DIY History | Transcribe | Iowa Women’s Lives: Letters and Diaries | Eve Drewelowe's journals, volumes II-III, 1950s

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Eve Drewelowe's journals, volumes II-III, 1950s

Page 132

Being all but beside myself, my nerves perpendicular from the eerie din, I picked up the telephone receiver and called the registry. I uttered my very protest and interposed for the patients on the floor. "You are the only one who is complaining," came back the answer over the wire.
"Oh I am, am I! Everyone else up is shuddering as much as I am and minding the [illegible] screaming just as much as I do. It so happens, however, that I am the only articulate on among them. A hospital is supposed to be restful and peaceful. We are paying for quiet and relaxation and then we have this blood-curdling atmosphere. We just don't have to are aren't going & put up with this distraction. "We shall see what we can do" I was pacified. 
Nothing was done, however, and the agonizing death-screams [reset?] the air. Finally my nerves coordinated and acted as one and shoved me out of bed. Grabbing my robe, I raced down the hall and the stairs pursued by the diabolical shrieking. I dived into the registry and demanded something be done, and at once. The patients within hearing distance could endure the screaming no longer. As for myself - I was returning no more to my room. Either the shrieking woman had to moved, or I had to go. The same wooden-bench that had served me at my entry, served me now. Once more I stretched out full length - and this time on a lay-down strike - all aquiver with nerves. A kindly black-coated nun was sent to persuade me & return to my room. She coaxed and wheedled me into going by promising to close the glass doors down my corridor, also my door and transom and thusely insulating me against any sound from without She plead with me and reasurred with me - successfully - and we started up the flight of steps together. Upon the first landing, but several steps up wild screams again severed the electric atmosphere.

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Being all but beside myself, my nerves perpendicular from the eerie din, I picked up the telephone receiver and called the registry. I uttered my very protest and interposed for the patients on the floor. "You are the only one who is complaining," came back the answer over the wire. "Oh I am, am I! Everyone else up is shuddering as much as I am and minding the [illegible] screaming just as much as I do. It so happens, however, that I am the only articulate on among them. A hospital is supposed to be restful and peaceful. We are paying for quiet and relaxation and then we have this blood-curdling atmosphere. We just don't have to are aren't going & put up with this distraction. "We shall see what we can do" I was pacified. Nothing was done, however, and the agonizing death-screams [reset?] the air. Finally my nerves coordinated and acted as one and shoved me out of bed. Grabbing my robe, I raced down the hall and the stairs pursued by the diabolical shrieking. I dived into the registry and demanded something be done, and at once. The patients within hearing distance could endure the screaming no longer. As for myself - I was returning no more to my room. Either the shrieking woman had to moved, or I had to go. The same wooden-bench that had served me at my entry, served me now. Once more I stretched out full length - and this time on a lay-down strike - all aquiver with nerves. A kindly black-coated nun was sent to persuade me & return to my room. She coaxed and wheedled me into going by promising to close the glass doors down my corridor, also my door and transom and thusely insulating me against any sound from without She plead with me and reasurred with me - successfully - and we started up the flight of steps together. Upon the first landing, but several steps up wild screams again severed the electric atmosphere.