New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-21

pitfalls of New York City. was armed
with letters and introductions, for
great many people were deeply inter-
ested in the success of my experiment.
Chief among them was DR.. Mary Put
nam jacob, one Of the founders OF the
New York Infrmary and a pioneer
physician and suffragist.
"To get into one of these hospitals
men had to take competitive examina-
tions, so my first step was to seek per-
mission to present myself at one of
these. After a great many rebutfs |
finally found a hospital prefer not
to mention its name-that granted the
desired privilege. But then found
that | could not secure admittance to
the preparatory quiz, Of which all the
men candidates had the benefit; that
there were, in fact, no facilities Tor
preparing myself open to me. finally
got permission to enter the quiz and
worked hard for about six months.
Then, Just two or three days before the
examination | received word from the
hospital that if by any chance | should
win a position | should not be allowed
TO hold it.
Passed Examination with High Rating.
"This was terribly disheartening al
ter all my work Nevertheless though
this decision was irrevocable, | decided
TO take the examination just the same,
for | felt that merely to have woman
take it would establish a valuable
nrecedent and be at least a beginning
in bringing the matter before the pub
lie This permission was not revoked,
but | was told that my rating would
not be published as the others were.
7 afterward learned that | had stood
high enough to obtain position had
been a man.
81 kept on with my search for hos
initial facilities, and soon after, in COM
pany with another woman, was admit
ted to the competitive examination for
Couyerneur Hospital. We both won
positions. But the question was how
to get what we had won. AS this was
public hospital our titles had to be
ratified by the Commissioner Of Public
/ Charities, then Commissioner Keller.
We went to see him, but he refused to
ratify the results of the examination.
He said he couldn't take the response
bility of admitting women to a public
hospital, with an extremely heavy and
arduous service, when the private hos
pitals uptown, with their far lighter
service, were unwilling to take the
risk. Bitter as was my disappointment,
I could understand his position, and
felt that | could hardly blame him for
fearing to initiate so important a step
"This seemed to put an end to my
plans for the time, and though press
ure was still being applied TO the hos
initials through various personal and
official channels there seemed no i'm
mediate prospect Of success. ! had
snent a whole year in the vain effort
TO get in, and had lost the chance of
entering the New York Infrmary, which
couId have had in the beginning, so
now became DR.. Mary Putnam Jacobs
rr;vste assistant. But within year
Of my first attempt to enter GOuver-
neur Hospital it happened that politics
took a hand in my destiny. The ad-
ministration changed, and the president
~ a new board Of trustees, DR.. John
winters Brannan, came into office. DR..
Brannan announced that if any women
obtained positions at Gouverner Hos
bitsl he would ratify them When this
news reached us DR.. Jacob insisted