Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-25
Describes Work of
Children Ward
Mrs. ENyson Tells of Useful
Aid Carried on BY Retreat
for the Sick.
by MRS. }. TAYLOR ELLYsON.

! have read with unusual interest
tho strong appeal, on the fourth page
Of The Times Dispatch of Sunday. for
funds to rebuild the Retreat for the
Sick, in order that this pioneer Of
all nondenolnnational hospitals in the
South may live. The ARTICLE was OF
personal interest to me. AZ ] was one
Of the women asked by Mrs. William
A. Jenkins TO join her aud her ambi-
tious plans. wSl remember tho
gloomy room In the old mfrmary built
by the state in which We met. The
broken, dilapidotcd chairs which had
been provided were not enough TO scat
the company that gathered. so boxes
and window seats were used
The war OF the sixties had been over
but short time. There was no need
Tor womens organizations to enlist.
The women OF Richmond in the SER
vice of the COnfcdcracy. young and old.
ala their part. volunteering in clinical.
hospital. out-of- door and indoor oc-
equations of every description, Pre-
siding at meetings was Il new scnsa-
ton for women In those carly days:
II was not strange. therefore. that II
took courage to conduct meeting
and that Mrs. Jenkins sought strength
from above, aud upon rising from her
knees hope and faith were renewed.
The Retreat. founded upon PRAYER, has
continued It's suppiications at every
meeting of the board of MANAGERS and
by divine strength has surmounted all
OF the many difficulties and problems
which have confronted II. Their PRAYERS
arc now rcdoublcd for the success OF
the campaign for raising $i5o.ooo for
building fund. They believe that
iaith without work IL vain. and. there
fore. have placed their shoulders To
tho wheel along with the men who
nave volunteered for the work
There ~ no profit in the work OF the
Retreat to tho board OF managers Sc
iectcd from the city churches. who
give one day in every week to the
management OF its affairs II is a
labor of love. and all profits from pay
LA tients are consccrated 10 the work
OF charity. The mon OF Richmond
have never refused a disintcrestcd ap-
peal from the women who arc encaG-
ed III charity and patriotic endeavors
for city. state or country. They will
not fail now.
My FIRST experience presiding Of
iiccr was vice-president of the
Retreat in tho absence of the prcsi-
dent, Mrs. Jenkins. on her vacations
and in her last illness. There was no
duty, however. which l performed that
gave me 50 much real pleasure as the
charity have been able TO accom-
piish through tho Baptist cot fund
raiscd by inc through the Religious
Herald. tho interest OF which has been
used for tho care Of sick and afflicted
/ children in the childrcn's ward at tho
Retreat
have a group Of seven Of them
before mo now, ia a photograph, taken
in tho ward. tn cot Is a lovely boy
with widc-opcn blue eyes. who asked
IL IL hurt TO have his picture taken.
la a rolling chair near tho cot IL,
little girl with her foot bound in a
plaster cast. y boy young he wears
baby clothes has a plaster east on his
! back and rcclines in little chair
Standing is young girl with spinal
affection. long a patient OF the ward
4 larger girl and two boys standing
/ with the ward nursc completes the
group. These little ones have TO bear
much suffering, but they love tho Re-
I treat and are so happy. as only chill
dren can be. They were all patients
OH ,h. UNCONVENTIONAL cots.
( One little boy came TO inc on the
I train in the care of tho conductor,
/ with - tag on his arm. He was para
/ lived from his waist down. and was
| only five years old. Strong arms hit
Cd him from the train and carried him
to the nurse in the ward. He was TOO
/ brave TO cry. but his whole frame
tremplod with excitement at the
I stranSencss OF his surroundings anu
| new friends. His recovery. while slow,
was wonderful. and he finally found
home with Mrs. Gill, where he was cdu-
Gated and taught to care for himself,
, The last patient on tho cot was a
/ boy OF ten, n pure blonde who came
[ from the Valley of Virginia. His case
I was so pitiful II seemed almost hope
/ less. His muscles were SO drawn he
1 could not straighten his limbs and was
/ unable 10 walk at all. He could only
rest, and walk on his hands and knees
with his legs doubled under him. His
case Was a serious one. and required
/ skilled surgical treatment. The mus
| cles in his ankles and under his knees
were first operated on and then he was
put in casts from his waist down. He
was very patient and appreciattve OF
the kind attention he received. The
F.! last operation was the most severe. and
! his surrerings intense. His whole body.
| after this operation, from his arms TO
! his feet, was in plaster casts, and his
! feet fastened apart TO the sides OF the
! bed. When 7 saw his poor pitiful body
| lying so helpless and in such pain !
| must confess that expressed the wish
! that | had left him as found him, but
when he went home. with braces on,
| walking away on his crutches, ] was
| thankful that IL had been in my power
TO help him, and that an institution
/ like the Retreat was provided, where
such noble work could be accomplished.
All surgical and medical treatment
for these children has been freely
!