Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1902-01-30

AT once the picture was presented to
me of a father tortured with agony at
the hospital herein town. And another
picture of a very little son at a writing
table in a farm house miles and miles
away in the deep country. Undoubted-
ly the better angels of our nature do
come very near at times and for the
nonce do rob mortality of its frailties
and eudue the heart with transplant
ed grace. They hnger most near ana
play most sweetly on the natural ties
that bind Us together. So 1t requires
but slight stretch OF fancy to see the
light of their holy presence SHINING IKE
an aGreole on the head of this tiny son !
braYely struggling, paper and pencil IN
hand, to amuse and cheer up his agon-
izing father.
Another incident was connected with
the beautiful surgical room with its
purely white tiled floor and its purely
white hard plastered walls and ceiling.
Brightly illuminated by frosted side
windows and a converting skylight IN
the roof, food of light is poured upon
the operating table underneath, in all
IFS CHASTITY stateliness made ready for
| the operating surgeon and his two at
tendant trained lady nurses. An order
" procession moves down the corridor
and pauses at the threshold The door
opens inwardly and the robed figure Of
| Young lady passes through alone,
whereupon the door is quickly closed
and bolted. Modern science imposes its
sweet and painless trance; few quick
and masterful strokes by the surgeon
with his keen and skillful knife; ma
nipulation necessarily somewhat pro
tracted because of its very care and
tenderness; speedy change to suitable
garments by the nurses. and before the
trance has passed the patient is trans
ported to her cheerful room and laid
upon her. snowy couch. The ever pres
ent nurse is standing by the bedside, to
whom the merciful angel that banished
pain gradually yields her loving charge
The worst is over Science and human
skill have done their perfect work and
appendicitis is conquered.
All this was bnt part OF the tragedy
and pathos there during the two weeks
of nv stay. What must the grand to-
tai be in the sweep of years? 1t is ap-
parent that there must be a counterbal-
ancing element and this accounts for
the ioviality that is a necessity. The
ensuing result is the gaiety of which
have spoken, tempered and purified by
a modesty which charms the beholder
while 1t enthralls him willing slave IN
its sweetly pressing chains. 1t Is a love
ly house where all that is beautiful and
seemly, and pure and holy find an abid-
ing place For whyI Its guardian an
gel is Mercy. Behold the angelic, com
passionate countenance; the wings SO
white thev must have been washed and
rewashed in the fountains Of everlast-
ing forgiveness; and the outstretched
arm and hand so unearthly in their ut
ter beauty and loveliness they might
have ministered at the throne OF the
Almighty Beautiful, adorable crea-
turel beckoning the distressed, and
blessing the merciful, and lowering con-
tinuaily above the open portal.
wish my command of language was
such that it could charm all the people
of Edtler county to love this merc1tul
institution and thus make the influence
of its gentle ministrations part ana
parcel of their daily lives. Its untlrlng
president is ever watchful and WORKING
for it day and night. The ladies ana
gentlemen who constitute its board OF
directors are constantly self sacrlhcing
to sustain it and promote its facilities.
The little band of contributors who
unfiinchingly borne the heat and burden
of the day. The young ladies who have
consecrated their lives to the holy task
of alleviating corporal agony are doing
their part so feebly described herein.
All this constitutes a mute appeal for
help an appeal as tender as ever went
from human heart to human heart. The
institution is intended to meet the pos
sible wants of any resident Of the county
as well as those of the poor wayfarer
who falls stricken within its borders
When a patient presents himself at the
portal no questions are asked as to
whether he has money to pay with
Here gentle mercy welcomes sweet
charity and bids her come III All in all
it is a sacred retreat that is rendered
possible only by an advanced Christian
civilization. 1t il difficult here to resist
my desire TO felictate the officers the
state, and the county that the institu- i.
ton is under the graceful and efficient
superintendence of Miss Agnes Jessie
Cooke and who is SO charmingly second
ed by all her lady assistants
AS there must be "A medium or medl-
ums to present subject to intellectual
comprehension and mental view before
ensuing heart action can be reasonably
expected, that fact forms my best ex-
cuse for this attempt to do so. At all
events the attempt is lawful, for it is on
the hither side Of the sacred line that
divides the finite from the infinite No
mortal may send his voice across The
line to tell you your duty. There yon
stand alone with the Creator awful
loneliness that would be despairful but
for the blessed companionship Of the
Mediator. 1t is for you and you alone
to decide whether you owe Il duty here
as elsewhere and If so the measure Of
that duty. But how nice it would be 10
say that all were contributing accord
ing to their several abilities to this
worthy object and lightly the burden
was falling on each. And too this
much further may lawfully be added
that now and here and evers chance
to earn sweet warm blessing from
Him who preached, BLESSED are the
merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
JOHN Q A SULLIVAN