Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1903-06-26
A CLASS Of EIGHT
GRADUATES THIS YEAR
Commencement Exercises Of The
Alma Springs Sanitarium
Training School for
Nurses.
ADDRESS DELIVERED BY
Or. GEO. F. BUTLER
Banquet Served the Entire Corps of
Nurses by the Sanitarium
Company.

In the gymnasium Of the sanitarium
last Saturday evening occurred the grad
uating exercises of the senior class from
the Alma Springs Sanitarium Training
School for Nurses. At 6 O'clock the All
tire corps OF nurses, with the medical
staff and manager of the sanithrium,
marched into the dining room and sat
down to a sumptuous banquet which
occupied their entire time and attention
till the hour for the exercises proper.
Shortly after O'Clock the medical
staff were seated on the platform in the
gymnasium, together with DR.. j. II.
Lancashire, president of the sanitarium
company, Miss Anna Louise Davis,
superintendent OF the Training School,
aud the Rev. w. X. Spencer, d. d.
The nurses then marched in from the
rear Of the room, the eight graduates In
white, in front, followed by the junior
class in the standard uniform, after
which the program was opened with the
invocation by Rev. Spencer. This vas
followed by piano duet by Misses Lou
dip and Mary A. Butler, which was
greatly appreciated, as was evidenced
by the hearty applause they received.
The young ladies showed much talent,
displaying nearly perfect technique and
remarkable expression, which denoted
their excellent training and hard work
in accomplishing the difficulties Of the
piece.
DIR. Geo. +. Butler then delivered the
address to the class, which was full of
good thoughts and advice TO the trained
nurse, and couched in beautiful Ian.
guage. He compared the lives of Queen
Victoria and of Florence Nightingale.
The reign of Victoria is simply going to
be page in history book, name and
date, but the time is coming when the
name of Florence Nightingale will be
echoed in reverent chorus a thousand
times where the name of Victoria is
sounded once. OF her, the founder OF
the trained nurse system. the historian
OF the Orimean war speaks words which
would seem to furnish the ideal which
every member of her noble profession
should strive ever TO emulate. Skill,
patience and energy. devotion, gentle
ness and sympathy. Couple to these
traits rigid and untiring adherence to
orders and you have the true trained
nurse And there are thousands Of such
women in the world, and such women
in our own training school.
"The doctor saves many life," he
said, "but it must be admitted that
large percentage would be lost but for
the trained nurse. She is left at the
bedside as the doctors other self; a
trained, skilled, and collected mentality,
watching what the doctor would have
noted could he only remain at one bed
side. Nurses must preserve the dignity
of their profession it is holy, sacred
cause and must retain the love and de.
yoti6n Of the nurse She must almays
keep in mind the thought, L am the
nurse first, afterward myself. In this
as in other professions M ust be learned
the lesson Of maintaining a sort of dual
personality; and above all. don't gossip.
The woman has no right TO breathe
word that the nurse has been told or
observed. Let tho nurse cultivate hap
piness and cheerful face, for much of
the patients comfort depends upon this.
1.-The nurses life will not be all senti-
ment. There is much drudgery and
much that is the reverse Of sentimental,
but let her overlook the dissgreeable and
see only the good, the beautiful and the
pleasurable. The nurse is burden.
bearer and should take pride in being a
litter and not a 'leaner'" The ad.
dress closed with the words: MAY you
60 forth to your life work and realize to
the fullest the truth Of the noble Night.
| ingale's words when she says, after
twenty years experience, Il say that the
happiest people, the fondest OF their oc.
cupation, the most thankful for their
lives are. in my opinion, those engaged
in sick nursing.
The address was followed by a bari.
tone solo by DIR. q. s. Browning, which
was well rendered and pleasing to the
large audience.
The valedictory, by Miss Martha
Maude Brown, was the next number.
This was well delivered by Miss Brown
and showed much careful thought in its
preparation. It was clearly apparent
from the speakers words that she real
lied fully that grad uation 10 but the be.
ginning Of life's work, that the labor Of
! the training course 10 but hint Of the