New-York tribune., 1911-11-26
w nv
This Question Not Nearly So
Hard to Answer as, "Why
Do Nurses Marry
Their Patients?"

Senator MARITIME. Of New Jersey, in
speech the other day on equal suffrage Oh
fered some advice 10 the advanced woman
that is reported to have been received oy
many of her with unmistakable evidences
of poignant displeasure. What the Senator
said was: Far better for women to bathe
the feyered brow than 10 ascend a platform
and in shrill voice plead for votes
Would it not seem. however, that the
Senator's position was one deserving OF
careful consideration by the women Of the
country? Before condemnatory resolutions
are passed by them and Senator Marines
suggestion thereupon jeered out OF court
would IL not be well 10 take peep at the
facts? A short and therefore incomplete,
recapitulaton Of only the most recent
cases illustrative OF the peculiarly profitable
returns received by those who bathe the
fevered brow make IT appear that the SEN
ator was offering advice based on good
practical sense.
Perhaps il is sordid view to take, but
are not travel. mental improvement social
preferment. opportunities for the cultVa-
ton Of artistic tastes all among those
things that are dear to the hearts of most
women? And are not an of these prizes rem
dered more easily procurabe by the pos
OF women who have received this amount
of money, and more, by bathing the fevered
brow would make a small army, If they
could be all gathered together Most OF
Them are travelling about a good deal just
now looking at the Alps and studying
ruins I'm various places. 1t would be diff
cult, If not impossible. TO stand them up in
n row but they have left their successes
on record-an interminably long record
Evidently Senator MARITIME had been stu
dent Of his theme.
A wealthy scion Of a famous house is
We will say thrown from his horse, his
collarbone broken. and for the first time
IN his life he Is compelled to do as he is
told. Who cumpels him? A smiling, cheer
full quiet bewitchingly imperative young
woman. dressed in immaculate white; fresh
and crisp as an autumn morning. hut gentle
Withal as the cooling dove. She is the
young mans constant attendant.
She is refreshingly capable. He begins
10 look forward TO the time when she will
open his door Of a morning. Her cool, rest
ful hands have a revivfying influence when
they battle his fevered brow. How wonder
frllv too they smooth the tumbled pillow
lie gucsses. audibly, that he'll get up
for while this morning
"What a humorous young man YOU are
10 guess such funny thing as that eX-
claims the nurse. laughing.
80. indeed" She shakes her head om-
rhatlcally. 1T viii be several mornings be
fore you Will get up" she says. bustling
about the room. touching up the curtains,
ringing for the maid. and instructing her to
prepare the young mans breakfast imme
diately. the while she herself prepares to
battle his fevered brow.
"Oh. but / say. YOU know" half growls
the patient. II don't intend to-
Il knew it," interrupts the bright eyed /
nurse. vivacously. You don't intend to
DO anything that shall make you worse in /
stead Of better do you? I thought not. SO /
wen just eliminate all references TO get,
ting up this charming morning-let me feel |
your pulse please. I'm. It's stronger. |
and a little faster than il was a moment /
ago. And your color is MUCH better
She is different from young women he
has met None Of them ever looked out for
his comfort this way In all his life no |
one ever before told him he could not do .
a thing. What a tender touch her fingers |
have. Henceforth he cannot endure his .
nurse from his sight She had secretly /
admired him He is so boylsh, and has /
such handsome hair
Wedding bells ring out upon the frosty
night. He has his collarbone and her |
His collarbone is now in perfect repair |
She has him. and a million dollars.
The next time he is thrown off his horse
and breaks something personal perhaps
she rings up the preparatory school for
nurses and leaves an order for a trained
rUrse-plain
But well not go into that It is easy to
picture such possibility as the case men
toned above. The point is that wealthy
men Of all ages regularly are reported IN
the newspapers either as successful suitors
for the hands Of their nurses. or If not in
position to marry OF leaving them their
fortunes anyway.
Men with families leave their fortunes 10
their nurses emitting even to mention
their widows and children. Why IS this?
Who has the answer?
Wealthy men make second wives ont of
the nurses that have attended their first
wives during their last illness This han
pens so frequently that there must be
some strong reason for it.
Is there q solution i'm the fact that
women usually are not allowed 10 indulge
IN actions that would imply desire 70