Page:Address to the Mary Adelaide Nurses.djvu/7



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I have been asked by Mrs. Talbot to say a few words to you this evening before we separate, and I wish first to explain that though I am unknown to you personally, I am no stranger to our Association, having taken a part in it from the time it was first started four years ago. On the occasion of your tea last year I know that Miss Twining, whose absence we all so much regret, spoke to you as I am doing now; but as I was unable to be present, and do not know the details of her address, I must ask you to excuse me if I say over again any of the things she said. Perhaps if they are in any degree true or useful they will be none the worse for being repeated.

Now it has seemed to me, in thinking over your work, that it may be considered under three aspects—as regards the Association, as regards your patients, and as regards yourselves. First, as regards the Association. We, the members of the Working Committee, are very anxious that you should keep in mind the fact that you do belong to an Association. We want you to remember that you are not isolated workers, each looking out for employment only on her own account and in her own way, having no one to care particularly whether you do well or ill what you have undertaken to do. You are members of an honourable body; you have the name of that body to guard from contempt or distrust; you have the aims of that body to work for and fulfil. In the French language there is an expression which is not familiar to us in its English form, but which forcibly describes the feeling we wish to arouse in you on this point. It is this:—"Esprit de corps." These