Woman
would
noble sugg the Jubilee ittee will remember when they come to decide what form the anent Memorial shall take. Much has been said in favour of the Diamond Jubilee Road, but there is a certain selfish tone about this suggestion that does not recommend itself to me at all. Mind you, sir, I am saying nothing against the idea, I think it a most excellent one, but it is so essentially & Govern ment work and one that should be undertaken the instance of the Government only. By all means let the Committee urge upon the Government, and urge strongly, the desirability of commencing the road, and commencing it this year. It would then serve as a memorial of the record reign, but do not let us spend any subscriptions on it. The Government should make it.
+
Of all the many ideas that have been brought forward in the papers lately "Woman's" most womanly and unselfish plea for a Hospital for Woman and a Training Institute for Nurses in connection therewith commends itself to me most strongly, and I trust that many of your readers will agree with me.-- I enclose my card and remain, yours faithfully,
A MAN.
Hongkong, 31st March, 1897,
TO THE ÉDITOR OF THE “DAILY PRESS,' Sir,-Of the various suggestions for com- memorating the Diamond Jubilee, that sug. gested by A Woman' "in the letter which appeared in your columns of to-day appears to me to be far the most appropriate.
I am not saying anything against Mr. Leigh's scheme for a clock tower, which is a good one and apparently quite feasible. The cost of such an undertaking would also probably come well within the sum likely to be subscribed in the colony towards the establishment of a last ing memorial.
THE HONGKONG, WEEKLY PRES
The proposed road round the island, however, is a somewhat visionary scheme, easy to suggest bat hard to carry out, if attempted to be carried out in any degree in accordance with the mean- ing of the word "round the island." What it would cost and when it would be completed no one would, I suggest, dare to hazard a guess. Besides, is not such a road more a matter for the attention of the P.W.D. or the War Department?
Like Mr. Leigh's scheme, the proposed Women's Hospital and Training Institute should not take very long to complete and the Government need not be asked to under- take the work. Subscribers to such a memorial should before long see the re- salt of their subscriptions in solid masonry. Burely if the necessity for such a hospital and institute, such a road, and such a clock tower as those suggested is equal, the first place should unhesitatingly be given to the hospital and institute. The Government would of course provide a suitable site free of cost, which would leave the whole of the money subscribed for expenditure on the buildings and for the future maintenance of the institution itself. As to any balance required to be made up year by year for its upkeep, surely the colony could be trusted to see that the necessary funds were forthcoming by private subscription; for the hospital and institute would be self-supporting to a certain extent.
Last, but not least, in favour of a hospital and institute over the other suggested schemes is that if all were submitted for the considera- hion of Her Most Gracions Majesty, would she not be more than likely to decide in favour of the hospital and institute ?—Yours faithfully,
GODFREY C. C. MASTER. Hongkong, 31st March, 1897.
CBL
:
TO THE EDITOR OF THE “DAILY PREES.
would appear that two pro- more than a little attention, hospital for women and Island. In the former case ea is to utilize Eurasians is confined to the atten- gnese, Eurasian, Asiatic, well and good but it would be change should be made
Ch a sad pity
|
the present admirable arrangeme
he Civil Hospital,
to the sati faction and comfort
AND
has been an inmate there. The hospi never so popular as now, and the kindness, care and attention which the patients receive makes an indelible impression upon the minds of most. We have more than enough of Asiatics in business and even in domestic life without being
where greater
it would be present site which has by the Colonial S appear that in Hongk quite sufficient, hospital lower levels, vis, the Military the Women's, the Royal Alice Memorial, the Nethe Bay, the Tung Wa, and, on the New Military and the would indeed seem to be as well nursed as any place in the world.*****
It would therefore be desirable to find some means of promoting the public happiness other than that of hea Doctors are indispensable...
to fall into their hands, and one wor have them at the dinner table than at
ive-in
dead
esh
nursed by them When sick It is at such times that one most misses the sweet companionship of mother and sister, and the quiet pleasant offices of the maid servants in our English homes; and then we feel the real trial of being waited on by a Chinese "boy" This is the reason why so many bachelors are found at the Civil Hospital when seriously unwell. Were the building in a quieter neighbourhood there would be still more. If the intention is that the Eurasian nurses shall only be employed for nursing sick Chinese, it may be said that much is already done for them, that the new departure at the Tung Wa Hospital is on its trial; and that already some are in course of training to wait upon Chinese sick, when they will have them.
