circles botany
and entomology are being taken up as
diversions, much scientific enthusiasm
being displayed. Botany and entomology
are not subjects that can be learned in a
parlor or a classroom, and you must
make up your mind to wander far afield
at least once a week and dig and delve
for at least Ave or six hours at a time.
Some of the classes which have beer
formed start for the suburbs in the early
morning. Immediately after breakfast
with luncheon, wraps and scientific books
and it is not until the shades of night are
A, ready to fall that they start homeward'
the lunch gone, but their baskets and pals
much heavier than at the outset because
of the weight of specimens.
The botanizing, Understanding maid o!
this spring is pursuing the investigations
of hers on a strictly practical basis. She
has no objection to carrying a basket OF
a pail, because it is avowedly in the in
terest of science. Both pail and basket
however. are unique. They are made
precisely for expeditions of this sort and
are intended partly for luncheon and
partly as a specimen receptacle. Down
their length these baskets and pals are
partitioned into two compartments o.
equal size, generally by a sheet of metal
In one compartment the lunch goes; the
other is left empty for whatever the fair
digger may find in the course of her Elk
plorations. Into the lunch compartment
ever when empty, no specimens ever go
A special uniform" as it were, is worn
on these student-like voyages of diseov-
cry. The exploring maide arrays her
self in a tennis shirt and a short skirt,
her entire gear being especially adapted
to bending over and "grubbing' on her
hands and knees. She wears thick and
heavy boys shoes, with nails in their
soles, and an Alpine hat that storms can
not injure or dirt spot.
The newest thing in patriotic wearing
apparel is the Cuban hat. 1t is a palnet.
to sailor, says the Philadelphia Press.
The device for trimming the Cuban pal
metto Is. sure to take" say the milliners
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