THE LADIES' AID ASSOCIATION.

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$37,500, on which the sum of $15,500 was paid in cash, and the title was held by Henry A. Willard under a declaration of trust. The land, fronting on Florida avenue at the head of Tenth street, was occupied by buildings that were utilized for various purposes. To the large dwelling known as the "Haw Mansion" a wing especially designed for hospital purposes was added, at an expense of $12,000, the work being done according to plans approved by Dr. Billings, a distinguished authority on hospital construction.1

The managers of the Ladies' Aid Association were Mrs. John A. Logan, president; Mrs. Charles Nordhoff, Mrs. Benjamin Harrison, Mrs. James B. Ricketts, Mrs. John S. Williams, Mrs. Earl English, vice-presidents; Mrs. Henry W. Blair, corresponding secretary; Mrs. Thomas L. Tullock, treasurer; Miss E. Callis Smith, assistant treasurer; Miss M. G. Frelinghuysen, recording secretary; Mrs. A. F. Rockhill, assistant recording secretary; Mesdames A. J. Bentley, Joseph N. Dolph, Dorman B. Eaton, William H. Emory, Orange Ferriss, Randall L. Gibson, Alexander B. Hagner, John M. Harlan, Joseph R. Hawley, William P. Hepburn, Miss E. B. Johnson, Mesdames Jean Margaret Lander, Noah C. McFarland, John F. Miller, Samuel C. Pomeroy, R. B. Springer, Howard White, Henry A. Willard, and James F. Wilson.

The "Haw Mansion" was purchased of Mr. L. H. Schneider, a hardware merchant of Washington.

On Decoration Day, Friday, May 30, 1884, the buildings and grounds of the Garfield Memorial Hospital were dedicated with appropriate religious and historical exercises, followed by a garden party. The

The incorporators were *Mr. Justice Miller, president; *B. G. Lovejoy, secretary; John A. Baker, Prof. Alexander Graham Bell, *Dr. John S. Billings, Hon. James G. Blaine, *Mrs. Eliza N. Blair (the wife of Senator Blair), of Manchester, N. H.; Mrs. Mary E. Blair, * Dr. Samuel C, Busey, Mrs. Ida C. Candler, of Brookline, Mass.; Mrs. Stella B. Conger (the wife of Senator Conger), * Lewis J. Davis, Josiah Dent, James B. Edmonds, Mrs. Matilda W. Emory, *Reginald Fendall, Mrs. Cornelia W. Ferris, Dr. A. Y. P. Garnett, Hon. James Gilfillan, New York City; Mrs. Carrie S. Harrison (the wife of Senator, afterwards President, Harrison), Mrs. Mary J. Irish, *Mrs. Jean Margaret Lander, *Rev. W. A. Leonard, W. G. Metzerott, Dr. W. G. Palmer, *Mrs. Fannie Ricketts, *E. Francis Riggs, *James H. Saville, A. S. Solomons, Gen. D. G. Swaim, *Dr. J. Ford Thompson, John W. Thompson, Dr. Smith Townshend, Mrs. Miranda Tullock, *Henry A. Willard, J. Ormond Wilson, Hon. William Windom. The directors are marked with an asterisk (*).

*

2 The Washington Capital of June 1, 1884, contained this report of the opening: THE GARFIELD HOSPITAL.-The dedication of the Garfield Memorial Hospital on Friday took place in the hall of the new wing of the hospital building. The exercises were simple and impressive, and were the reading of the twenty-fourth psalm by the Rev. Dr. Butler; repeating the Apostles' Creed by the audience; prayer and reading of the seventh chapter of Luke by the Rev. Dr. Bartlett; hymn, led by Mr. Clarke, of New York Avenue Presbyterian Church; address by Mr. Justice Miller; singing of "America" by audience; benediction by the Rev. Dr. Sunderland. After the exercises everybody had the opportunity of going over the building, and then the lawn was the center of attraction, where the refreshment tents were well patronized.

The reception committee were the wives of Senators Logan, Blair, Harrison, Dolph,

new institution so auspiciously opened was called on to endure a year of severe trials. The only resource that did not fail was the Woman's Afd Association. The board of directors, in their report of April 20, 1885, acknowledged their indebtedness and proclaimed that of the exec

Gibson, Representative Hepburn, Mrs. J. M. Lander, Mrs. Henry A. Willard, Mrs. Dorman B. Eaton, and others.

At the supper tent were Mrs. English, Mrs. Ricketts, Mrs. Rockwell, Mrs. Tullock, Mrs. Ferris, Mrs. Frelinghuysen, and several young lady assistants, among them the Misses Stevens, English, Cady, Rickets, Spofford, and Hepburn. The ice cream and lemonade were dispensed by Mrs. Willard, Mrs. Pomeroy, and Miss E. C. Smith.

The confectionery tent was in charge of Mrs. Logan, assisted by Mrs. Skinner and Mrs. Clarke, of New York, the Misses Bergmann, Dolph, Wiltshire, Jennings, Vender, and other ladies. Much of the confectionery was donated by Guenther, of Chicago, and the hand-painted and embroidered satin bonbon bags were very pretty, and, with the fans, found ready sale, though the cool air rendered the fans more ornamental than useful. Two bags were made from pieces of the "Elizabeth dress" worn by Mrs. Lander when playing that part. One was bought by Mrs. Joslyn, of Illinois, and the other by Dr. Sanborn, of Colorado.