If the proposal to train British young wo-side. What is it which makes medica men for nursing here, it would appear far better be here so constantly required that they should go through their apprentice of change and exercish for seven ship in the hospitals at home. The time dur- months. During the whole of this tin ing which a young English woman can stand the exercise, out of the wind, is almost insuppor work of hospital nursing in Hongkong, with- In Hongkong one may live on the windward side out a twelve months' holiday, is pot perhaps of a wall and die on the leeward side: HonBES more. upon an average, than three years. It should be detached. Europeans cannot would be a thousand pities that the first of buildings with a considerable amount these periods should be spent in this colony in wall in them. Every room should have about learning that which the nursing sisters should eight doors or windows in it. The sid arrive here to practice. Would not a better is well exchanged for fresh air, More hon plan be to increase the staff of the nursing sisters yet be built upon the North side of the at the hospital from nine to twelve, so that and they will be let because they are so
venient of access to business and the two or three could be detailed to attend to
This but, nevertheless, there should be means private cases without inconvenience ? would remove the difficulty which is now com-communication with the South and West plained of, and would accomplish the required sides of the Island, where the provision in the least expensive way. To make breezes live and blow. We should have the a new and separate establishment will involve same opportunities which are enjoyed in a great deal, whereas we have now all that is the Straits, and throughout the tropic needed, viz., a pleasant oirole into which these enjoying carriage and horse exercise, i young ladies are introduced on their arrival, a cool evenings. What would the inhabita delightful house in which they live together, any of these places think of an imper and active occupation to which they are adopted. wall being raised between them and the even The arrangement at present is unique, and only ng breez ́s The wall behind which the greater portion of our population live is 1,800 feet high, requires a slight extension.
exactly between us and the wind; so that the flags in the harbour may sometimes be seen to fly from opposite quarters simultaneousl Let us have a road, then, right ro land, 22 miles long, and halfway or here and there, and the conditions this confined spot will be changed. I und stand that all this length can be accomp for $75,000. If the Jubilee contributo give $37,500, the Government would probably
The justifled in adding as much more. of this outlay would come back in sales of and rates on buildings, and a great deal more, and nothing would contribute so largely to the general benefit and advancement of the colony It is in the exercise of their own activities that people find the greatest amount o ples. sure. What a constant demand upon these will be involved in the existence of this road! In the past we have been much in the habit of boasting of what has been accomplished in Hongkong during only 50 years. Is it a scandal that in a little island 9 hardly one in a thousand of its has ever stood upon the other side Yours faithfully,
MARCHEUR
Both
So much comfort there is for us when we are sick, but, better still, if we can avoid being sick, and there is nothing which tends to the perfection and preservation of health so much as open, free, pure, fresh air and activity therein. These young ladies get a little, a very little, horse exercise. They ought to have a great deal more. Perhaps once in six months they get into a carriage; some of them ought to ride or drive every day. these most lovable pastimes are at present Where simply impossible in Hongkong. is the pleasure of a ten miles' ride or drive, when the half of it is through the China town, either East or West? From this there is no escape, and forming much more than half of the measure of our accustomed outings, they become wearisome instead of refreshing. We want the 22 mile road which Messrs. Denison and Ram have sketched out If this can be made, as they express the hope that it can, for $75,000 it is cheap indeed, and will do more to empty the hospitals than all the drugs in the half dozen dispensaries in Hongkong.-Yours faithfully,
Hongkong, 2nd April, 1897.
JEHU.
a women's
TO THE EDITOR OF, THE “ DAILY PRESS. Dear Sir, I notice that one of the schemes, influentially put forward, is to build and children's hospital adjoining the present Civil Hospital. No doubt the available area offers an inducement. This, however, is not unused at present, and affords a most valuable refreshment to the inmates, who constantly overlook the garden, and when convalescent can enjoy its use. The same may be said of the view northward from the stone building occupied by the Sisters It is very important also that this recreation ground should be preserved for those who are so constantly and closely occupied within the 'buildings. But the chief consideration is thất
Hongkong, 4th April, 1897
thất
TO THE EDITOR
Sir It will
he Diamon shown a wise discretion the proposals placed before the
which in number, y
ittee for inqu com also be generally felt are fully competen
careful examination.
red for their con
the of
bund
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