New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-03
"reminiscences Of a Nurse
Evolution of the e. Born Nurse" Into the Trained
Variety Described by q Pioneer.

mo sooner had the day nurses left tho
wards" writes Miss Richards. than thu
gas was turned so low that the faces Of
the patients could not be distinguished.
one could see only the dim outlines OF ng-
ures wrapped In gray blankets lying upon
the beds. IL any work was 10 be done a.
candle must be lighted, and only two can
dies week were allowed each ward. II
more were used, the nurse had 20 provide
them At midnight all the steam was
turned off; at 3 a. m. It was turned on
again and the cracking Of the pipes would
waken every one In the wards. How cold
and dismal were the hours between MID
night and o'clock In the morning
THE captain OF the night watch made
several rounds OF the wards through ths
night. and at a. m. he turned OF all the
gas. leaving us in total darkness. Patients
took advantage OF this condition 10 Leave
their beds and give trouble In many Ways
At the end OF my first month ] told SISTER
Helen / could not be responsible for tha
patients unless I could have light IN ~
wards. She said, Go 20 the warden and
tell him Under the solemn promise lal-
WAYS faithfully kept 10 use no more gas
than would enable us 10 fulfil our duties.
and TO turn of all gas as soon as u vas
light, We were allowed night light -
one step in advance was taken
II was not, however. 10 the personal care
Of the SICK but 10 the organization ans
development OF training schools that Mrs.
Richards devoted the greater part OF her
life In order to do this successfully shs
visited many hospitals In England and
Scotland, and Il was thus that the "ona
dream of her nursing years was fulhlled,f
and she met Florence Nightingale.
II found myself face to face" she writes,
with small lady clad In black SIX.
| lying upon a couch. for, as Is well known
she had been an invalid for years. small
| hand was held out 10 me, and low, pleas
ant voice babe me, an American nurse, q
cordial welcome to England and 10 her
| home. The sweet face. with the deep hlIa
ewes. and the beautifully shaped head.
saw at glance. I was indeed talking with
| the one woman whose name and the rec
ord OF whose good works were know1
throughout the civilized world I see her
now as I write these words. Such con.
summations OF our desires are never 10 bs
! forgotten"
Miss Richards was not only instrumental
schools in connection with the General
Hospital OF Boston. the New England Hos.
pital. the Boston City Hospital, the Taunt
ton Insane Hospital and other hospitals Ii
this country, but she felt "a call' 10 go -
japan. where, through her untiring efforts
during three and half years, training
school for japanese women vas estabA
llshed. The American Board OF Missions
stood back OF this work, and somewhat
unexpected difficulty in connection with u
was the unwillingness Of the japanese maid
patient TO take orders from his woman
nurse, and a corresponding unwillingness
on the part OF the nurse TO enforce her VIII
! upon the lords Of creation.
ION many and many occasions II Taa
needful," writes Miss Richards, for me d
help the little nurses TO command and ID
make the men patients obey"