South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-07-29
A ViUid Tail BY
a Victim of
Actual Ex-
perience
BY A VICTIM.

tt gives you a funny sensation TO go
10 hospital for an operation. Not
the kind that makes you laugh. but
the kind that makes you feel queer.
That was my experience when /
walked up the steps. and entered the
place where they repair you while you
walt. 1t could be better understood
from personal experience than from
second hand description
1t was a contest between the pulling
power of my body and the pushing
power Of my will. The spirit was
willing. but the flesh shrank and
shriveled and tugged to get away. 1t
didn't care much where it went.
just so ii didn't go into that dreadful
lace. 1t even tried argument.
1T Is all we'll enough" the body
s to the spirit, for you to have a
lot OF courage. You don't have TO be
cut and sorted over and culled of
things you don't need"
But the spirit was firm and finally
the body yielded to pure force and
there 1 stood within the portals.
glanced around with fear and tremb..
ling and swallowed my palate severai
times before 1 began 10 realize that 1
was in a busineSS-like looking office
that might have served the same pur-
pose for a foundry or newspaper.
A young woman stood behind the desk
and two or three men were standing
in front and talking about something
that seemed TO tickle them. They
laughed and one OF them said, That's
good
Nobody paid any attention to me
and / stood there for what seemed To
be an hour, though 1 suppose ii was
only about minute and half or two
minutes before the young woman
raised her eyes from her work and
asked me If there was something
wanting.
Feat OF Swallowing the Palate.
I had TO swallow my palate before
could answer. and then 1 had a good
notion TO tell her that what l wanted
more than anything else was to get
out OF there. But 1 didn't My will
wouldn't let me. 1t forced me TO say
/ was the person who had engaged a
room for an operation.
20, yes" she said as though 1 had
called to pay an old bill. Your room
is ready for you. Will you go up
now ?"
I thought would. but not the way
she meant. Her politeness and cheer
fulneSs confirmed all 1 had ever
IMAGINED Of the cOld-blOoded glee
with which hospital people welcomed
their victims and OF the horrors OF
the operating room yet TO come. But
my spirit was gone and so / said l
would.
1 could see the attendant looking
me over as he conducted me 10 the
elevator. mentally calculating.
thought, how I would cut up TO best
advantage. He had me shot up 10 the
fourth floor and then conducted me
along the corridor 10 my room. AS
we walked along 1 was looking for
remnants OF the human form divine
scattered about the floor, but seeing
none concluded they had cleaned up
as a part OF the plot against me.
When my attendant opened the
door OF No. AS he remarked signih-
cantly. L hope you'll find It pleas
ant" And then added, y our nurse
will be here presently"
I wondered. as ] stepped inside and
set down my grip, what she would be
like ! had seen nurses at a distance,
and once / heard a minister tell a
class OF them that they were engaged
in one OF the noblest callings known
20 the human race. Some way the
thought OF the nurse made me feel a
little more comfortable. Surely, l
thought. no noble woman would lend
herself TO the needless torture OF a
sick and helpless man.
When the Nurse Came In.
Presently she came in. but SO quiet
" scarcely realized her presence I'M
I'll she stood before me. saw a
bright eyed, rosy checked, wholesome
young woman, the cleanest thing that
ever greeted my eyes, and 1 was star
ing at her IN open-eyed wonder and
bewiiderment when she spoke.
You are able TO give yourself a
bath ?" she asked in a tone OF mingled
interrogatory and assertion, and I
managed 10 say i waS
VERY well" she said with smile
that would have been absolutely be-
witching any other place. Il Will
show YOU"
Whereat she produced towels and
a new cake OF soap and led me 20 the
bathroom. At the door she left me
with the remark.
THE professor will call in the
course OF an hour"
Confused as 10 who she meant by
the professor" and trying 10 imagine
what he would do 20 me when he
came I went 20 my bath, once more
alone and utterly dispirited, dreading
the outcome OF the chance" ] was
taking on my doctors advice and yet
hoping and family believing 1 was do
ing the proper thing.
The bath finished and somewhat