The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-05-27
HOW THE POOR ARE TREATED IN
FRANCE.
THE CATHOLIC SYSTEM


In view of the borrid revelations of cruelty
to the poor and brutality to the insane recent
iy made at the North and especially in New
York, we would ask the attention of our read
ers to che Catholic system. A Paris correspoa-
dent writes;
!"We have no workhouses in France. Such
Institutions are boons only to be found in ere
| formed" countries. But none of your readers
will suppose for an instant that the French
| are not charitable. for CHARITY may be called q
French virtce.' A rapid survey of she ohari-
whole Of France, for this work could not be
| done in o rapid way, bot only in Paris, will
show MS how Catholic countries look after the
unfortunate. A remarkable article upon Cath
| rain some time ago; and intend following
the same order as wac therein followed:
Before even the child comes into the world,
the Society of Maternal Charity thinks about
it. This Society assists poor women in their
sickness, fiom whom o certificate of marriage
is required, and who must feed their children
first few months. If the acquisitions of this
| society cannot be complied with, there ia the
Association of Mothers Of Families. whose rule
10 not SO infexible. The devoted Sisters of
st. Vincent de Paul will certainly be looked
for, as attending to the wants of Childhood.
Ever trne to the principles of Christian charity
we find them directing the Hospital of Assist-
ed Children, where are to be found those in
fants wfose mothers cannot afford to keep
them. From this hospital the child is sent to
the country, where it is brought up.
We again find the Sisters at La Creche,
where mothers who are obliged to work for
| their families leave their shiljren to be at
| tended to every day. In some quarters of
Paris there is another charitable Institution in
the hands of the Sisters, with the object of as
sisting poor mothers who keep their children
st home. The Garre n,aternelle dc Sainte
for the women who leave their children to be
cared after. From the age of two to six years,
there is an asy lum in whiob the first rudiments
of knowledge are taught by the ever indefati-
gable Sisters. After these asylums, the cbild-
rem go to free schools, either lay or directed by
the Christian Brothers and the Sisters. In
all these schools the FIRST lessons of economy
| are taught the children, who are advised to
put th cir small savings in the several savings
banks, which are assisted by the State. Father
Petetot presides over the Garre des Faabourgs
year to poor children frequenting schools
prizes, etc to the amount of $4,000.
The blessings of relig 'ous instruction and
of the First Communion are given to the Paris
children by many institutions, among which
are the following: L'G ivre de Notre Dame,
instituted by Father Koussel, with the object
Of receiving boys above twelve years. After
having made their Fret Communion, they
are either placed with some good en-
ployer, else are employed in the workshops
of the Guvre. This Institution, by the way
papers, La France Illustre. There is q similar
| Institution for girls, called the Work of the
Child Jesus. Many more such charities are
doing good work. Only to name these ineti-
tutione would take mp toe much space (; suffice
| it to say, that for Paris orphan boys there are
nine orphansges in Paris, and seventy-seven in
the provinces for the children Of Paris. For
girls there are seventy seven in Paris, aud
Lightweight in the provinces for the children
of Paris. These societies also found night
schools, in which the Brothers and Sisters
teach.
The Society of st. Vincent de Paul has
seven patronsges for boys. The Guvre of st.
Nicholas is directed by the Brothers. There
are three establishments belonging to this in
stitution. The one in Paris has one thousand
children, who receive an excellent education,
and whose professional and industrial instruc-
The Catholic professional SCHOOLS give the
same advantages to girls. Young women
who are looking for situations ss teachers
find temporary asylum, information and
Christieps. The Sisters of the Presentation
are svilable to young women in business /; and
female servants fad Temporary lodging
until they fnd situations with the Servitea
of Mary and the Ladies of the Cross while
the Gavre de st. Joseph offers the same ad-
vanSages to men servants. Many work-rooms,
principally directed by the Sisters, give en-
ployment to young women. In some of these
places they live; In others they only work
but they return oD Sunday to perform their
religious duties. The G lvre of our Lady of
Sion is especially intended for young con-
verted Jews. The institution of our Lady of
Bethlehem offers an asylum to women, young
and old, who are without homes; it also pro
vides for their being able to return to their
native towns. The curate of each parish
directs the Ladies' Charitable Association,
whose work rivals those of the Society of st.
Vincent The work of Mercy is for helping
those people who have become poor. The
PhilanEhropicat Society, founded under the
patronage of Louis XVI, gives gratuitous aid
to the sick. Seven congregations are occupied
with the attendance of the sick. For inc ira
BILE and other diseases, there are very many
hospitals, most of which are attended by the
Sisters of st. Paul. Such is the slight sketch
of q fetC of the charitable institutions to be
found in Paris.
A COMPLICATED CAsE-A rather complics-
ted case is about to come before the courts at