The Republican journal., 1921-02-24
A Letter from Miss Eames
DEAR JOURNAL:


ter of the American Red Cross is doing in
Belfast is very interesting to me, and
am very glad they have such an efficient
nurse in charge of the public health work.
the trustees of the Beverly Hospital and
he spoke very highly of Miss Nickerson
have lately returned from a trip tt
Colorado and while there met Red Cross
nurse whose work in that western State
may interest you. This Miss L. visits
the schools in Logan county. Colorado
She has a Ford car at her disposal and
covers about ninety miles, averaging two
visits to each school during the year. She
is very capable nurse and never consid-
ers anything she is called upon to dc
which is helpful to others, especially chill
dren, as outside her province, and al
though she told me once that she was the
dence of it. had the pleasure of going
with her one day when she visited the
school at Red Lion, which name alone
gave me thrills, it sounded SO ''wild and
woody" It was one of the few very
pleasant and warm days in November.
| The ride to the school was most enjoy
able as "Lizzie Ford" was very we'll be-
haved and Miss l. an excellent driver.
The road, dirt road, was not bad and
looked like long trail ahead of US, wind
ing through the prairie, crossing and re
crossing the Platte river which crawled
along beside the road, winding about like
long snake, so insignificant looking it
was hard to realize that it is 1860 miles
long.
What puzzled me was the snow all
along the sides of the road. Why didn't
it melt? The sun was shining brightly
ton l found this supposed snow to be the
alkali coming out of the ground and that
too accounted for the almost white dust |
had noticed on things.
When we arrived at the small white
wooden schoolhouse, it was noon, so we
a tie our picnic lunch, and our appetites,
whetted by our long drive, made it taste
very delicious When the bell rang we
went into the schoolhouse with the
pupils, who numbered about fifteen.
Where did they come from? Looking
out over the prairie only one house was
visible 1t seemed as if they must have
popped out of the ground like the prairie
dogs.
While the teacher went on with her
regular work, Miss l. took each child
separately and weighed him on the scales
which she carries about with her in the
car; examined eyes, teeth and threats
and of course keeps card record of each
pupil. If any child needs medical atten-
ton the parents are obliged to have them
looked after; the law takes it in hand
when the parents object, as they some
times do. One mother, whom Miss
L-notified that her child's teeth nee J.
ed attention, sent word that il Miss
WANTED them fixed she could fix
them. The Red Cross assumes the ex-
pense of the medical services when tie
parents cannot afford it.
There was one girl in this school about
fifteen years old, extremely pretty and
attractive when sitting down, but she
was SO pigeon-toed that she walked with
much difficulty; it was real deformity.
If she could have had the benefit of
school or district nurse when she was
young, this Disagreement might have
been corrected, but l fear it is too late
now, and it is really pitiful case
After examining all the pupils Miss
L gave them very interesting and
instructive short talk on sanitation and
personal cleanliness, and presented all,
who were not already supplied, with
tooth brushes and tooth PASTE The bene-
fit of such examination and instruction
to these children, our future citizens,
must be beyond measure, and it is such
satisfactory feeling to know that the
schools far in the country are receiving
Iilc SAINT privileges DIS luc ClCy SCHOOLS
At Miss LIS, suggestion l recited
some selections for their entertainment.
Afterwards, one little boy. with his map
in front of him and one finger on Boston
and the other on Logan County, Colora-
do, asked me if l had walked from Bos-
ton. asked him what he would think
if told him l had. He smiled, and SAID
he should think was pretty good liar.
Outside of school work Miss l. is
constantly called upon for advice and
help. She finds homes for homeless chill
dren and one poor little baby. born with
club foot, she took to Denver, where
slight operation would make the foot all
right. Another friend and myself drove
with her to Brush, where we were to
pick up the baby, and where we had
luncheon in typical small western town
cafe before taking the train from there
to Denver. The name of the town, Brush,
tells you just what it was like. 1t was
very interesting and thrilling to me; it