The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1854-11-10
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ROSA GovoNA.

The following interesting life OF Rosa Govon
awe take, with few slight alterations, from
Julia Kavanagh's Women of Christianity ."
On the Northern side of the Ligurian APP
pennies, in the basin formed by the Upper
Panaro. extends the district of Mondovi, al
province of the Sandman States. Surround
ed b. fertile tract of land, rich in corn,
vines, mulberry trees and cattle, rises the
chief town, Mondovi. It is built partly
on the bank of the Ellero, partly on hill
which rises above the river.
In this quiet place there lived, in the
course of the last century, young orphan
girl of the name of Rosa Goyona. She ex-
celled in needle work, her only means ofsup-
port; she never cared for pleasure, and
thought not Of marriage; grave, mild, and
silent, she lived alone, in the dignity of labor
and the honor of womanhood.
Toward the year l746, Rosa, being then
in her thrtieth year, happened to meet y
young girl, an orphan like herself, who was
destitute, and without the means Of earning
livelihood. The sight grieved her com
passionate heart, and shocked her feminine
dehcacy. She took home the Young stran-
ger, and addressing her in language Of Scrip
tural simplicity, Here" said she, pointing
to her humble dwelling, "here shalt thou
abide with me; thou shalt sleep in my bed :;
thou shalt drink from my, cup, and thou shalt
live by the labor of thine own hands," This
last clause comprising independence and
self-respect, was one of the most cherished
points in the creed of Rosa. Pleased with
the docility and industry of her young guest,
she conceived the project of female associ-
alton, based on the principles of labor and
mutual aid. Ere long, the young girl of
Monodoyi was surrounded by society of
young and unprotected single women, who
dweltbeneath the same roof, and labored
diligently for their livelihood
So novel an establishment in Mondovi was
at first warmly attacked, but the prudent ST.
lence of Rosa and her companions, and above
all their bameless life, at length prevailed
over calumny, and they were able to live and
labor in peace Nay more, the authorities Of
Mondoyi at length offered Rosa, whole abode
4 had now grown too narrow, house ip the
plainssof Carcassona. This she readily &C
i cepted, and was soon surrounded by seventy
/ young girls. She obtained another and lar
ger house in the plain Of Brao but extend
ing her views with her means, Rosa no long.
er confined the labors of her friends to the
common tasks of needle-work; the house OF
Brao became real factory for the manufac-
ture of wooden stuffs. Five years had now
passed away since Rosa firststook home the
orphan girl. She might we'll have rested sat
is6ed with what she had done but consul
ting only her zeal and anxious wish Of
spreading she good effects of her system, she
set off for Turin in the year 1855.
Rosa Govona entered the capital of Pied
mont with no other protection than her own
strong faith, and no higher accommodation
than the two or three young girls who ac,
companied her. She simply explained her
project and asked for an asylum. The faith.
ers ofthe oratory of st. Phillip gave her q
few rooms for the "love of God, and the mil.
itary posts sent her litters and straw mat.
tresses. Rosa and her companions were
, satisfied, and establishing themselves in their
new abode, they cheerully set to work.
The fact became known, and attracted at
tention. On the suggestion of his financial
Minister, Count of Gregory, Charles Emanu-
el III. assigned to Rosa and her companions
huge buildings belonging to religious
brotherhood, recently suppressed. The house
was soon filed with forsaken orphan girls.
The king read and approved the judicious
rules laid down by Rosa, and ordered the
factories of the establishment to be organized
and registered by the magistrates appointed
to superintend commercial matters. From
that time the Rosinas as they were called in
ho:ior Of their foundress, enjoyed the special
protection Of the Sandman government. .
Rosa Govona felt deeply grateful for the
favor her plans had received from the king.
Knowing that the most effectual mode Of
showing her gratitude would be to continue
as she had begun, and to contribute TO the
commercial and moral prosperity Of his do.
miniops, she established in Turin two facto-
ries one of cloth for the army, and another
of the best silks and ribbons. Thanks to
her three hundred women, without any re-
source, save their own labor. they earned an
honest and comfortable livelihood, and pro-
vided in youth for the wants Of old age.
Houses depending on that of Turin were es-
tablished at Norazza, Fossano, Savigiano.
Salusso, Chieri, and st. Damian of Acti
Over the entrance Of every house which she
| founded, Rosa caused 10 be engraved the
words sshe had addressed to her first guest
.Tu sadngerdi cot Idvord dele tue mans
uThou shaitlive by the labor OF thine own