The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-09-29

1AG AV0Nl
had not then any idea Of the MAGNITUDE
which their undertaking. was destined TO
assume, though they fully understood Its
ty. In short time they discovered that
the house was not adapted to their aims.
Within one month it was full, and they
found that it was not only inadequate IN
size, but also that, in construction, It
was not suited to the purpose OF an asylum.
leased the bnilding which they now occupy
in North Washington Place, and they will
probably remain in it until their new asy-
lum buildings arc erected.
How many murders have been prevented
by the establishment of this Institution
An accurate answer cannot be given, yet
the great decrease in the number OF cases
of infanticide reported by the police since
the asylum was opened proves, beyond
doubt, that the enterprise OF tue Sisters
has been of very great value in checking
this horrible crime. Formerly cases OF
child murder were of almost daily OCCUR
and, up to the time of the opening Of the
asylum, there was a steady and alarming
increase in their number. Since that time,
however, the decrease has been SO great
that infanticide is now as rare as it had
previously been frequent. Mothers are
children when they know that near them 10
a.plAce where they can coDsign their little
ones to gentle and loving hands, without
making themselves known, If for any rea-
SON they desire secrecy and where the sup
port OF tho children does not twelve any
expense to them.
+ In the basement vestibule is placed
comfortable basket-crib in which the IN
conscious little stranger may be left. Near
the crib is q door-bell, which the person
leaving the child need only pull to secure
immediate attention to the helpless limo
cont. The cast.away is removed from the
crib at once and transferred to nurse. 1t
is duly registered in the books Of the asy-
lum with sufficient description and state
ment of circumstances to guarantee facility
of Identification, if at any time the mother
desires to reclaim it, and thenceforward 1t
IL cared for with constant solicitude- The
whole system is, in fact, almost identical
which the institution of the Sisters is
modelled.
Az many infants as can possibly be pro-
vided for are kept in the building, as the
managers have learned, by experience, that
children given out to nurse do not thrive
The mortality among them is much greater,
and in no respect do they fare 30 we'll rs
those who are constantly under the super
vision on the. Sisters. But as the institu-
ton is too small to accommodate all the
children committed to it, many are nursed
outside by respectable and reliable women.
The asylum has . branch house in West
chester country, and large numbers of in
fants are provided for there. The mana
gers do not, however, regard what is
known So the farmiDg-out system with
favor; and except when they are absolute
~ obliged to do 80, they will not resort to
il. Moreover, they ind it difficult to OBJ
foi p 10 d sp <I,on nd hov
will not entrust infants to any other. The
reason assigned for this difficulty by tho
attending physician, DR.. Reynolds, 10, that
"our small farmers have no necessity to
tax their wives and families with nurs-
lingo" There is much less trouble in this
respect in Europe where the condition Of
the rural Glasses is less favorable than here
and where the families Of small farmers
ind 1t necessary TO do many distasteful
things to increase their meaus Of living.
Although q crib Is provided for the re-
eeption Of infants, it should be understood
donment of children by their mothers. On
the contrary whenever they find it practi
cable to induce the mother to remain With
her child, especially if she is young. they
take her into the asylum. The child pros
pers better under the mothers care but
the chief motive in inaaelug young mothers
70 enter the asylum 10 to keep them away
from temptation. The Sisters cay the mo-
Their is made q better woman by being de-
tanned with her child, and, as they desire
to save tho mothers as well as the children,
they make special efforts to prevent separa-
ton. Quite often young woman, fire.
quently mere girl-for some of the
mothers are not beyond their sixteenth
year-will bring an infant to the asylum,
and, on being questioned by the Sisters,
will say she intends to hire out as a nurse.
In every such instance the Sisters remon-
strate earnestly against this, pointing out
the sin and danger Of abandoning the child,
and in almost every instance they persuade
the mother to relinquish her purpose.
They maintain that many young women
are thus saved from an evil course for, If
they once get away from the io6 uence OF
their children, there is great danger that
they will continue to descend.
The average number of women in the
asylum, exclusive of the Sisters, 10 about
sixty. Nearly all the mothers, nine-tenshs,
are nurses, and some of these nurses are
only from fifteen to eighteen years of age
The sSstem is such that q girl may be in
the asylum for months, with her infant,
and never be known even to the other
nurses. Several girls DOW there are mem
bers Of respectable families. Abiding to
these girls, the president Of the asyium,
II = AGA ~ -