The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-01-08 00:00:00

THE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER.

he could easily sell it to a comrade for 3d. If the
Government could increase the payment to 2d. the
number of abstainers would be largely increased.
The Rev. J. Gelson Gregson, a chaplain from India,
gave an encouraging account of temperance work in
the Army both at home and abroad.
Other speakers followed, and the meeting, on the
motion of the Rev. Newman Will, tendered its thanks
to the Lord Mayor, for granting the use of the hall
and for presiding.

A CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN NAPLES.

The Naples Correspondent of the Daily News gives
a description of a Children's Hospital which has just
been inaugurated at Naples by the foundress, the
Duchess Ravaschiere, a lady well known for her active
charity, and also as the authoress of a work on the
charitable institutions of Naples. The hospital is
called "Linn," after the daughter of the Duchess,
who died some years ago at the age of twelve after a
long and painful illness. The dowry which would
have been hers has been devoted in memory of
her to the purposes of the new hospital by
the bereaved Duchess. The hospital is situ-
ated in an airy position, has excellent air,
abundant light, and a free view on all sides. The
rooms are arranged with an elegant simplicity, and
provided with every necessary comfort. The whole of
the ground floor is occupied by refectories for the
nurses and servants, large bath room, kitchen, and
other offices. There is even an airy school-room for
such small patients as are able to occupy themselves
with study. The large dormitory on the first floor,
which is vaulted,, very lofty, and lighted by two
immense windows, containing sixteen small beds,
the covers of which are of crochet-work, made by the
Duchess, who employed a whole year in work-
ing them and various garments for the use of
the children. A handsome bas-relief over each
window adorns this doimitory, one containing
the likeness of the child " Lina," and the other the
figure of the "Madre Consolatrice." There are other
smaller dormitories, and a separate portion of the
building is devoted to infectious complaints. At
present there is provision for twenty-five patients, but
this will be soon increased, and the foundress hopes
that in time the hospital will become a great establish-
ment, more adequate to the wants of the city. In the
centre of the house is a simple and elegant little chapel
for daily mass. The shrine of the altar has small golden
doors, in which are set the coral beads once
worn by the child whose name the hospital bears. In
front of the altar is a prie-dieu, with an embroidered
cushion, the pillow on which the head of the child
once reposed; and at the side of the chapel stands an
oaken reliquary, beautifully carved by the Duchess
herself, and containing articles which also belonged to
her lost child. Thus the whole establishment is full
of a poetic and tender memory of an innocent child
a memory the deep sorrow of which has been nobly
transformed into active charity towards all other
suffering children, many of whom will, let us hope,
there regain health and happiness.