A Language that People Understand

by Harold Updike

During my third year of school, I worked as a student nurse in Lackawanna at the steel mill for two months. I learned how to talk to people there. I found that very helpful later in my career, when I went on to work for the United Mine Workers (UMW) in 1955.

The UMW used to send employees who became ill to places like Cincinnati and Chicago that were far away. It cost plenty of money. The owners decided that for every ton of coal that was mined, one dollar would go into a health and welfare fund. After a while, it got to be quite a sizable amount.

They decided to build 10 hospitals. One of the major hospitals was in Harlan, Ky. Back in the 30s it was called "Bloody Harlan." The Hatfields and the McCoys were there. I was fortunate enough - I guess you'd call it "fortunate" - to go to Harlan for part of my career.

We trained local people for jobs in the new hospital complex. At the end of a two-week course, I was teaching thermometer technique. Everybody got it but one man. I said, "Go over there by the window," because the sun was setting, "and revolve the thermometer in your fingers, and just see if you see anything."

He said, "Oh, Mr. Updike, you mean that little red line in the middle?"

I said, "Yes, you see it?"

"Oh, I saw that back on Monday." Well, I could have killed him. But it just shows you that you have to speak a language that people understand.