Rex Hospital School of Nursing - Nightingale Yearbook (Raleigh, NC)

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C569 NIGHTINGALE W m z.. s :mo lays C53-fzkfo ry ENIORS! Can it be possible that we are seniors, and soon to gradu- ate? Yet, three years can be a mighty short space of time when spent pleasantly. It seems hardly any time since the first members of our class were probes, and watching with anxious eyes for the other section which would make up the Class of 1927. Can anyone ever forget that first night at Rex on a tear-soaked pillow? But, Watchman, what of the morning? With red eyes, we dressed painstakingly to meet Miss Doe in chapel. Speaking of soldiers-it took some real ones to force coffee and toast down that constricted esophagus of ours, and we were glad to escape further efforts. Then came the initial instructions in our work-my! but there were lots of them. Life seemed one tragedy after another that first day. There was the call before the Superintendent, the donning of long dresses, and the fare- well to stylish coiffures. Terrible as it seemed, we soon found it was only the beginning, for classes were on schedule. The demonstration doll seemed one of us, and Jimmie, the skeleton, grew to be quite familiar- so familiar, in fact, that he even inhabited our closets and wardrobes at unearthly hours. We realized later those were happy days, for did we ever cry so much, as probes even, as we did on the night Miss Doe left us? But who can cry salty tears and work? We began to realize we must make progress. The work in the wards was interesting and fruitful, while our class work was instructive. Several of our members fell by the wayside as Dan Cupid demanded his toll, but our righteous indignation was alleviated by the entrance of Miss Howard and Miss Frazier as intermediates. After all our losses we numbered six, but we were six happy, hale, and hearty girls. And now for some hard work. On came the lectures by Doctors Neal and Dewar, and Doctor Carroll's Now, the next young lady became a quite familiar phrase. More knowledge added greater responsibility. There was night duty and charge work. But don't for one minute think we worked all the time. Afternoons off saw us riding, shopping, or attending a matinee. The evenings found us around the victrola, dancing. Seventeen

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C550 NIGHTINGALE C-LQ!a55 6.390601 CWith apologies to Kiplingl In the dawn of early youth-time we planned a picture rare: It should be of the gayest of colors, and charm the critics fairg All the colors of the prism, and others of bright array, Should blend to make our picture the gayest of the gay. We bought a three-leagued canvas, and planned a league a year, To blend and hold our colors for which we had paid so dear, And the softest of silken brushes the market could afford We employed to spread our colors and paint this brightest hoard. But alas! for the fairest colors, and the canvas we had bought, For we find the truest pictures in our life's-blood must be wrought: Each must paint in her own fondest colors, And we find the brightest places are those we have painted for others. As we think of the places we have failed, and the things we might have done For the pleasure of faithful service and the friends we might have won, Our colors may not be the gayest, but with love they truly beam, And in the great good end may the Poet's be our theme. G6 When earth's last picture is painted, and the tubes are twisted and dried, When the oldest colors have faded, and the youngest critics have died, We shall rest, and, faith! we shall need it-lie down for an eon or two, Till the Master of all good workmen shall set us to work anew. G. B. Sixteen

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C560 NIGHTINGALE 011I1'IJIlI!I!11111II'1Ix 2 W .D K IIZIIJIIIIIIJIIDI? 1. U ,W MD The Summer of 1926 came and we were seniors! Could it be possible that we were to wear our black bands? But what was all this commotion? A party !-yes, a real party, with ice cream and cake. But the happiest time was coming yet, when Miss Marshbanks presented us with our black bands. With what dignity we stepped on the halls and how high we held our heads! This was the beginning of a round of parties, good times, and vacations for the summer. As fall approached we took up our senior duties in earnest, realizing this was our last chance before the final reckoning. But horror of horrors I-what did Miss Beeker say-a class at 6:30 a. m.? Yes, it certainly was true. Those were days when Saturdays and Sundays were appreciated, for then we could sleep thirty minutes more. The class- room became almost our living quarters, for we were there until 9 o'clock every night. Christmas holidays brought a well-deserved Cwe thoughtj rest. There is not one who will not remember with appreciation and love our last Christmas in the hospital. If anything could crown our joys at Rex, this did. Our tree was wonderful and held scores of presents for all. And then just as we sank into belated slumber the carols rang out on the cold night air. It seemed no time until the bell was ringing, but for once it was a welcome sound. For the Hrst time in the history of our hospital we were allowed to sing Christmas carols to our patients in the wards and to carry some gift or little remembrance to each of the patients. Many weary faces lighted up and there were no few tears as they tried to show their appreciation. As Spring came again the realization dawned that we were soon to part, but we could not dwell on that, for lectures still poured in, and exams. were to be taken. Too, there were many informal merrymakings. As seniors we were guests of honor at banquets and balls. We were kept busy, but we were happier than we had ever been before. There needed only one more word to crown our happiness, and that was on the horizon just ahead-commencement! As we leave the walls of our dear Alma Mater we look back with pleasure on our past. We trust Time to erase any heartaches there might have been, and Love to keep awake and bring back sweet memories that set joy bells ringing. Eighteen