St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1908-03-18

and interest in this Hospital than by
convincing persons that they can and
ought to do and give for it, yes even
sacrifice, if necessary.
If the way seem long and steep and
weary coming up to the Hospital some
one can relieve the pedestrian, or the
faithful steed by coming forward with
funds to lay out graded path or road
way and to help level the steep inclines
and irregularities that appear here and
there. A landscape artist has a fine OPP
portunity to make real his ideas as to
what might be done about the grounds.
But the said artist requires hard cash,
to work out his scheme of conversion
If one gets weary climbing the stair
way that person is reminded that a
bottomless pit in the way OF a vacant
elevator well would appreciate good
elevator running up and down its empty
shaft.
If the walls up and down the corridors
look lonesome they are crying for some
one to adorn them with suitable pictures.
Ifthe laundry overhead looks somewhat
skeleton-like, and the walls look cold,
sheathing and painting call for an opera
ton other than surgical.
In the so-called locker room there is
room without sheathing or lockers To
properly equip this some ones purse
strings are no doubt bursting to get in
touch with a practical scheme like that.
Some of you may have to come TO this
institution for help some time. A good
cooking range you have noticed is lack
ing You must not blame good cook
for poor cooking with an inadequate
range. The small sum of 500 will pro-
vide a hrst-class range and this in turn
in the hands of our excellent cook will
furnish you appetizing morsels to bring
your strength and courage back.
Finally if one crticises the lack of
equipment too much they are at liberty
to cool off their hot wrath by building
an ice house and placing a cold storage
addition tor the kitchen.
Mention might be made of other needs
but the above will do for suggestions
to begin with.
When these needs are supplied the Off
GERS no doubt will be able to make
further suggestions.
1t is a pleasure here and now to sound
surgeons matronS and nurses. for the
remarkably skllfu work that has been
done in our Hospital Another will give
the statistics and speak for the medical
fraternity, but his modesty will doubtless
prevent him from giving the full praise
that the doctors should receive during
this exercise To those who know the
facts based on what has been accom-
plished in the past, it is safe to give un-
stinted praise and generous applause for
the surgery major or minor, difficult
and easy, hopeless, and that less dis
couraging,-skillfully done heretofore.
1t is a statement well within reason to
say that no hospital has more loyal
devoted staff OF surgeons and physicians,
matron and nurses than Brightlook
Hospital. 1t is high time that the public
in general realize more fully the great
debt we owe these men and women for
the splendid work they are doing We
therefore at this time render due thanks
for all they have done and are doing.
1t may be interesting to briefly state
here the aggregate of sums received from
earnings and gifts. Total hospital
receipts from all sources from 1899 to
January l, 1908, have been SAT 6+732.
The above necessarily does not estimate
the time and effort put forth and freely
given by the Ladies Aid Association in
all that is far beyond computation in
dollars and cents. Up to January l,
1908, the sum of S14,929.37 has been
raised to meet deficits, $10,l29.37 by
gifts from the public and the Ladies
Aid, and 81, 800 proceeds from notes of
which latter $4,000 are paid, leaving
today S2200in notes outstanding. From
the above you will see that the real hos
pital earnings have been in the region of
$33, 900.
And now in closing to properly express
appreciation of all that has been done by
the many friends of this Hospital is some
thing that pen and ink and paper and
mere man can but poorly portray. So
many elements, so many interests have
entered into the making of this plant
that it is impossible to name them all.
Subscribers to building funds; the
Ladies Aid Association; the Individuals
associations clubs, societies that have
! generously equipped rooms both in this
building and the one heretofore used the
nurses, both graduate and those now in
the Training School; churches ana pas
tors that have always been ready to
speak and do for the Hospital; physicians
and surgeons who in SO many ways are
doing the skilful work and giving the
sound advice that give the Hospital its
standing in the world; business and pro-
fessional men who have given time and
thought and money that the work might
| 90 on-all these and many more might
| be named who in very truth are part and
parcel of the Brightlook we honor and
dedicate tonight.
1t has been said that the cost of this
| plant is about $4,000. Yes, in money.
! But how about all the courage, sympa-
| thy, devotion, earnestness, persistency,
| skill-surgical as wellas that manifest in
| in wise planning-what about the CO.
operation of men and women in standing
| by such a work, how shall we estimate
the tremendous value of all the forces
and causes that have made the Bright
look we dedicate this EVENING" While
these cannot be estimatedin money value
they must sooner or later enter into the
estimate that gives Brightlook its real
worth. We must continue to have all
the above enter into the coming work
for without them our rope will be one
made of sand. Let us all stand by and
cooperate in this work as such work
deserves to have support and coopera-
ton.
| And having said this there is little left