The sun., 1873-02-01
NEW YORK'S BEST CHARITY
fTHB UNDLING AsYLUM OF THE
A. SISTERS OF CHlRITY,

=
| The Tiso OF Fashionable Denevolence-
Il who Make the Garments for 1900 Ba-
:. bies t-who are the sisters of Charity e
Mount ~. yincent's-Pont lIiii Castle.
The fashionable and favorite charity OF
New York is unquestionably the Founding Asy-
ium OF the Sisters Of Charity. 1t is one which
has enjoyed the most unbounded popularity
ong all classes OF society from its commence
ment, and one which has exerted deeper and
more extended influence upon the tone Of our
city than any other. 1t has taken the reproach
of infanticide almost entirely away fron our
population, resculng from cruel death by
murder, at the hand Of a parent, or through tho
fundamentally Of baby farmer, over 5000
helpless children within the last three years.
Yesterday the same suS reporter who nrst
visited the asylum when It was opened In oeto-
ber 1859, In East Twelfth street, called ut the
present
at 3 Washington square. north, and obtained
from the Sister Superior In charge the following
statement:
The asylum was opened Oct. l2 1852 Since
that day over 1900 children have been found at
the door or in the basket. or these, 1900 are
still living and In the sylum or out at nurse. II
must not be supposed that all OF the LOO re-
-mander OF the 5000 have died Many have, for
reasons best known to the Sisters, been returned
Turned II was generally in case Of the marriage
OF the father and mother. The number that
sTSSca aisS
OF living children Is, In reality .i,,r large,
6S ,hat sae msny Gs Of + tSe eAren aa 1
lin dying or fearfully diseased condition and
are 9FGh IN win t3e aTHs tbS q thew snSs
been probably rescued by force or stratagem
from violent death
WHERE THE MONEY CONES FROM.
The expense Of taking care Of and supporting
this number Of children is enormous. There are
twelve Sisters of Charity In the house and sixty
nurses, beside 1,OOO nurses outside; for most Of
dhe children are put out to nurse, the house In
Washington square accommodating only about
l15O. Those outside nurses are under the inces-
teant surveillance and superintendent, by visit
fing, OF the Sisters aud certain ladies, members
eii,oS per month To pay pay these nurses purchase
provisions, food, and clothing for the children,
present mt rate Of expenditure. Where the money
comes from r1 IA puzzle The city Isy; yS to the
ss, no saSs or
mStnemStiea problem to sect see that r sS0pp extra
tyarious sources supply this balance, for as yet
nse Il NO qpd re tS the Te s ns
the city, valued at $4,000, on which the build,
ling OF the new asylum are being erected and
tbesides have appropriated $lOnOo more for that
purpose. But that is the building fund, and tho
support OF the institution must be drawn from
other sources.
The current expenses Of the house for the
,nrst year amounted to $A,s4s.s3. The second
fyear To $01,1gsjg, and the third year to over
$4,000. All this money is supplied In the man
ner above mentioned.
THE NEW rouNpLrSG ASYLUM BuIIDISGs
tn course Of erection are located on the square
lying between si1ty-cighth and sixty-ninth
,e d anu hn 1n and sor
Front on Si1ty-eighth street They are all of inn
mense size. The central one has a facade Of
d. feet. and extends "a fec, back into the square
The other four,tO feet apart To give free cirCua-
lion Of air between them, extend from street to
atuFip.
with Mansard roof and bell tower. Under Its
handsome portal
THE TouRN CREcHE, on TURNING CRADLE,
for the reception of Infants Is constructed. In
II the founding is TO be placed. and "a bell pull
at the side TO be rune. AS soon gs the bell
mother are separated forever unless she can
Identity and claim !, in after years.
, Back OF the main building there will, In course
OF time be chapel. One other building, l.s'n.
dry and quarantlne me- II also 70 n 6o ball. This
@ TSS% lS opa anohef s %5PT
When q completed Il will be an Institution slit Of
which New York may well be proud.
THE REPORTERS STORY
On dark and gloomy afternoon In October,
three years ago the Sun reporter, who called
yesterday at the asylum, first visited the house
IN Twelfth street, then just occupied by the Sis
fants. There was no basket In the vestibule, and
IA little girl with a brown curly head and blue
eyes admitted the visitor She was a little, wee
thing, wit serious, mothcrly air. She is now
large girl OF thirteen or fourteen, and Is still
the FORTRESS ofthe asylum.
I She looks stlll more serious, hut calm and
happy, and strangely thoughtful for one so
young. That little girl has seen more babies,
perhaps, in three years, than any other little
girl In New York The sister in charge had at
that time only four Sisters IN the house, and one
little baby She brought the little founding in
the psrlor for the reporter to see, aud seemed
her. No associations for their aid had then been
formed; The only means provided for the sup
OF Charity from their funds under the control Of
the Mother House at Mt. 81. vinccnts, on
porter called again. There were about
Founding Aid Society had been organzcd.
THE FouSDLISG AID SOCIETY.
Its members were ladies of the most fashion,
able, elegant, and aristocratic circles of our
nnetropoiitan society; Ms Paul Thebaud was
Terence Donnelly, Vice President. The efforts
OF these two ladies in their respective positions
er, no tagging interest on the part OF Others,
ever keep them from the asylum on the regular
weekly meeting days, and there Is serious work
for all who attend these meetings. on these
nadles and their associates devolyes the work OF
more babies, besides devisine the WI ways y,,' and
means 20 purchase the materials for the gar
wants Of babyhood. And the little ones are
well, comfortably, and pretty clothed. Tie
of the fiscal affairs Of the establishment devoives
on them Constituting an advisory and assist
her receive and dsburse all the money that is
necessary for house rent, nurse hire, food, and
clothing for all the various inmates and attaches
of this expensive establishment.
VISIT TO THE INSTITUTION
some on the ladies were present when the re-
porter made the second visit, and II was evident
that the tide Of fashionable benevolence was
destined to take the direction of the Founding
Asylum On the door was plate on which was
inscribed Founding Asylum" and In the hall
"a little white box on tall pedestal on which In
BLACK letters was written, "Foundling Asylum
Bank One hundred per cent. interest, payable
dn Heaven" A little slip In the top OF the box
invited the deposit Of pennies dimes or dol
tars, On this occasion, while the reporter was
awaiting the opening Of the door, two girls with
baDies In their arms entered the yestibule.
Their faces were marrcd with the traces OF re-
cent tears and they had evidently come TO leave
their babies MS foundlings In the basket Of the
asylum. The reporter aud visitors made way
Tor them, and then most touching scene trans
'pired. The poor young creatures would put
their babies In the basket crib which had been
plaoed In the vestibule side by side, and then
try 10 take parting kiss, One of them, sObbing
bitterly, cried, In voice choking with grief
I "Ohl my babyl How can / give you up 2"
She clasped the little creature TO her BOSOM
and started of with IL in her arms Soon she re-
turned, however, ia hab i'm ha