Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-06-12


Come and dine AZ my house to-tnor-
row, and l viii show you onc." On the
next day waited upon him, and sliaii !.
now relate what saw.
.sThe house of NJ. Duchaiiia Is most
beautifully situated at ChaIl'o', w rne
Ccmfs Elyeres, about two miles rom Z
RS, commanding most extensive view
lof the city, the Seine, and the S@m1 &C
Mars. In front, there IS q very large and ,
elegant partcrre, terminating IN an extern !
sipe kitchen garden; behind, there IS a. !
mother large house, formerly the monas-
fiery of ST. Perine, which also belongs TO
| this establishment; and field, of about
four acres, bordered by well cultivated
garden.
"ln this establishment found nearly
one hundred aged persons, male and fe-
male, whose manners and appearance evil
IDENTITY bespoke that they had figured in
the gcntceler walks OF life, and whose
counienances indicated the most perfect
, happiness and contcntmenl. This (said
he) is the retreat have established Tor
old age"
"You must now follow me, step by step,
with NJ. Duchailla, into The distribution
! " 90 ehS r"'tihSnsS vi Hts ooaiSsstS 49,
nomy.
The chambers occupied by the female
part of the. society, compose the right
wing of the house. Each female has
bed chamber to herself exclusively and
there is one sitting room or parlour APP
, propriated to two females. Their clolh-
/ ing, If required, is found them.
!, The left wing Of the house is occupi-
!. ed by the males, who are distributed in
d the same manner as the females, each
5 person having bed room to himself and
=. common pariour being allotted 10 two
E persons, in which they receive the visits
!. of their relatives and friends wiihou, the
. Inconvenience of being obtrudedupon by
/ strangers. A husband and wife have a
f room also to themselves.
Their diet corresponds in every res
pect with the neatncss and simplicity Of
their apartments. At one O'Clock, plen-
ti!ul dinner rs served up in the hall for the
whole society, and at seven they again as
semble TO supper. Besides q sufficient
quantity ofmeat and vegetables. each per-
( son IS allowed pound and hall OF bread,
4 the men bottle Of wine, and the women
halt bottle daily. 81
i 8 In case of sickness they are removed
10 particular part Of the house, which is
used as an iniirmary, where they are pro-
sided With every medical assistance, and
experience every possible attention /; and
IN case OF their decease, they are decent
! ly inferred in the neighbouring church, at
the expense of the society: or elsewhere,
at the expense of their friends.
. "Their time is entirely at their own
. disposal. They may even employ them
selves in any lucrative occupation, proyi
r ded IT does not interfere with the quiet and
i general rules OF the house. observed
I'll that several females were very pro6tably
lr and families. What little pecuniary emo
h luments they may acquire by their indus
Il try, supply hem with pocket money. The
It men usually pass their time in reading
walking IN the neighbouring fields, or &C.
casionaliy working IN the garden. In ge.
neral, observe they were less active and
industrious than the women, but much
more devoul.
IS The difference between this institute
on and hospitals consists in this. the sub
c scriber has right to The possession ofthis
L property Tor lie, acquired By his own eco
i nomy and labour, and for which he is in
! debted neither TO the compassion, nor to
b The liberality Of others.
4 subscription is the essential and in
? dispensable condition OF acquiring the
: right of admission, according TO which,
every subscriber must pay regularly and
punetually, len pence per month, from ten
I'LL thirty years of age one shilling and
three pence per month, from thirty, TO fif.
: ~; one shilling and eight pence per month
from Fifty TO seventy years ofage. These
different payments will amonn; to 4sl
! which must be completely paid before a
person can acquire The right of admission.
! Hence, IL any one more than len years oil
: age, should offer as subscriber, he or she
I must deposit, at the time of subscription,
: and according TO his or her age, the sum
: which would have been paid if the sub
sctiption had commenced at ten. In or
der TO give encouragement 20 bcneyoleHce,
all persons who may be disposed to sub
scribe, may Transfer their right to as ma
ny persons as they have made subscripti-
z ons, on condition that the person who