The San Francisco call., 1909-03-21

when, having spent six weeks in ward a,
the mems phthiscal, l was transferred
10 ward b. with its 20 and more women consump-
tives But ] was only a probationer-or prob,
in hospital slang-anxous win my cap, and full
of fresh enthusiasm which the depressing at
mosphcrc OF the ubercle baci could not quench.
Afterward not only submissive but thank
ful that had been retained in the division for if l
rad not gone to ward B l would never have met
Mrs Bullen, and if had not previously had expert
in ward A, and become interested in some OF its
patients, J would have had no occasion to enter its
doors while on duty elsewhere, and then / should
have missed the felicity of seeing a shadow lifted
from a womans soul
This IS hospital for diseases, but wing
OF IT given up unfortunate victims of the great
white plague for whom there IS hope of
cry These patients allowed many little privi-
.leges, and in both wards during my three
months of duty there.
As I look back to those days though | still feel
the undcrcuuent of hopelessness which tugs at the
sympathies OF all who minister incurabes, there
stand out in my memory few bright spots, and
like TO think of them. There Mr.. Robinson, for
instance. He was a finely educated, much travelled
man, who had been nominated for governor of
Massachusetts the labor-socisl ticket but who
chose die in free ward rather than encroach on
his small remaining capital, which needed for
the support Of his wife and young child l shall
never forget my conversations with him, for they
gave me a outlook on life
Then there the poor old Irishman who was
always glad when could spare few minutes to
talk TO him. and who with princely generosity, for
1t his all, slipped into my hand crumpled dol
lar BILL with an earnest Take it. my dearl Shure
you must| and grievously hurt when l returned
it him, though I explained as gently as | might
that nurses not allowed accept gifts OF money
from hospital patients And in ward l made many
friends. though not for long. The last stages of
tuberculosis mercfully rapid
ia ward there a head nurse, myself and an
orderly. who greatly lightened my labors But in
ward I had all the work to do The nurse in
charge a graduate of another school and of an
earlier generation, and she had now reached the
point when her profession had less attraction for
her than her prayer book which absorbed her wax
ing thoughts. In view of the fact that she allowed
me to most OF her duties as we'll as my own,
] much amused when it came to my knowledge
that, in recommending the directors as worthy
OF being capped, she had added that was not cart
horse, but Arabian l young both in
years and experience, TO have much responsible
ity put upon me, and my probationary term of two
months must have sufhced for me had l not felt
that this my real vocation The proudest day
OF my life that which / donned the full uni
form-glngham dress white apron and bib and cap.
Like matrimony. the nursing profession should not
by any means be entered into unadvisedly lightly
Its ideals OF the highest and should be paramount
IN the minds Of those who contemplate studying it.
That it IS also a of livelihood should be a
secondary consideration and the first one There
is much drudgery about it, and genuine love for
the work is essential carry one over the innumer-
able hard places. Besides, without this love, the
do neither herself her patients justice
and the itself suffers One unsatisfactory
member OF the calling may create unfavorable i'm
preston widespread that it can never be effaced
AS regards nurses the public is divided into two
great classes. OF which sets them up pedes-
tai and prates of noble, self-sacrcng lives while
the other dismisses them contemptuously as "a type
not meriting discussion Neither of these is true
estimate. The nurse that like to have about us
in homes is simply a well bred intelligent
woman, animated by spirit of helpfulness and she
IS this by virtue OF her personality and not because
Of the effect upon her of her training Equally So
the that do admire is the woman that
would appeal to in any circumstance She is not
product of the hospital course, and the odium that
attaches itself her should be extended to the
profession at large
Ward B. with its ourained beds, the stands beside
them outtered with photographs pin cushions and
the various articles which womankind can not get
along without the scarlet geraniums in the windows
and few pictures to break the baroness of the
walls, presented 4 more cheerful appearance than
the barracksike ward A. Those of the patients
who were able made their own beds, the exercise
being good for them. but these were the minor
ity. Among the bed patients one whom at
once singled ont as superior to the rest and when
in the routine Of putting the ward in order, had
chance TO talk her tho purity OF her diction con
iirmod IN my Judgment {
You have not been lIerc very long. have you
Mrs. Bullen. I approached her with while making
her bed glance at the card hanging on its foot
telling her and the date of her admittancc
It's quite coincidence that you and ! entered the
hospital on the same day. Perhaps that's sign
that VIC going TO get along we'll together. / hope
Sc. anyway
She ignored my orertures OF friendness, but said
sombcry:
Time passes quickly when is young and
these seem short 10 ,,o, -