University Medical College - Scalpel Yearbook (Kansas City, MO)

Page 139 text:

Grace Crosby Powers was an Eastern girl perfectly trained in those delightful typi- cally Eastern places of learning for young ladies. Her feminine charms, protecting in her school life to a nicety were in her social life unfolded to the world, and she had scores of men at her feet. This aimless life of society and travel bored her, and she began to realize her value, and accordingly entered the University Hospital Training School for Nurses, called to this noble institution by her finer senses. She remained in the University Hospital the allotted time, naturally having many unusual experiences, not being an or- dinary nurse, and of course, men entertained precisely the same views of her as they did in her Eastern life. Incidentally, Cupid, at one time during her training nearly persuaded her that she had met her natural affinity, but the other party, contrary to expectations, didn't materialize, or at least fate intervened and she went from our midst a typical Bachelor Girl. Naturally, she received offers of hospital positions, some of national renown. But no, in thinking that private nursing would more benefit mankind, she refused them. However, after a certain interval, she more deeply realized her position and returned to the East, where her accomplishments could be better appreciated. And then, suddenly, like a tremendous awakening the real intent of nat-ure for her lifels work was recognized. This keen and perceptive minded Grace Powers was to be an exact counterpart of the so-called fictitious Sherlock Holmes, and she became the world's best known woman de- tective. I lost note of her for owing to her own desire- and impulse, her newspaper popu- larity waned, but I learned that she did at length meet her earthly affinity. If so I am content only to hope that it is true, and that she may happily enjoy life among a people of her own per-ception and appreciation. I - Another interesting girl, whom I well remember, was Miss Fay Jopling. She was bright and talented-an artist-but she was not puffed up over the fact that she could manipulate more than -one kind of br-ush. Of course, while in training she had more practice with bristle brushes, green soap, alcohol, ether, Herrington's Tr. of Iodine and gauze wash rags, than oils and colors. Her talent was too great, however, to be eradicat- ed by a paltry two years hard work in a training school for nurses. After a few years private nursing her ship came in-in the form of a rich HG. P. who, recognizing her great talent, as something worth while, sent 'her to Paris for five years. Now she is famous the world over for her wonderful studies in violet and grey. I read not long since a strange chronicle. The heroine so much reminded me of a nurse in training. I faintly remember her, she Wore glasses and came from Eure- ka, Kas., and her first name was John, Oh, pardon, why I must be flustrated, John isn't a girl's or a woman's name. Nevertheless, notwithstanding these many conflictions this is the chronicle. Now there dwelt in the land of the setting sun, west of the Walnut in the land of Eureka, forsooth, a brown-eyed maid of the House of Graffin, and thither, in this land, did her bondswomen -and handmaidens -minister unto her with myrrh, ointment and mu-ch purple and fine linen, and day unto day did she bask in the sun with her harp and psaltery, even so, a princess of joy and beauty of face. And straightway, it became spread throughout the land, concerning her, and much were the wise men, and love- makers wrought up within themselves. And straightway, there journeyed from the East u young prince of the tribe of John, coming thither to inquire concerning her, and he bowed low before her and did do obeisance unto her, and spake, saying, Oh daughter of the women of Graffin, long have come to my land tales of thy charms, and the half was

Page 138 text:

