Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-03-17
Founding Hospital in Moscow.

movement is on foot in New York tor the
establishment OF founding hospital on large
scale, on the plan OF shat in Moscow, Russia.
The Moscow founding hospital is the larg-
est in the world 1t was organized by the
Emnress Elizabeth about one hundred years
sioce. and has now yearly fund of 100000
for it's support. There is Lombard bank, and
also savings bank attached to it. There are
admitted yearly some twelve thousand children.
These are not left, as in some other institutions
ot similar kind, at the door of the building,
but are taken openly, either by their mothers,
or some friends, into an entrance room, set
apart for that purpose AS we stopped few
moments in this room, We counted sixty women.
each With an infant in her arms, waiting, IN
single file, to make their deposit. Noquestlon
isasked by the recording clerk except 'Has
the child been baptized? and if SO, ty what
name? ?'.*' So
The child is then registered, number is
placed around its neck, and figures upon its
cot while receipt showing the same number
is handed to the bearer Of the child, in order
to enable her to visit, or even claim it at any
future period up to the age of ten years The
infant is then passed into aaother room and
handed to its future foster parent she being
the woman who happens, at the moment, to
stand at the head Of the list amongst num-
Der who are always waiting in attendance
These women are generally peasants from the
country, who have, it was told us, themselves
been depositors of their own children but lew
hours before, or else mothers who have lett
their own children in the country to be brought
up by hand, attracted by the wages and good
is not supposed that even a majority OF these
children are Legitimate The great proper
ton are left there by the parents from poverty,
or from being in service.
The nurses have distinct apparel Tor each OF
the different wards in these vast buildings.-
Some have blue, others red and green caps.
There were seven hundred nurses in this one
hall alone. In passing from one ward to an
other we could not help remarking the clock
like regularity with which the whole estab-
lishmenl is conducted. There seems nothing
omitted which good domestic management can
suggest or medical art approve The simple
arts of washing and dressing are brought to
perfection, and executed with great rapldity:
The Infants are bathed in copper tubs, lined
with flannel, and they are dressed on down
pillows, instead of the hard hoops or bony legs
Of modern nurses.
Never upon earth was there more aston
ishine mixture Of baby -fesh-big and little,
pug-nosed, blue and black-eyed, fat, lean, red,
yellow and white babies 1t might be sup
posed that they would make great deal OF
noise, but we only heard about forty or fifty
small choruses while. there. But suppose the
whole number should start at once! Who can
imagine the style Of music of 5000 baby voices,
when they give up their mind to do it ? But
I suppose they spend most of their time IN
sleeping, and seem to be much given to eating
and drinking. During the summer months
several thousands Of these children are sent
out in the country to nurse. AS soon as they
become old enough, they are taught reading
and writing, and the e, most intelligent are Sc
lected as teachers. The boys usually receive a
military education, and certain portion Of
them furnish recruits for the imperial army.
The FASHIONS. the balmy skies of
spring and the jolly face Of the god of day
look down on our fair city and melt the snow
and mud heaps that have so long encumbered
our principal thoroughfares, as we'll as our back
alleys, the ladies begin to pay attention to the
most becoming and attractive novelties that
Mistress Fashion has devised for the season. -
The spring opening day is fast approaching
and the nlodlsteS are in session, ronderlng over
the latest Paris eXtravagances, and selecting
and adapting for their patronesses the most ap-
propriate and stylish toilets that the spring
demands. There will be, however, little in the
way of novelty in the spring fashions. Bon
nets will be, if possible, smaller than ever, and
milliners lament in vain over the dechne OF
their business. The bonnets at present IN
vogue are such that almost any lady can make
them for her own wear, and, of course, this in
jures the millinery business to a considerable
degree. Yet, sooner or later, there must be a
revolution in the styles of bonnets: A tiny
piece of velvet, flower and ribbon, can
never satisfy the demands of the feminine
head, and already mutterings Of discomfort are
heard.-N Y. Hera7d r.
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