The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-10-22


in all things. The best and mos, nutritious food
10 Tor her she walks out when she pleases, and
even has the carriage at her disposition, from time
TO time, TO take the dear chIld out TO ride, because
nurse 10 not strong enough 10 carry IT, She enjoys
herself as long as her authority lasts. This she
prolongs by various arts, of which she has the
secret. But at last the fatal day comes when she
must return TO the cabin OF her peas ant husband.
She returns loaded with presents. but taking habits
with her which are little calculated TO make her
or her husband happy.
The humane disposition of the French, is shown
in the many benevolent institutions they have
founded for children and women. In every de-
parment may be found lying ia hospitals, found
ling hospitals, and orphan asy lums, whose gites
always stand wide open. The closest observa.
tions on the effect OF hese Institutions on The moral
condition Of the community, have been made for
long series OF years. Those on founding hospi-
tails may serve as an illustration. The system first
adopted in these, for the reception OF children was
yhe REMOVING box a bell was rung, tbs box was
turned ,with The open side outward, the child de-
posed Ia il on a soft cushion, the box turned IN
again, and the child received. No questions were
asked, and no means taken TO discover the name
of the person deposmg. IL name was given to
the child, il was retained; if not, II was rcketed
numbered, and named by the State. Any mark
left, as means Of recognising the child at somc
future day. was religiously kept. This system was
thought 10 encourage RIGHTEOUSNESS aud the aoan-
donment of infants, and was replaced, some years
ago, in the departments, by more cautious oae
The effect Of this change has been clearly proved
tenn will soon be everywhere restored
The internal management of these institutions IS
deserving of the highest praise. The Paris hospi-
fal for instance is kept clearly and ITS floors are
as we'll waxed as the ruilleries The children
appear to be as well taken care of possible But
what mercenary care can compe nsate tor mothers
love Her caress, her sympathy, contribute more
than food to the vivacity OF the Intellect, the bril-
liancy Of the eyes, and the ruddlnes3 OF The blood
which courses through the roseleaf cheek. NO
art can supply the absence Of maternal affection.
4 ,l,t,a nj
public benevoenee, il must be admitted that the
enc adopted in France is admirably organized
In a chapter devoted to children, II would not
do to emit notci2g the rs' inportan. Legal act OF
At the office Of the mayor OF his ward before he ID
three days old, accompanied by his father and two
witnesses Of his birth There the date Of his birth,
his sex, name, and all other interesting particulars
of his short biography, are registered He will often
be under the necessity of producing copy OF this
entry, for, in France one is often obliged to prove
that he Is been born-a fact not TO be established
before French court by personal presence. This is
the most routine.Oving nation In existence, and
the copy above mentioned must be produced on
fifty different occasions in fe-on entering q
getting into the National Assembly, on getting
married, on taking passport, and on taking a
diploma. You may well suppose that many shelves
ofthe library of the mayor are filled with ponder
Gus volumes, containing the Biographical notices OF
the young citizens of his ward.
AS intimated at the beginning OF this letter, the
,pub.ic gardens are common places OF resort lot
children young enough TO remain under the care OF
nurses. There they amsse themselves with look.
ing at the beautiful statues the large vases fhl OF
f, flowers, the marble columns, the fountains spouhng
up their Jets of water in the sunlight, the plots oil
soft green grass, and the china asters, roses, and
dahlias, that droop uto the walks; or, tired OF
this, they trunde their hoops, or gather In groups
under the shade Of the old chestnuts and syca-
moree, TO join in the noisy sports OF childhood.
Sometimes little fellow strays oil from his nurse,
down some shady avenue; what a distress the
poor creature is in, wringing her hands, and in.
quirng of every person she meets tor a little child
three years old, wearing a straw bonnet, with a
Iiband and blue apron She always finds him
sooner or lser for there sentnels at the gates
to prevent his getting into the street, and keep
him until the arrival of the nurse. But an acct
dent happened, not long since, at the Geological
Garden, which sent thrill through the whole
city. SIN afraid to touch lightly on 1t here,
for, on pairing from my readers, | would not
awaken in them painful sympathy Suffice it to
cay, that the nurse was affected by 1t that she
threw herself into the Seine, from the Austerlitz
bridge, and the mother sill weeps for her child
because IL is