Pass on, young stream, the world has need of thee; Far hence a mighty river on its breast Bears the deep-laden vessels to the sea; Far hence wide waters feed the vines and corn. Pass on, small stream, to so great purpose born, On to the distant toil, the distant rest. --_Augusta Webster_.
Five years after Elsworth's marriage a great meeting of nobility and others interested in hospital and charitable work in the metropolis, met at a ducal residence in Kensington to found a society for the purpose of establishing in every quarter of London inhabited by working people, a small hospital and nursing institute on the plan of the Nightingale institution. This was proposed to be combined with a similar scheme of civilizing work to that conducted by the Home of the same name.
It was felt and cordially expressed that so admirable were the results of the work done by this institution, that society owed it to the poorer districts of the metropolis at once to do this much towards remedying the terrible and growing evils caused by the withdrawal of the gentry from the working neighbourhoods of London; and that the growing discontent of the people could best be allayed by such a scheme carried out in its integrity.
One of the speakers said that each place would involve an expenditure of not more than twelve hundred pounds a year, which sum he believed was about the cost of keeping the rhinoceros at the Zoological Gardens. It was not disputed that there were hundreds of ladies leading perfectly idle and useless lives in the West End who would gladly devote themselves to such a work if it were made practicable; and it seemed to the speakers that no missionary work could have such a claim on Christian people as this. The result of the meeting was that in a few days large sums of money were placed at the disposal of the committee, and some fifty ladies of wealth and position offered themselves for personal service in its cause.
Elsworth is now engaged in a scheme for a General Hospital of 200 beds, with a Medical School attached to it; the latter being for the purpose of educating on humane principles such young men as may desire to devote themselves to the healing art on the lines laid down by the Founder of that faith from which has sprung all the charities of modern Christendom.