f 1 A illvirnapvrtinn in 1923 , AY is dying in the west. The golden chariot of fire sinks low. From glorious rays of the most burnished, they fade to a softened and delicate hue, until slowly, slowly it sinks from view, and in the azure ultramarine sky the tiny stars twinkle forth from their hiding place in a fleecy bank of cumulous clouds. The silver moon peeps out throwing his silver rays upon the landscape. This is the picture before me as I sit in my invalid chair at one of the low French window-s of my fair villa in sunny Italy, and think of my life of youth, health and activity twenty years ago. During two years of that time there came to me the most valuable experience one can enjoy, indeed, attain to. For some time I had co-ntemplated taking a course in a hospital training school and becoming a trained nurse. Con-sequently I entered the University Hospital Training School for nurses at Kansas City, Mo., then affiliated with the University Medical Col- lege, a noble institution of its kind, known both for the phenominal powers and compe- tency of the faculty and its exceptional class of students. This, with these favorable sur- roundings, and perfect equipment, the University Training School stood forth, symbolic of an ideal school for nurses. I was agreeably surprised to find -that my class-mates were very congenial and exactly the sort of women destined to make a name for them- selves in their chosen profession. Thus We lived together in the nurses' home-thirty- six girls, differentiated widely enough in personal traits, to result in a delightful char- acter study. Mi-ss Forrester was our superintendent of nurses and I am free to say that my limited qualifications are, indeed, inadequate to unfold to you a picture of her life as I saw, and still see her. She was from one of Kansas City's best and aristocratic families. When I say aristocratic your mind immediately deduces a society Woman, not high, but, indeed, high society. Thus she came to us perfected intellectually and professionally. Tall and impressive, possessing a manner causing one to really love to fulfill her every wish. A true lady-and I do not hesitate in saying that her influence on my life was not small. And did I need good influence in school? Wa-s I an angel? Ask Mother Liston. Miss Forrester is now happily married to a progressive undertaker, and I often see her when she and her devoted Jeremiah make their annual run across the pond, in quest of the very latest antiquities in coffin handles and hearse plumes. Dr. John M. Von. Frankenburger Chow he acquired hisname isbeyo-nd my com- prehensionl, spends a few months each year in his native land, acquiring the true ac- cent. Dr. J. M. V. F. was the worthy manager of the University Hospital, and his un- ruffled disposition, acquired while kick adjuster of that placid institution, won him many friends among all of the different nations of the earth. Consequently he finds it neces- sary in -order to handle his extensive office practice quietly, to employ seven interpre- ters and a Latin stenographer. It has been a great pleasure in the years that have flown, to keep the girls, or many of them, located, as they have strayed in so many dif- ferent paths. F-or I loved many in the old surroundings. Girls, strictly, remember, and sin-ce I have told you of them, collectively, I will, of those I can, give my impressions individually.

Page 140 text:

never told. Oh! thou art beautiful in mine eyes, fair daughter of Graffin. May I make thee unto myself a wife. The handmaidens of my father's house shall minister unto thee, my people shall worship thee, wilt thou then be mine? And she being a woman of few words, saith, Yes, Oh Prince, I am thine. And it came to pass that the prince returned to his own land, much rejoiced within himself. But alas, he shortly fell ill of a grievous plague, and did stralghtway pass into the land of shadows, even into Hades, and in many countries was there weeping and wailing f teeth. And the woman of Graffin went forth into the wilderness, and there, clad in sack cloth and ashes, did mourn for forty days and nights. Then she re- turneth to her land and mounting her beast did betake herself to a house, wherein she ministered unto the sick. And there went from her the death of the young prince, and even did she make merry and flirt with exceeding madness, with the young men of the school and she did sorely grieve the lady of the house. So great was her wrath against this foolish Graffinite, that she bade her straightway leave the house, and now in the wilderness doth she wail and tear herself, because she is not among them that did seek to love the lady and so she did pass into the land of everlasting sunshine even into the Elesyian fields. This is the story, and as I look back, I do hope if I may speak figura- tively, she came to a better end. Thus ends the thread of life. and gnashing o Anna Von Brun, was that her name? No-oh, yes, it might as well have been, for it became that later, it was then Anna Wood. She was a Virginia girl, a Southern dream. Though very independent, she was such a tiny, beautiful dollg but she made an ideal nurse, indeed was never known to break a rule. She was the coquette of the train- ing school. She cast the poor infatuated men's affections to the four winds. At length she discovered the real man, a patient. Just a trifle more of hospital romance. So great were her charms and so madly in love was he, that her almost magical influence brought about his recovery. So solicitious was she that she re- frained from going to her meals in her zealous and anxious care of him. Almost immediately on completing her training, they were married and after a honeymoon in Europe, they returned to Chicago, where the Hon. G. W. Von Brun was a leading lawyer. Evidently, desolated as I am to relate Cupid committed grievous er- ror, and apparently the young wife had been singing, Love, Marriage and Divorcef for soon she returned to Kansas City, with a decree of divorce in one hand and a sweet lit- tle French poodle in the other. She later entered a convent in Canada and to this day, ministers unto the poor, sick and afflicted. Moral: Trifling girls and flirting hens always come to some bad end. You have possibly heard of the man who went to Michigan to live, and later re- lated to former friends that 'tUp there, people were known as Michiganders. Presum- ably then, said the friend the women are Michigeese and the children Michigoslingsf' Persackly so. Well, Effie King was a typical Missouriander who said, f'Well, youalls says as how youalls don't reckon it won't hurt nothing nohowf' . Kingett was a dear popular little girl who made a tremendous success of her work, and was liked by all who knew her. After triumphantly completing her work here she took post-graduate work at St. Luke's Hospital, N. Y., also the course of Hos- pital Economics at Columbia University. Thus she came forth a well equipped and ideal nurseg and shortly became super-