The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-03
A BEEHIVE OF BABIES.
The Founding Asylum of the Sisters Of Charity
Seventeen Hundred Infants Saved from
Premature Death.

The Founding Asylum of the Sisters Of Charity
Seventeen Hundred Infants Saved from
Premature Death.
If any of our New York ladies want to expe-
rience a sensation of genuine pity and sympathy
for helpless innocence, as much more delicious
than the momentary impressions produced by a
novel or play as champagne is better than
soda-water, let them call some fine morning at
the Founding Asylum of the Sisters of Charity
of st. Vincent de Paul, at No. 8 North Wash
ington square.
HOW THE ASYLUM LOOKS INSIDE.
The visitor to the institution, on ascending
the marble steps and being admitted to the front
door, is ushered into two large and beautiful
parlors, simply but richly furnished, which are
used on Sunday as chapel for religious SER
vices, and twice a week as place where num-
Der of benevolent ladies meet to cut out and
make garments for the little inmates The rear
room, formerly the dining-room when the house
was used as dwelling, is the dormitory by
night and the living-room by day for the ten
Sisters in charge of the asylum. In the base
ment there is, near the street door, which
stands open day and night, a crib in which un-
fortunate parents compelled to abandon their
offspring may deposit them unobserved, and on
ringing bell summon one of the Sisters to re-
ceiVe them. The front basement room is used
as an office in which to receive the nurses from
the country, who have to report themselves and
bring the babies they have charge of twice a
month, and where the books are kept, bills are
paid, and other such business transacted. The
remainder OF the basement story is given up to
the nurses dining rooms, kitchen, laundry and
similar uses.
THE BABIES.
All the rest of the house above the first story
is devoted to the babies. Room upon room is
filed as full possible of little iron cribs,
ranged along the walls, each with one and some
with two little occupants nesting in it. The
babies are OF every race and nationality, some
of them beautiful, and all interesting Looking
at them as they lie either peacefully asleep or
meditatively regarding surrounding objects, IL is
impossible not to think sadly of how much
misery, anguish, and despair each one of them
is the embodiment.
THE NURSES
employed in the asylum are partly respectable
married women, but many, also, are unfortu-
mates, who have made false step, and who find
in this institution home, employment, and an
opportunity to reform their lives which is the
means of salvation TO them. In more than one
instance they have gone with q Recommendation
from the Sisters to situations, where they are
now earning an honest living. This is one of the
most valuable features of usefulness in the in
stitution.
WHAT TIE ASYLUM is GOOD FOR.
In answer to the natural inquiry how the in
stitution is prevented from being an auxiliary
to the vicious or imprOYident increase of the
population, suppose, for instance, parents wish
to temporarily provide for their infant Offspring
without expense, can they not deposit them in
the crib with means OF subsequent Identification
and redeem them again when it suits them?
The answer to this is that no such reelaimine is
permitted. The child once placed in the asylum
must stay there, unless in the judgment of the
Sisters the cause of morality-as, for Instance,
by making the marrying of its parents condi-
tion-will be promoted by giving il back And
as to the encouragement OF laWless passion nv
removing the fear of consequences, the Found
ling Asylum only comes in to supplant those
fearful acts which destroy not only the unborn
babe, but the health If not the life of the
mother. 1t saves to the country just so many
possible men and women who under its care
grow up to be useful members of society, in
stead of being consigned to premature grave
NJ Y. Sun, today.