Let’s take a quick trip back to June of 1914 when Woodrow Wilson was President, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was still alive (his assassination before the end of the month would start WW1 and change the world forever), and over at Springfield State Hospital, eight nurses were graduating.

We’ve even got their names—Clara Coursey Beall, Jennie M. Groll, Elizabeth Oakes, Lida M. Pitts, Hattie Pearl Revere, Martha Wheeler, Emory G. Barnes, and Charles L. Devilbiss.

Know any of them?

Now assuming the eight were around 22 years of age or more, they’d all be at least 118. It’s fun to put their names back out there 97 years after what was probably a pretty special day in their lives, but sad to think that those lives no doubt ended many years ago.

The Sykesville Herald had two articles that day. We start with Uncle Mortimer. And no, we don’t know who Uncle Mortimer was, but he seems to fancy himself as Sykesville’s Ralph Waldo Emerson. His musing on the importance of nurses seems almost prescient, considering that war was just three weeks away.

So, into the past.

Uncle Mort Sees Nurses

I delight in telling what I think—I shall go on just as before, seeing whatever I can, and telling what I see. – Emerson

I very much enjoyed the privilege on Tuesday of attending the commencement exercises at Springfield State Hospital and witnessing the large class of nurses receive their diplomas. I was much impressed with the dignified character of the ceremonies, particularly with the notable address of Dr. Meyer, of the Phipps Psychiatric Clinic, of Baltimore. He praised the nurses for their devotion to their profession and dwelt upon some of the trials and difficulties they have to overcome.

Being somewhat familiar with the character of their work in such an institution as Springfield, the most famous institution of which Maryland boasts, the first of its kind to do away with bolts and bars and to give patients the freedom of buildings and grounds, the thought came to me, how little could have been accomplished here after all, had it not been for the nurses! And then, as I listened to Dr. Meyer, I was overwhelmed in contemplation of all the wonderful achievements that had been worked out because of the nurses!

It requires genuine courage and unusual application to undertake to become a nurse in an institution like Springfield, notwithstanding its high character and advanced methods. To be constantly with the insane and to give the best that is in you in the effort to draw them back to normal conditions, to meet their whims, amuse them, put up with unexpected and unusual trials, when the poor clouded minds fail to understand what it all means, to study and observe the individual traits and to endeavor to clear away the mists from the clouded intellect—all this requires a keen perception, more than ordinary resourcefulness, a perfect confidence in one’s self, a positive character, kindness and courage—the sort of courage that is never curbed and that always inspires hope and faith.

Behind all these qualifications is genuine love for mankind; This is the real motive behind the nurse. And what could be more commendable or more patriotic?

The young woman or the young man, who undertakes the work I have outlined, who dedicates his or her life to the alleviation of the ills that come to poor humanity through disorders of the mind, should be held in the same high esteem as the man who goes forth in battle for the honor of the Flag, to die if need be in defense of his country, or for the love of humanity. General Funston is accomplishing much for humanity in Vera Cruz, but he could really do very little without the man behind the gun.

And so it is in the hospital—very little indeed can be accomplished without the nurse behind the doctor!

The general in the field can plan his campaign against the enemy and work out new problems, but he is helpless until his scouts come in with reports concerning surrounding conditions and until open country can be mapped.

And so the trained, scientific mind of the physician at the head of a great institution like Springfield, can plan the details and work out new problems to meet individual cases, but he is practically helpless until the nurse reports her observations of these individual cases and of general conditions and brings helpful suggestions.

Much depends upon the nurse. She is the power and the force behind the science. Without her Springfield hospital would be a barred prison, as all State asylums for the insane used to be. The nurse has made it possible to take down the bars and permit the poor unfortunates to come forth into the sunshine and enjoy Nature’s blessings. She should have a place on the right of the line and at the head of the column when we come to review the great advances that are being made in the methods of the care of the insane.

It is the same in the general hospitals, in field hospitals, in Red Cross hospitals, afloat and ashore. Without the nurse to minister to the wants of the wounded, to call back the dying boy in Blue with words of courage and comfort and cheer, to help him take a new hold on life—oh what an awful toll war and pestilence and disease would take if it were not for the nurse!

