The Washington herald., 1908-05-20
NURSES FINISH WORK
Commencement Exercises at
Government Hospital.
GARFIELD PRINCIPAL SPEAKER
introduced by DR.. W. a. White, su-
persntendent, who Called Atten-
tion TO the Fact that Father of the
Secretary Had Obtained Appropria-
tions for Institution in Congress.

James Rudolph Garfield, Secretary OF
the Interior, bade Godspeed and success
to seventeen nurses who stepped into pro
fessionai life last night at the commence
ment exercises of the Training School foi
Nurses at the Government Hospital fel
the Insane.
The exercises were held in the chape
Of the old Center Building which wa
decorated with flags and flowers. com
bining to produce a festival appearance
such as has not been seen there in years
according to the oldest attendants. CARRIED
in the white suits, caps, and gloves o.
their full dress uniform, and seated In Z
semi-circle across a large platform, will
towering bank Of palms as back
/ ground. the nurses presented the tropiea
| picture suggested by the torrential rail-
beating at the windows AS though no
to be outdone by their friends and rela
tives on the platform, nearly every mem
Der Of the weaker sex" in the audienc'
wore white, and regretted it after making
the long walk to the dance hall after the
| conclusion Of the exercises.
Delivers tho Invocation.
Rev. John Chester, D. D., former pas
/ tor of tire Metropolitan Presbyterian
Church, delivered the invocation. aftei
which Mrs. Charles F. Linger sang a solo
In making the valedictory address. Mis-
Bettis Lois Harris, or the graduation
class said:
For a number Of years the hospita
corps has not only been caring for the in
sane. We have been carrying on surgiea
work, and during the last year more thar
100 major operations have been performed
in addition TO a much larger number o
minor operations. We have treated I
large variety Of diseases. and our patient
come from all parts OF the world. w
have to-day one OF the best equipped anC
most modern operating rooms in this sec
/ ton Of the country"
In introducing Secretary Garfield, DR.
". A. White, superintendent OF the hos
| pital, made a short address. He said
Shortly after the foundation Of this in
stitution, OF which we are all so prout
| to-day, the members OF the board of Wis
Z
much trouble in obtaining sufficient ap
propriations from Congress 20 carry OF
the work. The father Of the present Sec
retary of the Interior, President Garfield
who was ar that time a member OF Con
] gTess. went 10 work and in a short tim'
got the appropriations with which sew
eral wards we're built They are known
/ to-day as the Garfield building.
This occasion is the first public fune
ton 10 be given in the hospital sinc'
Secretary Garfield has been head of th'
Department of the Interior. For this Tea
son and because IL was his father WHIT
obtained the money We needed so badl!
many years ago, it seems TO me particu
larly appropriate that the Secretary
with US tonight. It gives me great pleas
ure 20 introduce Secretary Garfield"
The Secretary referred to the treatmen
given the insane to-day in contrast u
that accorded them about fifty year
ago. He said in part:
Mr.. GarfeId's Address.
There is a great difference In the con
ditlons surrounding The insane In th'
United States at the present time al
compared to those OF fifty years ago. A
that time when the insane were takeI
into custody they were looked upon NOR,
in the sense Of prisoners than patients
/ They were locked up, and in many case
kept in confinement. IN the enlightene,
| period OF our age we have learned DIFF
ferently. A criminal is imprisoned be
cause he has committed a wrong.
The insane are not criminals. There
fore, they should not be given the sam
4 ~ H. -
sick persons, and their surroundings ar
made as beautiful, congenial. and home
like as possible. Society has recognize,
that these people are not at fault. but
on the contrary, society itself is at fault
Society is responsible for these men an,
women being In the condition they are
for we all know the truth Of the predic
ton that the sins OF the parents shall b
visited upon the children.
1T is this awakening on the part OF ou
citizens that has brought about the won
derful and much-needed reform in the IN
sane hospitals Of this country.
This institution stands as a mode
among its kind In the United States 70
lhumanitarianism and successful treat
ment Of insanity. The accomplishment
OF the hospital are known and recognize
In this country and foreign lands. 1t
superintendent, Dr. W. A White. ha
been largely responsible for bringing tn
institution to It's present high standard
Much credit is due him.
In the absence of Dr. Gunnel, Supt
White presented the diplomas. A marcl
finale by the hospital orchestra con
cluded the exercises. Dancing In the gen
eral dining hall began at o'clock.
/ T3sf Of the Graduates
The graduates are Frank Lafayett
Ankers. Virginia; Clara Olive Bayllss
Virginia. Lonnie Clyde Hefiin, Virginia
Bette Lois Harris. Virginia; Mary vir
ginia James, Virginia; Anne Elviri
Kyger. Virginia; Maud Viletta Norford
Virginia. Robert Alexander Sauls, Wiz
ginia Mile Viola swank. Virginia
Evelyn Albrittain. Maryland; James Irv
ing Hicks. Maryland; Irene France
Long, Maryland; Margaret Dougla
Rawlings. Maryland: Nora Talbert. Mary
| land; Ellsworth Dennis Smith. Pennsyl
vania; Agnes Creagh, New York, ant
Anna Theresa Mulraney. New York
Il In addition to the members Of the grad
] uating class on the platform were Sec
/ retary GARFIELD. DR.. william A White
II DR.. n. J. Stack, DR.. J. W. Blackburn
Il DR.. S. l. Franz. DR.. B. r. Logic, DR.. II
4 r. Hummer, DR.. G, n. Schwinn, Or
1 Mary O'Malley, Dr. Edith Conser DR.
! William H. Hough, DR.. A. c. Fitch, DR.
! W !. Sheep, DR.. L. Smith, Mrs Charlie
fsssra 4 T.