Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-10-06

1
from the thorns beneath. 1t teaches us
the luxury of doing good.
| There never was 80 great demand as
now for those having preparation and
skill in ministering to our fellow Great
ures in distress. You do not now
imagine, if you ever did, that nurses
| life is one long sweet poem Of inactivity
and ease. There are sleepless anxious
nights, back -straining, prosy periods of
hard earnest work. There are many
hardships to bear and obstacles to over
come that require patience, endurance
and quiet heroism.
In summers heat and winters storm,
in season and out of season; in the hour
Of birth when JOY reigns, in the hour of
death when there seems no hope, in all
the days of rest and pain and sickness
and health between; in the "only nerv-
ous," in the happy patient endurance of
healths forfeit even by sin in the third
and fourth or the second generation; in
discord and harmony both spiritual and
temporal in the home of luxury where
everything but health can be bought,
but where there may not be wealth
enough to buy the invalid one meal of
food that can be eaten; in the hospital
among the sick poor. in the hovel of the
-
among the poor and sick Character and
health both gomez anywhere, any time,
everywhere, sometime will be found
the opportunity to demonstrate your
fitness and helpfulness in your chosen
work. The work of friend in time of
need, lone that sticketh closer than
brother"
The great purpose that has dominated
your training life here, is now accomp-
lished and while your time of study will
never cease your time for demonstration
is at hand. Abraham Lincoln after he
became lawyer, was impressed with
this great word (demonstration) and
finding the definition-"to prove be-
yond reasonable doubt,as in geometry"
- he said, well must have this power
to prove beyond reasonable doubt, and
if geometry can give it, l will master
geometry. He bought the book, locked
up his Office in Springfield. went home
to save board while studying. Day af-
ter day the neighbors saw him lying un-
der tree with book before him On one
side of the tree in the morning, on the
other in the afternoon so as to keep in
the shade. Thus he persevered till his
purpose was accomplished. He gave
the same severe study TO other subjects
| anu tnus ltdIHtu tut uIb, anu tTdlutu Ills
mind in the process, of demonstration.
He thus became ready for the great de-
bates with Mr.. Douglas and that master
ly address at Cooper Institute New York,
where he proved beyond reasonable
doubt what was the right remedy for
the troubled times of our great nation.
Mr.. Lincoln stood before the people four
square as tall in intellect as in statue
and proved beyond reasonable doubt"
that the founder of our government in
tended to make freedom national and
slavery sectional. The patriotism and
life work of Washington established and
demonstrated the supremacy of man and
destroyed forever the "divine right" of
Kings. The genius and perseverance of
Columbus discovered new continent
as geographical demonstration.
The sacrifices in behalf of the abort
gines, of Marquette, LaSalle and Joliet
and Whitman, will shine in Christian
civilization so long as Niagara thunders
and the rapid st. Lawrence runs to the
sea- But none of these great men are
more useful to humanity in purpose
nor more noble than the exalted life of
an heoIo self sacrificing nurse, she whose
life work is frequently with the wrecks
of humanity from the highways and by
ways on sin and sorrow that lie scat.
tered along the wayside of life who are
as often natures mendicants from their
own improvidence, as creatures Of cpl
denies or sufferers from over work These
will be your most difficult cases when
you must work against the violations of
all natures divine laws Of living. But
all your difficulties will lead you up.
ward. This is life of compensations
and rewards.
We are here to rejoice with you in the
attainment of the education and char
acter which you possess in the determi-
nation to make life worth living and in
the happy prospects that stretch before
you. Your cheerfulness will be returned
as smile answers q smile. Quiet easy
grace will mark your very step and
movement and kind words and looks
will turn away wrath and quiet restless
ness better than medicine Cleanli-
ness and neatness perceptible in your ap-
parel and all your surroundings is the
enviable trait Mr.. Wesley places next to
Goodness.
It takes thousand men to make a
regiment, but only one woman to make
home and only one nurse to make
"anywhere" homelike. Let this atmos.
phere surround you, and constantly sea-
son your duty with the small sweet
courtesies Of life and you will become
your patients favorite and friend.
Finally, ladies and gentlemen, not
your education and training. nor ours, Is
. limited to any school or to any place or
time, but IL is continued in the home at
the desk, the field, the hovel or the hos
pital. Anywhere. everywhere this one
intense desire Of the human heart for
knowledge can find qualification. At no
! time of life is our education finished,
: there is no age in years at which the
. work may not be continued. Everyone
of you and of us should be student
everyday through all the days of his life.
Our life should constantly grow broader
in interest in our own work and the
work around us increase everyday. Not
you nor | will ever finish our education.
But what shall ever become Of all this
,, concentration. this effort, this training,
! this education? Bishop Vinnent says,
! Education without religious faith and