Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-06-09
ADDRESS TO GRADUATES
DR.. NJ, D. Delaney's Remarks to the
Graduating Nurses of the Alexan-
dria Hospital Thursday Evening.

the nurses graduating class of the
Alexandria Hospital on Thursday
evening, the copy for which could moi
be obtained in time for yesterdays
issue:
The agreeable duty has fallen to
me to present you, the graduating
class of trained nurses Of 1917,
alexandria Hospita1) with your di-
plomas, and to offer to you few
words of advice and encouragement
in the beginning of this interesting
era of your lives.
The vocation of nurse Is truly a
noble one, which presents opportuni-
ties for a rich and varied experience.
It demands knowledge, patience,
gentleness, decision and opens the
way for living tie with patients
second only to that bond which binds
a doctor to those that give them
selves into his care.
The world with all it's hollow show
vanishes amidst the stern realities
of the sick room. Here human ma
ture must stand unmasked and in
this field of actual facts, the trained
nurse finds her realm of labor. Here
too. manners. must ever adorn know
ledge to smooth it's sometimes rug
ged way. A gentle word an en-
couraging demeanor, may calm and
cheer the breaking heart and
strengthen sister or brother to
endure without complaint, pains nard
and difficult to bear. This aids the
doctors work.
If I.were asked what l thought
was the chief requisite to a nurse, l
would say: patience; this OF course
in unison with other gifts already
mentioned. 1t will be we'll to bear
always in mind the seriousness OF
YOUR profession. remembering that
It is TO-. administer intelligentiy TO
bodily sufferings; to cheer the con-
yalescent to returning health; to con-
sole those appointed to die and IL
Illuminate the passage through tne
dark valley by the religion you pro-
fess. And now in saying farewell
let me wish you each and all solid sucr
cess in your chosen path in life, keep
ing alive the thought that'it is your
chosen path, and not one imposed o!
circumstance. The, life of nurse IN
its highest acceptation is life OF
so,f renunciation; Of conservation
wbere the world and worldly things
sbon]d have no part and where eV-
erv faculty of the mind and -! body
should be freely and wholly given.
tn YOU who have thus obtained "a
more excellent ministry by the new
covenant that. you have just made
the future looms up full OF gracious
nromise. Forgetting those things
which are behind and reaching
forth unto those things which
are before you' must press To-
ward the mark for the pr'ze OF the
hiteh calling..@ May you each be.:a
..burning and a shining light" re-
f,ecting credit on the Alexandria
Hospital, your alma mater whose
benehcient work is growing WIFI
each rolling year and whose honor
able standing is adding brighter lus-
ter to the broad beuevolence OF Julia
Johns, it's pious founder.
And here, before closing' 1T, may
not be inappropriate, as memoer
of the Alexandria Hospital 'sta11' 10
tell of the great benefaction the ne"
Alexandria Hospital promises to be-
Regardless Of nationality, the only
claim to its kindly uses is that Of
suffering; a bond which none OF
Adams race can possibly ignore.
Truly it can be said that suffering
sis a Monarch on whose kingdom the
sun never sets; the cradle and the
grave are its frontiers; the entire
human race it's subjects The Alex
andria Hospital now grown to De a
beautiful structure, adorns the prin'
cipal residential street of this city
It is equipped with every modern ap'
nliance and will be conducted. in the
language of George Washington, up
on sexual and exact Justice to all
men. of whatever state or persuasion,
religious or political" Its executive
and administrative departments are
filled with able and enthusiastic
workers, men and women; its corps
of physicians and surgeons rank
we'll with such bodies throughout thu
country; and in addition and yer,
important addition, .stsnds that bod!
of citizens who furnish the "sinsw