Nothing could be more effective than the beautiful grounds, where the lights were placed in the many Chinese lanterns swinging from the trees. Nature made it one of the fairest spots on earth, and the gay-colored lights and music added to the scene. The garden party closed with dancing in the hall of the hospital. It is not too much to say that the Garfield Hospital owes its existence to the women, who, from the beginning, have worked with a faith in its future success with a conscientious belief in the want of such an institution and with the untiring industry which has brought such gratifying results. They have worked together with a zeal and harmony worthy of the cause, and despite all discouragements and many obstacles they have made the hospital an assured reality and a greater tribute to the memory of the late President than any marble or bronze. A number of beds have been given. One memorial bed was given by Mrs. Alexander Graham Bell, with the sum of $1,000. It is named William Schuyler Johnson Bell, and will always bear this name. This sum donated entitled the donor to naming a bed in perpetuity and designating the patient to occupy it, making it a free bed.

The wife of Representative Hitt, of Illinois, gave two beds in the names of their young sons, William and Reynold Hitt. The wife of ex-Senator Pomeroy gave two beds. One was given by Mrs. Theodore Lyman, of Massachusetts, and another is the joint gift of Mrs. Worthington, Miss E. C. Smith, and Lieutenant Harber. Mrs. Freeman, of Washington, gave a bed, and her sister, Miss Coleman, gave part of the entire bed linen for the hospital. The remainder of the bed linen was given by the wife of William Walcott, of the Oneida Mills, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Walcott are the guests of the wife of the Rev. Dr. Bartlett. The silver was given by the Wallingford and Middletown Plate companies, of Connecticut, and is sufficient for the whole hospital.

Every entertainment given to raise funds for the hospital has been singularly successful, and this is the best evidence of the admirable management and sincere efforts of the women engaged in the work. The public have confidence in their ability and sincerity, and respond promptly and willingly to all requests for aid. To those who have been steadfast from the beginning is due the greatest praise. As the pioneers, they met the hardship of prejudice, and, by honesty of purpose, made the way easier for others who have more recently taken an active part in the work. None but honest, capable, earnest women could have done this. So well have they done their whole duty that now there is no drawing back by anyone. It is said that nothing succeeds like success. Of no work can this be more truly said than of the Garfield Memorial Hospital.

SALE OF THE wirt house.

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utive committee "to this band of noble women, without whose unselfish and untiring devotion nothing could have been accomplished." The ladies contributed the means and selected and purchased the furniture for the old and new buildings, laundry, nurses' and servants' rooms, all to the satisfaction of Surgeon-General Billings.

On June 18 Dr. Harry M. Cutts, of Washington, as resident physician, and Mrs. M. E. Vanderbilt, formerly matron of the Woman's Hospital of New York City, as matron, received the first patient, a young woman who was a clerk in one of the Departments; and on June 28 Dr. Swan M. Burnett performed the first surgical operation, the patient being a colored man and an ex-soldier. The first death was that of an Indian temporarily in Washington. In January Dr. Cutts resigned and was succeeded by Dr. W. M. Sprigg. The number of patients during the first year was 178, of which number 119 were free.1

The treasurer, Mr. J. W. Thompson, resigned before the hospital was opened; his successor, Mr. Edward Temple, was compelled by ill health and the pressure of other duties to give up the position, and in January, 1885, Mr. Samuel W. Curriden was elected to the vacancy. On the 1st of May the directors were called on to face a deficit of $3,000 to tide the hospital over until July 1, when the first appropriation of $7,500 made by Congress toward the payment of the current expenses of the institution would become available. At the same time the directors were in possession of hospital property worth $54,835.82, encumbered with debts to the amount of $32,000. The available assets were securities estimated to be worth $4,500 and the Wirt House property, estimated at $30,000. During the year 1885 the Wirt House was sold to John R. McLean for $26,800, and the securities yielded $7,255.38. With this money the indebtedness was satisfied; and the directors were greatly encouraged, although they had exhausted all their available resources and were confronted with the fact that another building, with accommodations for 25 beds, was made imperative by the increase in the number of patients to 222, and 64 persons had to be refused admittance because of lack of room. The new building was made possible by the pledge of the Ladies Aid Association to raise $15,000 of the $25,000 necessary for the construction. Of this amount the ladies paid $6,000 during 1886, besides spending $404.47 on hospital furnishings. The main sources from which their moneys came were $4,602.49 from entertainments, $168.79 from the mite box placed in the Baltimore and Potomac station near the scene of the assassination, and $347 from membership fees and subscriptions.

The new wing contained 24 rooms for patients, besides a refectory, an operating room, and several office rooms, all constructed according

The medical staff included Drs. John Frederick May, president; Swan M. Burtent, secretary; A. Y. P. Garnett, W. W. Johnston, N. S. Lincoln, J. W. H. Lovejoy, Louis Mackall, J. Ford Thompson, J. M. Toner, Ralph Walsh, Edward M. Schaeffer, microscopist; W. W. W. L. Cissell, and D. Olin Leech, assistants to the resident physician.