The Washington times., 1937-03-11


In mind is Mrs. lDD!AlsssE88Issss81s8
Nellie Tayloe Mrs. Nellie T. Ross
Ross, Director of the United
States Mint and successful pub
lie official.
Mrs. Ross, before she reached
her present position, was Cover
nor of Wyoming: the first woman,
incidentally, ever to be governor
and vice chairman of the Demo
cratic National Committee.
In Baltimore, Monday, I heard
Mrs. Ross make beautiful and
moving speech at the Emerson
Hotel luncheon which inaugu-
rated the campaign to raise
money for a new wing for the
South Baltimore Hospital.
Mrs. Ross gave a perfect talk
for this occasion. She was con-
fident land very handsome), OBJ
ViouSly a person familiar with
public affairs. But this is my
point-she was also a woman
with sympathy for the i'll and the
unfortunate. .......
A stranger in Baltimore, she
proved herself to the 400 luncheon
guests to be the type Of woman
they like best to see in office,
thoughtful and competent, but
also compassionate.
The second woman want to
write about is Mrs. Harry G.
Black, the guardian angel Of the
South Baltimore Hospital. I'd
like to call her its Florence
Nightingale, but Constance Black
is a modest person. Shed be
embarrassed by such a title.
Mrs. Black is the wife of an in
fluential and wealthy Baltl-
morean. She has gorgeous house.
Could have several more if she
wished. Could be a great hostess
in a city where hospitality is
talent.
But for 1S years she has con-
tributed not only generously OF
her money-the hospital could not
have gone on without her-but
she has worked six, eight, some
times 10 hours day in its operat-
ing rooms as an anaeSthetiSt.
Being an anaesthetiSt isn't much
fun. It brings you too close to
misery, The South Baltimore Hos
pital is in section where salaries
average about SIS a week. No one
has much money and many are
sick. The demands on the hos
pital are endless.
At any hour, often when most
peoples work is over-at dinner
time, at 2 or in the morning
Mrs. Black answers emergency
calls. Drives herself from smart
Guilford down to the hospital to
help some poor creature in dis
tresS.
Mrs. Black asked for aid for the
new hospital wing at the luncheon
where Mrs. Ross spoke. 1t was
Mrs. Blacks first speech. It really
wasn't a speech at all. It was a
simple, earnest telling in an elo-
quent voice of the needs of her
hospital. OF the overcrowding so
great that patients have to be
put in beds in the halls. OF the
demands of accident caseS-hur-
ried in late at night from the
Annapolis Boulevard and the shore
roads. OF cruelty hurt people,
waiting their turn three or four
at q time to be examined in the
hospitals too few operating rooms.
All who heard Mrs. Black talk
were deeply touched by her un-
SelfiShneSS and her sincerity. Were
proud to know this extraordinary
personality. Tall and slender and
quite handsome, Mrs. Black is an
Englishwoman. She has lived in
Baltimore since her marriage.
The third woman Of my tril-
ogy is also inspiring. The lovely
Madame van Kaathoven told me
of this woman today. She Is an
Italian who supported a hospital
during the World War entirely out
of her own funds. A woman who
had lived luxuriously. A great
staff Of servants waited on her
in her fine palace. She had had
no practical training. But when
she offered her money for the
hospital, she said: ''Let me do
something personal to help. MY
money is needed, I know, but what
can I do mySelf?'
go down into the basement
kitchen and try making SOUP"
said the superintendent, an Of
ficer in the Italian army.
II have never made SOUP" said
the woman.
"Try. You can do it." said
the officer.
So she went into the ugly
basement. For days and weeks
she peeled and cut up vegetables.
Stirred big pots over hot stoves.
Her hands grew red and rough.
Her feet and back ached. She