Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1916-05-18
NURSES GRADUATE
AND RECEIVE DIPLOMAS
CONTINUED from First Page.)

Continued from First Page.l
dissipate the dark cloud OF melancholy
and dependency that surrounds those
mentally affected, so that they can
raise their eyes from the Abyss of De-
spair and Lost Hope, following this
star as a Beacon that will guide them
through the higher plane OF happiness.
health and mental stability.
Then. indeed, you can feel tina, YOU
have lived life of accomplish mt
and folding your hands. can, with con-
fidence, prepare to cross the Great III
vide, trusting in the Divine Mercy Of
| an Misunderstanding Judge"
In presenting you these diplomas
| on behalf of the faculty. the Chief of
STAFF sasi, Il wish you every success
and happiness in life"
Judge Stockbridge, of the Court of
Appeals, delivered the address to the
graduates. After a few happy re-
| marks OF Introductory, the Judge said
he had hesitated TO accept the invita-
ton to make the address to the grad
yates. because he had endeavored all
| through life to keep as far away from
| hospitals as possible. Not to form an
Intimate acquaintance except from the
outside. but since appendicitis is so
fashionable and the pneumogastric
nerve and thyroid glamis play such an
important part of late. he thought it
best to make the acquaintance of these
nurses. into whose hands he might
| fall
Judge Stockbridge's Speech.
Judge Stockoridge spoke as follows:
The career which opens for the
graduates this evening is one of pc
culiar interest From the commence
ment of recorded history. among every
people, there have stood out, at one
time or another, examples of devotion
ami self-sacrifice amounting to hero
ism, on the part of both men and wo-
men. who have not hesitated TO give
their ability, their strength, even life
itself, to minister to their fellow men
in seasons of disease, pestilence. or
when human frames are racked and
torn by some great catastrophy or on
the mad and bloodstained field of bat
tie The deeds of some of these have
been perpetuated for all time in song
and history. There have been many
Florence Nightingales. but few of them
so fortunate as she in having their
praises sung in tones which gently
echo around the world. 1t is not that
she din more. or brought ray of sun
shine and comfort to a larger number.
or cooled more aching brows. or
moistened more parched and burning
lips than many others have done, but
she was more favored in having the
story of her labors heralded abroad.
yet with all this record of past
achievement we stand today upon the
threshold of a new era. The nurse of
the past stood a ministering angel. it is
true, yet he or she took up the task
with no other or greater qualification
for the work than a tender, sympa-
thetetfc nature had bestowed
1T was the popular belief that any
one endowed with love and loyalty
was fully equipped to discharge
one of the most delicate minis
trations that can arise inthe re-
lation of man to humanity. The
marvel is that under such a meagre
equipment so much good was done and
so little harm. But in the progress of
the world, there has come realization
that if to a natural pre-disposition
there can be brought not merely
higher degree of intelligence, but a
thorough comprehension of the work
to be done, and to some extent tech
meal knowledge and practical expert
ence, the value of the service rendered
will be many times increased. AS this
conception made its way the occupa-
ton has arisen in dignity and import
ance to a profession of no mean merit
The surgeon and the physician are as
necessary as before, but their power
for alleviating human ills has been
enhanced by this aid to their labors
Just as new discoveries in chemistry,
appliances, and the Harvesting of new
powers and makes all subservient to
the will of man have given the surgeon
and physician new possibilities of ac-
complishment, so in like or even great
er degree las the faithful, intelligent
nurse become most material ally.
1T is not within the scope of the few
words / am privileged to utter this
evening to give instruction to this
graduating class, or to tell their
friends who are gathered here of their |
capabilities. 1t is not to be assumed |
that all knowledge and wisdom is
theirs, or that their presence in the |
chamber of sickness or by the cot in
the hospital, should war be forced upon
us as nation. is substitute for the
attendance of the surgeon or physi- |
clan. She is, however, somewhat in
the position of the pilot of whom it is |
told. that as he stood on the bridge of |
one of the giant Atlantic liners, which |
a short while since ploughed their way
across the ocean, guided the ship now |
this way and now that. director of |
the company which owned and oper- |
ated the vessel, stood by his side, and |