Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1928-12-27
Substantial Purse Evidences
Appreciation Of Sacrifices
of the Country Doctor
Dr.. E. r. Pike East Woodstock Ha.
Made Many Friends

A substantial and much anpreciat-
ed Christmas Gift. one Of which every
dollar contributed was given cheer
fully, willingly and from the heart.
was that presented 10 Or. Ernest K.
Pike Of East Woodstock. Christmas
eve. The purse collected as a dom
alton to this physician. beloved citi-
zen and Christian gentleman. amount
ed 10 approximately 5000 and will
doubtless eventually be over 81 900.
DR.. Pike was taken i'll last July and
has been unable TO practice since that
time. He has undergone four opera
tons and has but recently returned
from a hospital in Boston where he
has been a patient for over four
months.
Dr. Pike came To Woodstock fif-
teen years ago. Much of human in
terest has been written about the
Country Doctor" Graduates Of
medical colleges are besought to ac-
eept fields of practice in the rural
sections. Such fields hold little hope
of financial reward but there is
greater opportunity-the opportun-
ity Of deep-rooted friendships
Makes the Sacrifice
To such a field came DR.. Pike. A
man Of unusual ability he chose the
life of country doctor and he has
lived up % all that has been written
IN praise of these self sacrificing men.
He has a wife and a large family Of
children. He has given his children
the advantages Of higher education.
Two of the younge. have been forced
to relinquish this opportunity through
I the doctors failing health. They have
done so cheerfully.
For Fifteen years DR.. Pike has an
swered the calls Of the sick for miles
around. In winter on summer. in sun
shine, rain or snow, at an hours Of
the day or night, refreshened by an
infrequent nights sleep, or tired af-
ter a strenuous day, he, the Country
Doctor, would answer any call how
ever remote the section from
which such call might come. With no
nurse available he has remained by
the bedside of the mother acting both
as physician and nurse When coun-
try roads were impossible he would
motor to the nearest possible point
where horses would await him 20 take
hun over dark country roads. On
one memorable trip he was even un-
able TO reach the sick bed with a
horse drawn vehicle and made the
last several miles on snow shoes to
the sick room.
The Country Doctor
Yes. DR.. Pike is the Country Doe
tor He has suffered the diseom-
forts of the. country physician. His
monetary Compensation has heen
uieaEer in comparison to his self sac
riiicing efforts for suffering human
ity. He has not complained. lie has
been ever cheerful and helpful
Came i'll health and inability to
carry on The children had been
we'll educated Several Of them had
undergone costly operations. The
finances were bit strained But that
which is greater than great riches,
the love Of his fellow men. was not
strained Here was to be found that
priceless thing. this great love of his
friends. his neighbors, his acquantan-
ces. his brother physicians, fellow
townsmen and. above all, those 70
whom he has rendered invaluable
service. These people all knew what
sacrifices this man had made. They
also knew his condition. II was with
mingled feelings Of sorrow for the
doctors IN health and Joy az being in
some small way able to show their
love, esteem. and appreciation. that
resulted IN this gift, which carried
with it as near the perfect Christmas
spirit as is possible TO reach.
Sponsored by Club
The raising of purse for DR.
Pike as a Christmas gift WAS sponsor
ed by the Woodstock Community
Club. Several subscription papers
were made out with captions as fol-
lows:
On appreciation Of Dr. Pixies
years of faithful service in the sick
room and his interest in the welfare
Of the town, The Woodstock Com
munity Club sponsors the movement
20 collect for him a Christmas gift OF
money. The donors wish this gift TO
express their sympathy for DR.. Pike N
his long illness and their joy in his
anticipatd recovery. Therefore we the
undersigned contribute the amount
opposite our names.
The amounts contributed ranged
from twenty-five cents to twenty-five
dollars. Donations were received from
physicians and citizens Of Woodstock,
Thompson, Pomfret, Killingiy and
other towns Eager hands wrote their
names and the amount Of their dona-
tions. No one who knew this man. this
country doctor and upright citizen,
passed the opportunity by. The only
expression voiced by those whose in
dividual donations made such q sub
stantial gift was. II wish ! could af-