Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-02-15
AMID ILLNESS AND POVERTY.
some Stories Of Heartbreaking
Cases Of Destitution Brought
To Notice Of Workers.
,...u,,ow with superintendent Re-
,eals Quiet and Systematic Effort
10 Relieve suffering in Salt Lake.

II, on the corner OF oouth ie"piS
a., s,cond East is q house where
,asnbone rings with serious insistence
,anv fines during the "a hours OF
,ry dav. The messages are mostly
like this;
.Helol superintendent Charity
N,,rss Work-Yes? Want to report
sarious case of sickness. Family In des-
,t,pte circumstances, father out of work,
mother sick three children down with
contagious disease. Can you send char
nv nurse at once to give aid? y
only one this of many messages; but
behind them all lie tales to harrow
the heart of humanity.
1--WE don't like to advertise our
work" said Mrs. Emma Empey. who
has charge of the Relief Society nurse
work 1--WE do all that we do quietly,
without any desire for publicity; but
have to smile some times when l read
in thenewspapers OF this or chat person
or body of persons having subscribed
some donation to charity call. while
ior weeks before the Relief Society has
been meeting the household, food.
and medicine needs of the case, and
kseping trained nurses there for the
help more necessary than all.
FACTS IN THE CASE.
The fact is there are few cases indeed
In ward which do not come under the
ward bishops and Relief Society's no
tce and the rule is rather to lend aid
to the unworthy than to turn away the
truly needy or afflicted. We meet many
tryIng conditions in our work; es-
peclally in the houses of the sick where
everything In the way of poverty and.
uncleaniness Is met. / had a call not
long ago from destitute family where
ali three children were Ill. A charity
nurse was at once sent and later
vert TO the place myself for an inspec-
ton. found them In tenement
house and was informed by neighbor
that the people looked for was no
good at all; Just poor white trash
from the south. that even the ntggers
wouldn't associate with" Going to the
door, ! entered room holding the
first relay of three families which in
habited as many rooms, all directly or
fiirectiy related. Within THESE three
rooms. | learned, there had recently
been is cases of measles. In the third
apartment" found the family TO
whom ! had sent my nurse. The room
was not very large, and In Ii were two
beds the three children being down
with pneumonia. The mother, list
less young woman of about % years
stood helplessly watching the nurse.
spoke 10 her telling her of my SYM
pathy. but met no response.
what have you been doing for the
chldren2" / asked. She waited and
sho; from her mouth a great stream OF
hrownish liquid which ! later knew
vas tobacco Juice. II amt done Moth
Ing for EN-" she replied.
POVERTY AND SQUALoR.
mot used to nursing?" / asked.
"No-l amt ever nursed nobody"
looked around. Poverty and un-
cleanliness everywhere. A large pack
ing box stood by the wall. and in 1t
we're the family utensils pans kettles
and such-and In wall cupboard were
few dishes. No clothes closet-only
few nails for the scanty wardrobes
Of the Ave The nurse / found had
hung her own clothes on the porch out
side The father came ina rough,
unkempt man--as close mouthed as his
Wife The yard outside was unspeak-
able; and or the line hung the clean
quilts the Relief Society had fur
mshed-draggling in the mud. Pncu-
Mona-and in such conditions. Think
q those children getting well in all
mat squalor! Well; 1t shows what the
CHARITY nurse can do when she goes
70 ner work with n whole heart"
PITrFuL CASE.
Another pneumonia case was more
pilIul The family were Germans and
could speak little English--the father
aluhe having small command of the
tongue, He had severe affiiction--a
stilols case of suffering, for which he
nad been taking treatment that had
used up most of his means. a curious
,hase was that only when he raised
ills hands above his head could he
fprak intelliglbly, so that conversa-
hDn with him was always attennto
W this tabeau.
EXPERIENCE OF NURSE.
Anurse had been dispatched at the first
.ali and her relief nurse. gent lntcr
Nas mot with the news that the doctor
"a1 said that neither child could live
m so glad you came" she said
pl me little one Is dying, the moth
cannot speak English and is subject
ialnting spells, and dreaded to be
neIs alone" No ehilds play this ex-
el'vhce for the young nurses-meet-
me dread foes-disease, poverty anc
M" mn In unassuaged formi.
ns new nurse looked about or
ny NV ~ one corner lay the older chile
WIN pneumonia In another stood
csoy carriage and In II little chile
1,,rNs III commissions. Just then tn,
'-NN'l came inland the mother told