National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-04
FAITH, HOPE, AND CHARITY
H4sHIEGToN WORKING IN THE BE-
NEVOLENT CAUSE.

H4SUIEGTON WORKING IN ThH DE-
NEVOLENT CAUSE
YAM, FRIENDS FOR THE WORN AM
ARRANGEMENTS Foh InH
$500 ENTERTAINMENTs PRoGkEss-
80 I1TrIv SISTERS OF THE Pooh-A
rI,S,n no THE INSTITUTIONAL ChAf'thi
'nppoPRIArIoN BY CONGRESS.
-, INIT surely the kind-hearted people OF
J,s;-,ct are rallying to the support Of tbs
inc Measure. and the spirits Of those Tho baye
SSo5nstitution in charge arorapidly rising. There
.. nodoubt that the people are thoroughly arouseG
20 the necessity ef making personal efforts to
1oaintaip the established Ravens Of rest in their
midst. for, from present appearances, little or no
ssistance n 10 be expected from the Cove rnment.
No one with n name, heart and Christi' feelings
conld fe% a moment hesitatet to enter with heart
and soal into the movement when c,nce the tnsti-
tuition proposed to be benefited has been inspected,
for a personal visit to them vou) prove that the
work there accomplished is eautiful and heav-
emily one, and worthy the followers Of Him who
said that 'inasmuch as ye Fave done It unto the
least of these my children, .ye have done unto me-"
LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR.
Attbe corner of North Fourth and H streets Is
located the INSTITUTION called as above. LISA
w
has a yery neat ARi comfortable appearance 1t
is surroundedbya high fence, the entrance being
through a gate on H street. II is kept closed,
but BY the pulling Of the bell-knob beside 1t the
visitor is glIGly admitted by the feeble old man
who presites at the gate. A representative Of
TIE REPUBLICAN yesterday paid q visit to the
Little Sisters. Upon pulling the belFkneb the
gate was opened by Sister, who happened to be
present and politely admitted She was neatly
In MI fD with n enOWEHlite cap
upouhe head. She was OF French descent, but
cofiEcrsed quite huently in English. An inspec-
ton Of the building was then began. The exte-
ror bore an air OF scrupulous neatness. The floors
were bare but very clean. A little reception
room was first visited, after which O visit was
made to the dIning-roon Of the redistribution. The
inmates were at dinner. They were all old and
feeble women, who, seated about o long table,
were being helped to fish, potatoes, bread and
tea by the patient Sisters.
The women were all over sixty years Of age.
Some Of them were palsied, and their hands trem-
bled as If they scarcely able to lift the food
20 their mouths. The old ladies looked happy and
eontented and It was beautiful sight to witness.
These feeble old creatures were taken in out of
the world, where they had not a friend to care
for them, and cs tenderly looked after as If the
hands that helped them were those Of their own
flesh and bloed But for this institution, perhaps,
they would hGve starved or eked out a miserable
existence BY begging from door to door.
SLEEPING ROOMS.
Passing from the dining room, the good Sister
led the way to the floor above into the sleeping
apartment The rooms were light and we'll ven
tiIated, and kept scrupulously neat. Against the
walls were o row Of iron bedsteads with light,
soft mattresses and counterpanes as white as
suoU. The beds were all single and Of ample
width to be comfortable. Tho floor above was
used for similar purpose, after inspecting which
a visit was made to the part Of the house allotted
to the men, for the sexes are kept separate. The
apartments for the water like that OF the females,
was in complete order, and every comfort that
could render the old fellows comfortable and con-
tented duly provided. Upon the first floor over
the dining room, and here too, the patient Sis
tiers were busily engaged in helping the Old men
to their dinner of fish and potatoes and bread,
while one old man, more supple than the rest,
served the tea from large tin vessel The poor
fellows were feeble and bowed with age. They,
too, had been taken in from the street and kindly
cared for while the Sisters gave their whole time
to provide them with food and clothing. A large
quantity of the latter were slowed away on shelves
in the storeroom, as were also q reserve stock
of linen and quilts for the beds. All was nicely
folded and placed upon the shelves in an orderly
manner.
