New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-07
TRAINED NURSES CELEBRATE
TWENTY FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
PROFESSION
EXERCISES At THE WALDORF ASTORIA PRE-
SIDED OVER BY BISHOP POTTER-AN ADJ
DRESS BY DIR W. NJ POLK-THE
FOUNDING or THE BELLE
VUE SCHOOL

vUE SCHOOL.
Eight hundred trained nurses drawn from the
twenty schools in the enlarged city. were present
last night at meeting held in the ballroom OF
the Waldorf-Astoria TO celebrate the founding
twenty-five years ago. Of the Bellevue Training
school These eight hundred young women. all
dressed In the distinctive garb Of their vocation
represented the growth Of their profession IN the
quarter century that had elapsed since the first
class OF five marked new departure In
the medical history OF this country. While the
hrst school for trained nurses was established only
after much difficulty and in the face OF great OPP
position. similar schools are established all
over the country and are equipping thousands OF
women yearly for the duties which have made the
trained nurse potent ally 10 the physician In
the sickroom.
The whole Of the spacious floor OF the ballroom
devoted TO the seating OF the nurses last night
while the boxes filed by those who have been
actively Interested in the development OF the train
ing schools in this city. Bishop Potter presided
and with him the platform were Ex-Governor
Levi 2. Morton. John w. Keller. president Of the
City Department OF Charities; A. Simis IT,. Charity
Commissioner for the Borough OF BROOKLYN the
Rev James Le Baron Johnson and Drs. W. GIN
Wylle William NJ. Polk @. b. Fowler. George d.
Stewart David A sayre Alexander Lambert. l.
b. Bangs W Gilmore Thompson. Samuel Alex
ander Stephen Smith. A. Jacob, Charles f. Nam
mack b. +. Curtis, II. NJ Biggs. Robert Carlisle
Joseph b Bssell. Charles l.. Dana. Charles Phelps
F Fluhrer Francis Detailed. Egbert Lefevre
Frank W. Jackson and George Woosey Among
those in the boxes were Mrs. en- Wylie. Mrs. A. B.
Stone Mrs y l. Eggleston Mr.. and Mrs. William
Z Dodge Mr. and Mrs William II. Draper. Mrs.
J F.. Cameron. Miss Josephine Wisner. Mrs. j. II
Aldrich Mrs John wills Mrs Archibald Hopkins
Miss Helen Q. Butler. John L. Cad"aader' Mrs.
Blodgett Mrs Pinchot and Miss Cuyler.
The choir Of ST Thonas's Church. by which the
music was given at the graduation OF the first
class rendered the musical part Of the celebration
under the direction OF the veteran organist George
VIII Warren.
FOUNDING OF BELLEVUE SCHOOL.
The PROCEEDINGS were opened with prayer ny
Rishop Potter after which the Rev. Mr. Johnson
read history Of the founding OF me be"e'ue
school Part Of this review was as follows
nurses in the United states In every community
there were kind. good women who. from lppns, y
In the villages when there was serious illness me
neichbors took turns in watching tnc 90
~ the family we're taxed 70 the utmost on jan
uary D. 1872 number OF women me- - ton
81 Miss Louisa Lee Schuyler TO organize a com
miiee to visit the public hospitals OF NE Tl' SS n
ZION 10 the state Board Of Charities, several OF
the women present had pen oVnerience in
hospital work hut the majority had no knoweoE age
a. mo difficulties Of the task before them ana a'-
cept.d n with all the bravery 81 ignorance
II IS doubtful II any work IN n country OF even
such wide philanthropy as this was ever more CON
scientiously performed than that NJ Bellevue 'ur-
ing the winters Of 1873 1874 and mo Sky '"''"s
the most intelligent women ~ the CITY daily passed
hours IN its wards carefully studying Its condi-
lions and consulting the highest hospital au'noH-
ties AZ result OF their reports IT was decided
that no permanent reform could be effected under
the actual system Of nursing existing
The nurses appointed by the Con missionerT OF
Charities were ignorant Of the most elementary
rrcirIes - tho nursing art. and while some were
decent women the larRer number were brought
from Blackwers Island. where they had been sent
az warrants or paupers and sometimes prisoners
and many could neither read nor write
Rut having decided that n reform in the nursing
was imperative preliminary to REFORM IN inc
general system. A subcommittee was appointed 10
rrorose a plan for a training school ior NURSES.
7,h,s committee. composed 81 the foowing-named
,,,o- and men set themselves to this task In the
,rtrte, ~ 1874. Mrs W II Osborn chairman. Mrs
pohort Woodworth secretary. Mrs. William ffeH-
ton Griffin Mrs D'Oremieulx Mrs Joseph Hobson'
Miss Woolsey. Miss Ellen Collins. Miss julia Ioud'
Harry @ Stehblns treasurer. DR. w GIL Wyhe
and Chandler Robbins
DR. WYIIFS MISSION
,r,o erst s,on TO he taken was to learn what
.otrt,o school was and as ~ was considered I'M
variant that the Information should be OBTAINED
- beadouartors Dr W. GIN Wylie. then mousse
surgeon at Bellevue and one OF the hrst ID 'hs
rofess,on 10 assist IN the work. offered 70 20 10
t,,,rone AT his own expenses and bring back re-
port .,..s :,
Tho committee would he lacking In gratitude II
no ouusion were made here 10 the four members oil
the Medical Board who stood for them IN te mo
,norts Of sore trial and helped them to fight the
battle-rr James r Wood. DR.. Austin thnt III
Stenhen smith and Dr. James NJ Markoe.
Dr yvylie returned from Europe in the autumn or
1879 bringing with him an Interesting report OF tne
schools in England. France and Germany anu'
above all a letter Of encouragement ana ADVICE
from her whose name will 20 down to posteriy
wherever our language Is known ana good women
sre loved ana ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Nightingale.
From The information obtained from Dr Wyhe
and from other trees, paper was piepa'eu'
eating the object Of the work proposed anu Ap
mailing TO the public OF New-1orK LOT Iuius -
ns,tI'sh the school Tie project was received with
" -, ord I'm ak weeks after the publication
- tho anneal so ss5 was contributed to start the
scbool Through the influence Of James Bowen
one Of the Commissioners Of the i'oaru III no.
ties n reluctant consent had been ""'di"e"
the Board to allow US to nurse hve "arus ~ d.
,,,a For which the committee was to detray an
. .so hevond what paid under the OLD
-, 4 house was hired In March lS'S' IN the
,.,,,,v ~ the hospital a home ror IN" nurses
and the committee engaged to take chaibe VI TIC
FIVE wards on NJ .,. ,,
The school started us S'uEe"''t 49,
amid a good deal % opposition. nut II never wa
80, - faltered from its nigh ideals. and the
.r,,,Ios accented from Miss Nightingale have been
80, ~. foloued not only at Bellevue. but by al
me schools subsequently, founded to the present
time. H.. ...or ,ho ho,ss stan
which had been friendly from the besi'nihs Ven'
- 80 mint ont to their superiors the Improved
oa,,,t,o1 II the nursing service under the tram
va - and gradually the eyes OF these men
- orepad TO the fact that their patients re-
covered sooner. and the deaths after operations
Nv. iass freouent than formerly The superin-
,erdent Sister Helen. accustomed to the manage
rncnt Of pauper hospital IN hns"h1' anu - 'Ia,
~, li,,,.s nj Rellevue. gradually during the
sn.ond wear the work assumed permanent shaPe
- - -...rand ~ nther wards The appllcatlons