The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-20
La CREOHE.
BY FREDERICK S. cozzRNs.


the Tuileries, and the Champs Elys6es Cor
Elysian Fislds) just one block apart from
them, and called by the name of Rue St,
HonoI6. 1t was one bright and beautiful
morning that walked up this street with
friend of mine, who then resided in this
famous city. "YOu will see," said he, "a
great deal that is vile and wicked in Paris, if
you take the trouble to look for it; but you
will also find great deal that is good, noble,
and benevolent, If you will take the same
trouble; although l must say that foreign
visitors do not care much to find out what is
really good and worthy Of visiting here, pre-
ferring instead to indulge their curiosity in
other and less reputable objects" So saying
he led me through a door up one flight of
stairs into spacious room, that at once filed
me with surprise and delight.
For standing endwse against the walls of
the room, on every side, were beautiful little
swinging cradles nearly all of light IRON
work and painted of various colors-blue
green, white, and gold and other gay tints,
with tiny white sheets, blankets, and pillows
and nestled amid the soft warm coverings
was such a multitude of rosy faces, nearly ell
of them fast asleep, that what with the bright
day shining through the tall windows, and
the bright cradles, and the eXquisitely clean
room, and the little heads and closed eyelids,
and rosy cheeks and lips of this baby congre-
cation around, one could scarcely be un-
moved, even if he were an American, aud his
own little ones were no nearer to him than
three thousand miles beyond the salt sea
Nor was the surprise OF seeing SO many
swinging cradles at all diminished by reading
the illustrious names attached to them; for
every one had plate or card upon which was
engraved or inscribed the name OF some juve-
nile of illustrious birth; for instance, the one
on my right, as entered, bore the name of the
young Prince Imperial, and others, on every
side, exhibiting some title of nobility belong
ing to the tender morning glories OF the Em-
pire. $50, them said J. 'here lies the flower
of the young noblesse Of France ~ Here are the
infant emperors, princes, dukes, marquises, and
counts of the Napoleonic dynasty. Alas where
are the young BourbOns the Orleans, the Mont
pensiers, the Joinvilles, the MOntmoreucies
By my faith, the children OF people of rank
are always beautiful; there is something so
distinguished looking in their countenances,
even when asleep, that you at once recognize
the difference between them and the children
of ordinary people.
A few of the youthfal dukes and princes
were wide awake; and sitting bolt upright in
their cribs, while quite rosy ring of urchins
were seated on the clean wax floor, all with
round, shining eyes, and little black heads,
and blooming cheeks; but, to my surprise,
not among them all was a note of complaint
uttered, cry of pain, an exclamation OF fret
fulness. Ali looked happy, clean, and con-
tent. But it seemed to me they were awfully
serious-staring at MS with naughty looks, as
if impressed with the dignity of their posi-
tions in life.
A couple of bright, apple faced nuns of the
Order of st. ThGIese, clad in yellow stuff
gowns, with keys, rossries, scissors, pincush-
ions, or other useful articles, hanging from
their girdles, were bustlipg about amoEg the
callous community, as full of goodness and
mirth and cheerful conversation, as if they
had been veritable mothers themselves. The
whole establishment, one of them said, was
under the immediate protection Of the En-
press, as well as seventeen other cr6ches in the
city. They were benevolent institutions,
where poor mothers could deposit their babies
in the morning, before going to their daily
work, returning to nurse them at proper
hours, and then to take them home in the
evening. Why they are brought to La Cr5che
in the morning, they are washed, dressed, fed,
and attended to during the whole day, medical
attendance provided, if necessary, for all of
which the mother pays only two sous Cor two
cents). This institution takes charge of sixty
children day, none of which, believe, are
over two years of age. The swing cradles are
the gifts of benevolent ladies, many of them
OF high rank, and are given in the name
of their own little ones. "See here" she
said, pointing to the first one that attracted
my attention, ga cradle from the Empress
herself!'
So, then, these are not children of noble
blood, but only foundlings of washerwomen
and seamstresses. l thought from the first
they all had a sort of plebeian look "Pardor
me, monsieur" said Sister Agathe, "these art
not foundlngs. Their mothers are very poor
but they may be very respectable. And wher
they take their infants away at night, ali
monsieur should see how happy the poo
mothers are to get them back once more
huggiDg them as if they never never wanted
to part with them again ~
1t was a beautiful thought to give these in
stitutions the name they bear for La Crech
signifies ga mangeT," and at once brings Il
mind the heavenly manger in which thj
young Saviour-himsef child of the poor
was carefully laid by his virgin mother.
Such institutions as La Cr6che do not foste
crime; but they may be the means of prevent
ing hundreds of thousands of cases of intanti
cide they may prevent many cases of suicide
they may even bind fathers and mothers to
gether by stronger tiessthau those which ar
too often separated by misery and hopeless
ness. Little children soon grow large enough
to take care of themselves, aud even to add Il
the support of family. But while they ar
infants, and helpless, and poor, and friend
less, protect them for little while Oh y,
benevolent!
| turned from La Creole with happy heart
to think that even in this vast ana vicious cit,
the little ones were not altogether unproVide
for; that even in the midst of toll and priva
tion Partisan mothers could look forward
the rising of the mornings sun with hope an
gratitude; and as | then thought OF my ow