THE INSTITUTION
Is one Of the most worthy and admirably-con-
Quoted in tho land. Although under the care Of
Sisters Protestants, as we'll Catholics, are pro-
Vded for four Of the former being residents of the
home. The Sisters support the inmates entirely.
Not cent is expended for food or drink, or cloth
ing The Sisters beg all these from day to day;
the hotels and markets supply the greater part of
the food. The inmates are fed first. and the Sis
tiers only eat when there is food left. The
clothing is also solicited by the same patient
workers so that is spent in maintaining the insti-
tuition. The number Of inmates is now fifty-one-
thirty-one OF whom arc males and the balance fe-
males. -Four OF the latter are totally blind Those
that are able help about the house, some Of the
old men passing part Of the time in tilling the
garden attached to the institution. At present
the ward for the males is full, and there are nine
moro waiting admittance.
1t is the intention Of the managers Of the insti-
tuition to add wing and chapel as soon as the
necessary means can be obtained to defray the
expense. At present there is a debt Of some three
thousand dollars over due and the managers
look eagerly TO the result of the proposed charity
entertainments to assist them out of their fnan-
cial distress. Mrs. General Sherman is the
nainstay Of the Institution, and takes motherly
pride in its success. She donated five hundred
dollars from her private funds towards the cree
ton Of the building, and Is deserving Of the high
est praise for the interest she takes in its welfare
Surely an institution like this, where the aged
and decrepid are kindly cared for, and at no eI-
pense for their maintenance, is one deserving Of
liberal support from the benevolent Of the District
THE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL,
corner Of and North Capitol streets is another
deserving institution. Some few years ago fair
was held by association Of ladies OF which Mrs.
General Sherman was president, and quite large
sum resulted therefrom. The amount thus cleared
was invested in the erection Of 8 building at the
above location, and fine school is now being car
ried on therein. During certain hours OF the day
Door children are taken in and taught how to sew,
the material being provided by the teachers.
Funds are urgently needed for the purchase Of
material for garments, in order that those who
learn to sew may be presented with the articles
Of wearing apparel they make. 1t was at the
fair, the result of which is the fine building now
used for the school, that costly ivory fan was put
up for rafie. 1t was very desirable but all the
chances were not taken up until recently. The
other day il was rallied of and won by Mr.. Perry.
1t is q beautiful piece Of workmanship, and
greatly coveted at the fair.
Tae school is open to visitors daily, and it will
we'll repay those who take an interest in such In
situations to give it On inspection.
NO AUTHORIZATIONS.
REPUBLICAN representative learning that
Congress would probably make no appropriations
for the charitable institutions Of the District that
were not directly supported by the Government
called upon Mr.. Garfield yesterday to ascertain
the facts in the case. The result was az reported
that in all probability many Of the institutions
which have heretofore received Government aid
will this year derive no assistance from that
source st. Johns hospital was favored with an
appropriation Of SIS 600 at the last Congress- and
the Ohildrens hospital secured Is, 600 in the same
manner. In all probability neither will this year
obtain relief from that direction so that there is
more urgent need Of assistance from the benevo-
lent than ever.
HOSPITAL SUNDAY.
70 khg Editor of the National Republican:
SIR: As you have taken the lead in awakening
the public to the necessity Of raising funds for the
smpport Of the charitable Institutions in the Dis
trlct Of Columbia, take the liberty Of bringing
TO your notice the excellent Institution Of Hospital
Sunday in England.
Fifteen years ago one Of the hospitals in Biz
mingham was in great financial embarrassment.
To relieve this institution, Canon Miller suggested
collections in all the places OF worship in Bir-
minghan; and, in order to impress the matter on
public attention, and TO arouse something like o
wholesome emulation, he conceived the happy
idea Of making these collections simultaneous.
A thousand pounds, he yentured TO predict, might
thus be raised. Within q fortnight the clergy, in
response to this appeal, assembled and fixed the
day; and, at the end OF month from the time at
- a.