The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-07-29

Of The Visiting Nurse Quarterly, pub
lished in Cleveland, o.
Excerpts from the article dealing
with civic life follow:
''The city-Hlo matter what its size,
it's trade, it's wealth--is menace to
our civilization unless the chief COM
Germ OF its citizens shall be the physi-
cal, educational and social welfare OF
all it's people, Fortunately. we have
begun to realize the deadening ten
dency Of the gross materialism that
drives men to strive only for dollars,
and makes them forget their duties to
their fellows. On every hand there
are evidences of the splendid efforts
Of those who are striving In practical
fashion to make the world a cleaner
and better place, where the average
man and woman shall have fairer
chance to enjoy more of the good
things of life-the things that cannot
be measured by money.
Society as a whole lis slow to rec-
ognize its obligations, New move
ments are started, and new needs are
supplied, In the first instance by in
dividuals. Tt is only when the general
social good or common welfare Is con-
cerned that the crowd is stirred. The
public mind Is prone to apathy and
indifference, Startling statements, like
lightning flashes, show things as they
are, awaken. often rudely, the public
conscience and shock men TO action.
"The widespread interest In child
welfare work is due to the astounding
reports Of infant mortality and the
neglect of children.
CHOSE are the rev of present day
problems with which society as a
body must grapple. They are too big.
too extensive and too vital to be left
in private hands alone. Gradually,
but more rapidly than heretofore. the
public through its political divisions
+of city, state and nation, must assume
the burden of solving these problems.
But until the public does take over
the work, 1t must be carried on by
private organizations.
The visiting nurse stands in unique
relation to the work, having to do
with all of these physical, social and
educational problems. Its field of use
fulness is co-extensive with the city.
It's work is distinctly civic I'm that II
directly affects health, vitality and
morality. While it's work primarily
is with and for individuals, its in
fluence goes straight into ana through
the home, the sch0ol, the workshop.
Too great emphasis cannot be placed
upon the growing civic value OF the
visiting nurse. She reaches people
and places otherwise destitute, for
gotten and neglected. she carries the
dispensary and the hospital to the
homes; she sees conditions as they
are and helps make them what they
should be; she teaches. by practical
work among peonle, cleanliness, health
economy and efficiency. 1t ID well to
consider what great efficiency and
small economies mean to the average
home-maker whom the visiting nurse
visiting nurse does mere by the way
reaches, In dealing with sickness the
Of prevention than cure.
'The social side of the visiting nurses
work teaches the right kind Of prac-
tical domestic esenorny. we are con-
stantly surprised 10 find how many
women are ignorant OF the way to fur
nish their children the most neurish-
ing foot at the smallest cost, and to
save their own health and strength in
the simple acts OF housekeeping.
"All these facts must be clearly
brought to public notice to the end
that the city will understand the great
value OF the nurses work in thus re-
ducing the too rapidly increasing cost