The New York herald., 1869-01-02
THE BAY AT THE PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.

There is perhaps no other city in the world where
the wants Of the poor and INDECENT are so well pro-
vided for Us in New York. Even the treatment OF
the inmates Of our pententaries and asylums will
contrast most favorably with those Of England and
France. In the old countries poverty is treated
crime, in America as misfortune, TO be ptied and
relieved. The scale Of diet In the English poor
houses IS so very meagre that our very vagrants
would turn their noses at it In disgust There
it is looked upon as q great stretch OF hu-
manity to give the inmates a meat dinner.
twice year-at Christmas and Easter. Here there
are few OF our charitable institutions in which the
inmates DO not get meat dinner al least three
times week.
Our public charities and public institutions for the
relief OF the poor commensurate with the wealth
and progressive greatness OF the city. In such a
city as New York. with its influx OF the poor OF the
Old Country, there must, at the best Of times be
II We have more poverty than other cities we have
more wealth and more liberal private and public
charities to alleviate Its sufferings.
Besides the liberal provision made by our public
institutions and the generous private charity Of our
citizens there are several religious, missionary and
trades societies, which relieve great numbers Of our
ndigent poor.
in the poorhouses and charitable institutions OF
Europe there little nothing done to remind the
poor OF the s0lemnity OF our great festivals: In
America our institutions are fitted up in an impos-
ing manner. The Christmas tree is decked out In
the Rayest manner: bOunteous dinner Is served up
TO the inmates: plays, dances and other amusements
are improvsed and thus the poor are made to feel
names for sophlsts to preach about All these have
humaniZing effect upon the poor and tighten the
burden Of their load: They feel that they are not
forgotten by the world and that kind and generous
hearts respond their wants and labor to alleviate
their sufferings. The HERALD has given an account
OF how the inmates were treated on Kandas.
Wards and Blackwell's islands on Christmas Day.
Thereiwas little variation on New Years day; they
were ali treated to good dinner, and though the
day was extremely nclement the inmates Of the
different institutions seemed to enjoy themselves
fully.
The little children In the nursery department an
peared clean, wen fed and as happy as such poor
little ones could be- They played ana amused them
selves with their dolls and toys. and the whole
appeared to be better fed and better than the
children OF our laboring classes. Each woman has
the care OF her own and another child. AS general
thing the poor orphan does look to be as plump
or healthy as the other. We would call the atten-
ton OF the Commissioners to this fact. trust
ing that the same treatment and the same
support will be given to both. We should
like 10 see the statistics OF the rate OF
mortality among the infants, and would venture to
state that threefosrths Of them belong to the moth
erless.
The inmates Of the Inebriate Asylum seemed to
spend New Years day pleasantly enough IN read
Ing, chatting with their friends or one another or
enjoying quiet game OF billiards.
BlackweIps Island.
The Christmas decorations In the numerous hos
ptals asylums and other institutions on this island
were left up for the celebration OF New Years day.
In the hospitals the inmates appeared clean and
comfortable and cheerful under the influence Of
New Years dinner. A number OF patients were
confined to their BEDS reading their Bibles or other
books: those able To move about were collected in
groups aroana the stoves talking "a over old times
times.
In the Penitentlary The inmates were collected in
chatting groups evidently forgetful OF their mis-
fortunes. Some appeared TO be hardened in crime
and quite at home; others, particularly young
less conduct Of reckless libertInes looked downcast
and fororn as II the remorse Of their evil ways was
eating away their very lifeblood. Could their pase
seducers but see them ana read their hearts they
too, might feel the compunct0n OF remorse.
Randalps Island.
The children here had New Years service fol-
lowed by Q Thanksgiving hymn, after which they
cheerully retired to enjoy their New Years dinner
The earands and decorations OF the halls and the
Christmas trees seemed to have lost OF their at
fractions for the little folks who crowded around
them in eager groups even the idiots seemed to
ENJOY as much happiness as their miserable lot would
allow.
House Of Mercy.
The above institution, which IL under the care of
the sisters Of Mercy, at No. 80 East Houston street.
visited by several OF the Sisters friends yester-
day. The altar Of the cosey little chapel was beaut
fully decorated, In an instruction room down stairs
the CRIB was exhibited The kings, wise men, shep-
herd boy and some other figures pife size) were
grouped around the manger which contained
ters and inmates with occasional donations
from outside friends, is the entire sup.
port OF the House of Mercy. Besides a good
school for the education OF Catholic children, and
home for needy girls Of good character I'll en-
poyment Ia procured for them, they also feed many
OF the poor during the inclement seasons. In fact
their works OF mercy are numberless In the even
ing the chapel was t up, presenting brilliant ap
pearance and the days work was flushed with suit
able devotions. They are putting up new building
In EiRhty-tirst street, which they expect TO have
ready By May. The Sisters do not confne themselves
70 the duties OF their house alone. They are found
IN the prison and the hospital, and many families
the city whose pride causes them 20 hide their pov.
erty from their acquaintance. often saved from
actual starvation by the Sisters Of Mercy.
Other Charitable Installations.
Al the Five Points House OF Industry the children
who have had ayacaton since Christmas had gen
eral holiday yeserday--no feastlng or teaching but
entire freedom for one day and they made the most
oft.
The children OK the Ladies' Mission, opposite the