TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13231, 26 September 1908, Page 8

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

The "Quiver" for SeptemXursing ber has a. really good thing as a in the shape of a talk with Career, no Jess an authority than the Matron of the London Hospital, on "Nursing as a Career." Miss Eva 0. E. Lurikes has held for seven-and-twenty years tho greatest position in the nursing world, and from her heights of experience can give a wealth of philosophic comment and practical good advice on this subject of the day. Xurses, sho thin!-;, have to dread becoming too scientific. In the first rush of volunteers iinto the profession, there was an over-plus of moral qualifications—devotion, sympathy, nnselfisbness, but a lack of training. "Sow the oxccUeiitly trained young woman, in the pride of her certificates., may bo a little apt to forget that her first and greatest mission is to comfort. "At the same time, pray do not think that- I am decrying the value of technical excellence, or hintintg that any amount of tact, charm, or sympathy, -ii—£ll compensate for want of professional knowledge or skill." x*fter tlio temperamental fitness for the work, the important thing is health. There is no liooe of passing the medical- examination if a candidate has anything organically wrong. Even tho minor innoerfection of hands unpleasantly warm or cold and clammy must mean death to an otherwise promisinrg candidate's chances. And a short girl is likely to be. disapproved, as nnabie to lift \. a patient easily and safely. There were two thousand applications at tho London during last year, and fifteen hundred met with rejection at first sight. But this hospital is specially attractive, both for its vast opportunities for all-round experience and for its liberal dealing with the nursing staff. Asked if a purse's life is -worth living, Miss Luckes replied : "Emphatically- Tlio nurse's life lias improved in every way of lato years."" The London gives preliminarytraining et Tredegar House, a sort of school for pupil candidates before they enter the wards. Later on, though hard work must bo faced, -every nurse is assured of sufficient rest, freedom, luid comfort, and miles? sho has quite mistaken her vocation, "leads not' onJy

a useful but a thoroughly enjoyable existence." The failure, or oven the frivolous nurso, is so exceptional, that Miss Liickes is very rightly offended by the way the profession is n_i_reproeented in fiction. ,'T suppose tho truth is that people liko to read about the 'designing adventure~s } cf a nurse, whereas they would bo bored by a presentment of a good, patient woman doing her work without thought of self or reward." The gratitude cf the poorer hospital patient at any rate, is very touching. As ono dear old man said to his nurse, meeting her after ho had loft the hospital, 'T am -lire 1 do not know where they get you ladies from. You're moro liko daughters than anything else." It will not be surprising if Motor tho motor race in the Islo Racing, of Alan, of which our cables give us news this- morning, leads to action being taken by Parliament with regard to this kind of sport. Tho writer of "Automobile Notes" in 'The Times'' writes very strongly on the subject. Ho remarks that when both Mr Harvey dv Cros and Sir Hubert yon Herkomer demand tho abolition of unrestricted motorracing, matters have reached a critical stage, for both are ardent motorists. Mr dv Cros has been engaged in the English motor trade since its commencement, and his personal stake in it is greater than that of any other man. Public opinion, says tho writer in 'The Tmes," has been deeply stirred by tho accidents on tho Brooklaud- track, and ho quotes from an unprejudiced motor journal in support, of his contention that such mad racing should bo prohibited. "'For ruecs or touring cars, real touring cars, and not racing monsters disguised in touring bodies, there may perhaps, but only perhaps, bo something to bo said," ho writes. "As for the possibilities of tho races in which ladies drive, although so far they have not takt<n to raeu.ig cars, tioey are too hideous for any reasonably chivalrous man v can template- thorn even in imagination. But it will be matter for real and sorrowful surpriso if public opinion does not simply overwhelm these unrestricted races.''' Such a tragedy as took place recently at Brooklands, when two motorists wero thrown out of their car right across the river Wey and ono of them killed on the spot, aro declared to bo revolting and unworthy of the ago. Tho French Government stopped the ParisMadrid "Race of Death in 11)03, after several people had been killed or maimed, and tho British authorities should bo able to take similar action. The writer roundly condemns the Islo of Man contest. It "us to encourage speed, nt tho expense of potrol consumption, over a very difficult course. There was to be no restriction of any kind. Tho car that won the contest covered a lap at Brooklands at the terrible speed of 83 miles an horn*; doublo the best Tourist Trophy speed. The possibility of a car dashing along country roads at tho rate of>B3 miles an hour must have been pleasant for Manxmen to contemplate. The average speed, according to tho cable, was about fifty miles an hour. Is tho came worth tho The Game candle? tho writer.asks, and Its Ho admits, that motor Price. races' havo .taught, valuable lessons, and will continue to do so, but tho lessons aro not worth tho price in blood paid for them, and are not tho object tho entrants have in view. He quotes from "Ten Years of Motors and Motor Racing," written two years ago by Mr Charles Jarrott, the well-known racing motorist. "A race of the present day would offer none of the charm which, a race of five years ago afforded. It would have none of the sporting feeling of good comradeship between the fellowcompetitors. It would bo, instead of n play, a tragedy of commercialism—a fight to tlje death in the arena, with each hired man striving for tho death of his rival, showing no mercy and ' claiming no quarter. And why? Becanso tho winning car is placed on a pedestal of a Grand Marouo. Tho world places an enormous financial premium on its success, and this supremacy has to be obtained at all costs." This is absolute truth, declares tho writer in "The Times." Many of the drivers, and most of the mechanics, aro paid; the venture is essentially commercial, and not sporting. And tho qualities that make for success in theso unrestricted races—what aro they? Mr Jarrott writes of part of tho ParisBerlin race of 1901. "Edge's appearance was a climax, and, throwing any remnant of caution to tho winds,\ I opened up my car to its fullest extent down a long straight slope, in tho hope of getting away from him. A sharp, short rise presented itself, and we flew up it at great speed, and then, to my horror, I found that I had a right-hand corner to negotiate. I certainly got the car round, bub by a hair's breadth. Smits, who was sitting on tho footboard, being caiight totally unprepared, was flung out, missing a very solid stono wall by a shave." Smits was tho unfortunate menhanie. In a subsequent race ho was strapped to the ear, and when it overturned his situation was naturally rather unpleasant. There comes a time when the racing motorist is apt to "sco red," "Again and again," writes Mr Jarrott, "the intoxication of speed held mo within its grasp as I was endeavouring to overtake and pass another car. I had fought with myself again and again when, in the realisation of danger in driving blindly in the dust of another car, common sense and prudence advised mc to slow down and let it get away, and reckless determination impelled mc to go ahead, drive through tho dust, and pass the car." When one reflects that such recklessness exposes threo other people, in addition to tho driver, to mortal risk, it becomes plain that the whole business is "utterly and unpardonably wrong."