All honor, then. To the devoted young men and women, who enter upon this great work at Springfield or in any hospital. It is an heroic calling. Hats off to Springfield’s class of 1914! May full measure of success come to every member. To the best greetings and congratulations that go from this community to these worthy young people, I wish to add mine. UNCLE MORTIMER.

Nurses Receive Their Diplomas

In the presence of many friends coming from various sections of Maryland and several hundred people from this immediate neighborhood, amid surroundings that were truly beautiful and with a ceremony that was at once simple and impressive, eight trained nurses were graduated and handed their diplomas at Springfield State Hospital on Tuesday afternoon.

The ceremonies were held in the new Amusement Hall, the stage of which was banked with beautiful flowers and potted plants and ferns. All of the nurses of the institution who could be spared from their regular duties occupied seats reserved for them in front of the auditorium, the graduating class in the front row.

The stage was set with beautiful mission furniture. While the guests were assembling a competent orchestra discoursed the sweetest music. The graduates marched in to the tune of “Maryland, My Maryland”, amid enthusiastic applause and then came Dr. J. Clement Clark, Superintendent of the institution and the distinguished gentlemen who had a part in the program, with the official board. Dr. Clark presided.

After they had taken their places on the platform and an impressive prayer had been offered by the Rev. William K. Marshall, Dr. Clark announced that Governor Goldsborough, who  it had been announced would present the diplomas to the graduates, was not able to be present, but that his place would be taken by Dr. Arthur P. Herring, of the State Lunacy Commission.

Dr. Herring on being presented made a happy address, in which he humorously referred to his substitution for the Governor, and then directed himself to the class. He referred to the duties, the trials and the difficulties of the nurses in such institutions and said through a plan of cooperation now being worked out it was hoped to obtain recognition for nurses graduated from the State institutions in the general hospitals.

He declared that their day of graduation was really the opening of a bright future in their profession. He paid a high tribute to Superintendent Clark and the Springfield Hospital, which is becoming famous for the “first things” it is doing and its advanced standing among the institutions of its kind. Dr. Herring then called the names of the graduates and each, as the name was called, went upon the stage, received his or her diploma, along with generous applause, and passed off on the opposite side. When the last of the class had been called Dr. Clark said that the names had not been called in the order of standing and added, amid much applause, that all were “stars.”

The class then returned from their seats and the audience was treated to selections from “The Bohemian Girl” by the orchestra. Then followed the address of the afternoon by Dr. Adolph Meyer, head of the famous Phipps Psychiatric Clinic of the Johns Hopkins Hospital, of Baltimore. The address was at once scholarly and instructive—a gem from a master mind.

In beautiful yet simple language Dr. Meyer reviewed his experiences in institutions for the care of the insane in Illinois, Massachusetts and New York, not, he said for the purpose of detailing his personal history or experiences, but to bring to the attention, not only of the nurses, but of all others, the marked advances that had been made in recent years in the care of insane patients in the working out of the great results that have been accomplished, the nurse has played and is playing a most important part.

The speaker dwelt with much earnestness on the work of the nurse in the discovery of normal traits in the patient and gradually developing and drawing these out, with the result that a new era is dawning in the care of the insane. He closed with an earnest and touching message from the nurses of the Phipps Clinic addressed to the graduating class.

The exercises closed with a medley of patriotic selections from the orchestra and the benediction by the Rev. C. R. Dudley. The audience then stood while the orchestra played “The Star Spangled Banner” and then everybody was invited to an adjoining room where a delicious luncheon was served, consisting of deviled crabs, sandwiches, olives, fruit, coffee and ice cream.

The whole affair was most successful and delightful and thoroughly enjoyed by all present. The graduates were dressed in immaculate white and the young women members of the class carried flowers.

Following is a list of the graduates: Mrs. Clara Coursey Beall, Queen Annes County; Misses Jennie M. Groll, Dorchester; Elizabeth Oakes, Carroll; Iida M. Pitts, Virginia; Hattie Pearl Revere, Virginia, Martha Wheeler, Carroll, Emory G. Barnes, Carroll; Charles L. Devilbiss, Frederic.

In the evening a ball was given in honor of the class which was greatly enjoyed.