The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-05-17
FIRST EVER HELD
Graduating Exercises of
Training School for Nurses
SIX DIPLOMAS AWARDED
Addresses by Drs, Oldham,
Purdue and Others.

The graduating exercises Of the Wichita
Training School for Nurses, class of 1899
took place at the First Methodist Epis-
copal church last night. 1t Is the first
class that has ever graduated from that IN
stitution with public exercises, and great
deal OF interest attached TO the occasion.
The church was densely crowded with
friends Of the institution and OF the grad
yates, and the exercises were nicely car
red out Shaw's orchestra furnished
music. and Mss Eudora Woods sang a
solo. The rostrum was decorated with
palms and ported plants of varied beauty,
red and white roses, and these. together
with the beautiful bouquets rendered to
the graduates, made 4 pretty scene, On
the right Of the stage set the twenty mem
bers Of the board Of directors and officers
OF the training school, consisting Of the
following ladies: Mesdames J. NJ Ross,
president; Mrs. James Beach, Mrs Charles
Coin, Mrs. r. NJ. Piatt, Mrs Edward Vail,
Mrs. / y. Singer, Mrs. J. + Shearnan.
Mrs. A. c. Crane, Mrs. Genring, Mrs. Nc
Pherson, Mrs. Caldwell. Mrs. Poole, Mrs.
T. " Smythe Miss Dewey, Mrs. Carvin,
Mrs. Finlay Ross, Mrs. R L. Holmes, Mrs.
Charles Brown, Mrs. Potts, Mrs. Houston.
On the left Of the stage were stationed
the trustees and physicians staff Of the
Wichita Hospital, a fine body Of men of
whom the medical profession could well
proud and 10 whose interest IN the hos
ed for its success from its very incipiency.
On the front pew were seated the grad
uating class of 'e9. with Miss Wells, su-
perintendent Of the training school, and at
the right was the class Of Juniors who are
to graduate next year. The nurses were
al dressed in their special costume, con-
sisting Of a dress Of blue and white striped
seersucker, an apron Of white swiss and a
cap Of white MULE. They presented a pic
ture Of purity itself. as they sat all dressed
precisely alike and with hearts given over
10 such a noble purpose.
Mr.. L. w. Clapp, president of the board
OF trustees, made thu Introductory address
and his remarks were an inspiration for
the friends Of the institution. They showed
that Mr.. Clapp has the utmost faith in the
future success and usefulness Of the hos
pital and training school. ev. a. E. Dub
Der offered the invocation.
Mrs. R. J.. Holmes, chairman OF the
training school committee, delivered an
address on the History and Aim Of the
Training School," which was a splendid
paper and was much complimented by
those interested IN the school.
DR.. J. z. Oldham delivered the OPEN
ing address of the evening, his subject be-
ing, "The Trained Nurse" He said:
We are familiar with commencement
exercises. We are familiar with awarding
diplomas to those who have shown them
selves worthy Of this distinction among
their fellow students Of the schools in our
city, but we are at the threshold Of our
experience in training school commence
ments Tonight we meet TO cross the
threshold for the first time; not with fear
and anxiety but with hearts filed with
pride that the directors, trustees and SUI
perintendent of the Wichita Training
school have made this occasion possible.
Should our school grow as we hope it
may. and should our graduates reflect
character, dignity and honor upon our IN
stitution, as we believe they will, it win
ever be a pleasure to look back upon this
our first commencement.
What is the value of the diploma? In
trinsically. nothing. but it signifies that
its possessor has completed a certain stip-
uIated course Of study and at the compile
ton has passed a satisfactory examination
In the Training School for Nurses it
means that the graduate nurse has indus
triousIy performed the work demanded Of
her and pursued the required course of
study for two years. and by examination
has shown her fitness 10 assume the re-
sp0nibilities Of her profession. It is the
hope. the desire and expectation of the
management and instructors Of this school
that their graduates by their efficiency and
work viii deserve and receive recognition
beside those who are the representatives !
Of older and better established schools. |
The need or demand for schools both gem !
eral and special, always precedes their |
organization and establishment. Pre-
eminently is this true of the Training
School for Nurses. The humanity and
Christian philanthropy of Florence Night |
insale is known TO all HOW she fitted
herself for her noble work in the Cremia. |
which made her name immortal, and after /
the close OF that eventful war fnaugurated /
the system Of training schools which IS !
found in every hospital. both public and I
private, in England. War not only de- /
velopes character. bUt II evolves systems. /
and while the English system Of training (
schools followed as the result of the work /
Of Florence nightingale in Cimea.
our own admirable system was evolved by /
the labors Of many Christian women dur
H. ~ So,
the beginning TO the conclusion Of that war /
s''9 nurses were furnished TO the hos /
pita1 service by the Lutheran societies I
alone, and besides these hundreds OF de- /
voted and earnest women from all over |
the northern states gave their energies /
n the cause of humanity. After the close /
az the war q nucleus was formed which 1
developed into the modern training school /
with its henetcie0t promise Of increasing |
usefulness. Throughout Europe the re-
hgions orders hold almost the monopoly Of /
nursing aCd in this country many excel (
lent Institutions are under the manage (
mert If the various Catholic sisterhoods (
While We would not IN the least way dis /
psraEe or ignore the usefulness. nor would T.
We eriIcise the methods Of any Christian Z
organization. we believe that our own
training school system. directly under the /
care ana supervision ~ q superintendent 1
and a stan Of physicians from whom they 4
receive instructions. is superior To those /
that owe their first allegiance 20 she &C. 4
clesiastical power over them. When the I
training school for nurses were first in 4
argurated in this country much opposi- /
ton was found rot only among the laity. /
but among physicians there were many (