American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-08-14
Partisan Charities.

Among the manifold noble charidies that
go far to redeem the vice and vo]uptuous-
ness of Paris none is more striking and
pathetic than that which provides a safe
and happy asylum for the infants of wash
ing-women during the time when their
mothers are engaged in labor away from
home. This sweet charity owes its exist
ence TO humane and benevolent ladies, who
many years ago felt the need Of an institu-
ton that should relieve overtasked women
from some portion of the care of their
young children, and yet should not dis
charge them from all maternal Obligations
or separate them wholly from the little
ones, whose gentle influence docs so much
to soften and hallow domestic life. The
charity, commencing itself as it does to
every motherly heart, and appealing to its
strongest instincts for generous support,
has extended with great rapidity through
out Paris, and with the happy effect of di-
minishing mortality among poor children
and of increasing the comfort and selfre-
spect of their mothers.
AS nearly as possible in the center of
each district inhabited by the working
population is situated one of these institu-
lions, bearing the name of Creche, which
signifies literally Manager" and refers to
the humble cradle that received the Savior
in His lowly birthplace in the city of
Jerusalem. On the walls of the Creche is
inscribed this passage of Scripture: =. They
wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and
laid Him in a manger;" and here in a
large hall, lighted with many windows
and cnlivened with the songs of numerous
Gagged birds, are ranged rows of little cradles
hung with curtains white as snow. The
doors are open at six O'Clock in the morn
ing, and the mothers as they proceed to
fl,atr hrin N fI,ai 10 xx-hi el,
with parting kiss and caress, they de-
post in the arms of their waiting nurses
Immediately on each baby's arrival it is
rid of its poor. scanty garments, treated to
a thorough bath and dressed in clean, CON-
Portable clothes furnished by the institu-
ton. 1t is then placed in a cradle to rest
and sleep, or it is left on the floor to roll
and creep about on the soft mating.
At noon the mothers, in their hour of
respite from labor, return to the Creche to
cheer themselves and their little ones by
the performance of the tender offices of
maternity. AS their footsteps are heard
entering the hall the babies lift their
heads from the cradles with smiles and
cries of welcome, and with arms extended
to meet the warm, loving clasp to moth
er's bosom. Is it possible for charity to
conceive or create a scene of purer bliss?
Among the prosperous families of Paris
it is felt to be a religious duty to assist in
supporting the Creche, and an annual gift
to the institution is never forgotten. Chill
dren are encouraged to contribute to it,
toward the endowment of a cradle, while
little girls are stimulated to ply their
needles in the construction Of a wardrobe
for some one of the destitute babies.
Mothers who mourn over the empty era
die or cot in their own households find
some solace for their grief by furnishing a
cradle for a child of the poor, while moth
ers who are happy in the sight Of their
rosy offspring give from the overlooking
of grateful heart to this work of love and
charity -
Each cradle is designated by a number,
and bears the name of the ono who has en-
dowed and annually provides for it. Gen.
orally this name is that of some beloved
child, who, living or dead, has inspired
its mother to the gentle deed Of charity
As a reward of well-doing, children are
taken to visit the Creche that they may
learn lessons of sympathy and bcnevolence-
from most impressive and affecting
scene. In ministering to helpless, suffer-
ing infancy they learn the beauty and the
assuaging the miserics of
The poor and wretched Of every age.
The services OF all who unite in support.
ing the Creche are given gratuitously, ex-
ccpt in the case of the nurses. These are
paid for their daily attendance, and four
DR. five of them find employment in the
care of thirty babies. The mothers each
pay two sous q day for the privilege of
having their infants guarded and cherished
Turing their working hours. By this
small levy they contribute something to-
ward the support of the Creche, and retain
/ wholesome feeling of responsibility for
lso r,yvrfr,ra of fh>ir of Wbo,,
abors of the day are over the mothers take
heir babies from the Crcche to spend the
night at home. Yet if the infants are ill,
and likely to disturb the mothers rest with
heir fretfuiness, they are retained at the
asylum, and the poor working women are
hus enabled to secure the sleep that is so
much needed to sustain them in their life
Of toll.
Every day the Creche is visited by
without remuneration. The ladies who
have the institution in charge also visit it
1aily to inspect the condition of the chill
1ren, to note If they are regularly cared
tor, if the nurses are regular in their at
and obedient to the rules of the
A register in which all
matters referring to the Creche are care
fully recorded is kept open to the examina-
lion of visitors, and thus under the eyes Of /
all interested parties the institution is
regulated according to an exact and eff
Gent system.
But the charity that Paris extends to the
children of her poor does not cease with
their departure from the Creche. When i
they have learned to walk and have been
weaned from their mothers breast they
pass from the shelter of the Creche to that
Of an dsile, where their health and COM
tort arc amply protected, and their dawn
ing intelligence is wisely developed. As
hey reach a proper age for study they are
placed in the public schools, and from
hese they are taken in due course of time
by benevolent institution and appren-
iced to a trade. When in old age they
by some misfortune become helpless
again, they may once more seek the help
If charity and enter one of the retreats
provided for the aged and INDECENT. Thus
rom birth the poor children of Paris are
Kept outof the streets, and by the gener-
osity of the rich are tendcrly nourished,
ire given a rudimentary education, and
IRE fitted to earn an honest living. But
IN the entire series of charities from which
hey benefit, their parents, except in ex-
RENE cases, are obi ged to pay a trific to-
ward their support, while they always
-eturn when in health to spend the night
1t home By this wise management fam
ly ties are never sundered, and the love of
and of kindred continues to ex-
,rcise its beneficial influences ON the heart
Hospitals for the sick are always free in
Paris, and so are the two immense re-
reats, Bieetrc-and La Salpetricre, in each
If which 5000 of the most INDECENT and |
degraded poor find a shelter. The pauper |
md the poor-house are almost unknown in |
France, as, by private and public contribu- |
ions, a system of benevolence is sustained |
which provides for the wants of all classes |