The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1879-01-05
Public and Private Charities.

A"u Ino5e conducted by private indiv
duals. The two pictures, one of the Hous
OF the Little Sisters of the Poor, the othe
OF an establishment for similar beneiciarie
carried on by the city, corner of Annupci
alton and Calliope streets, are in point. Ii
Q the one we see the kindness and affectionat
care OF the Sisters, followed by cheerful
q ness, comfort and happiness on the part o
r the aged and decrepit wrecks Of humanity
that have been 60 fortunate as to find q
refuge 10 that haven. In the other picture
there Ia squalor, discomfort, cruelty, op.
preston, discomfort and unhappiness.
Two similarly contrasted pictures are
found in the instances of the Louisiana Re.
treat for insane patients, and the City In
sane Asylum, Common street. If there is
class OF misfortune which, more than any
other, demands patience, forbearance and
sweetness in its control, it surely is in
sanity. This disorder is accompanied by
an abnormal excitement or sxcitability that
must be be calmed down. Keep it con-
stantly fretted, keep the sore place, as 10
| were, constantly raw, and it can never get
| well. The poor unfortunates, like little
children, m ust, of course, be controlled with
absolute firmness, but at the same time
made happy by an affectionate, caressiDs
manner and by an unfagging solicitude
for their comfort and Amusement. All this,
according to the Grand Jury, is in full |
activity at the Louisiana Retreat, conduct |
ed by Sisters of Charity, while, on the
other hand, doleful showing is made for
fhesCity Asylum. The jurors report that
they "believe it to be better managed than
when, about year ago, it became pub.
lie scandal, but there is still much room
for improvement )" and again ga CON
trast OF the comfort, cleanliness and atten-
ton of the two insti titutions shows the
Insane Asylum to be lamentab,y inferior
and deficient"
The cause of tho difference is manifest.
Members of Religious Orders devote their c
ives to works Of charity for the love of
Tod, and they believe that they can best a
how their love for Him by showing and =
exercising love for His creatures. Their
ives become full of love-the only power a
hat can throw halo of happiness over
he lives of others. Very often, nay, gen. .
rally, their devotion to the sick, the de- IL
repit, the blind, the insane, the unfortu
ate of every class, is more unwavering,
1ore self-sacrifcing, more heroic than
nat of fathers and mothers. Money can "
ny attention, but not love, and nothing =.
ut love can give the ineffable charm that !,
rowns the work of attention with the ct
appiness of it's object. Bought attention 81
of quality proportioned to the price, "a
nd consequently the beneficiar of ma. "'
'clpal benevolence have to put up with -
hat Is called ''cold comfort" They o.
rist physically, but with torpid, frozen
oral life. eh
The Grand J1ry, moved by the prompt -
gs OF humanity, very sensibly recon- r
end the transfer of the inmates of these "
70 city establishments to the two CORES. ="
'ndiog Institutions above mentioned ~
at is the aged and infrm to the House OF ", W
@ Little Sisters, aud the insane to tho ~.
oulsiana Retreat. The Grand Jurors
'weVer, seem not to have much confidence -
the prospect of a compliance with their -
ggestions. They refer to the fact that -.
ese recomme ndations have been m ade by y.
rmer Grand Juries, and unaVailipply,
he explanation of this unwillingness of the r..
unicipsl authorities they find in the fact -
lcited by them from ex Mayor Pilsbury,
at such institutions afford occasions of a.
icial patronage and political Influence. -,
7ory Administrator considers himself 40 -
uch the stronger for the next race as the an
mber OF underlings kept by him in posi- q,
ms OF profit is greater, and Of course each 10;
struggles iercely against oh
y curtailment of his influence by abolish Lo
establishments belonging to his depart ~,
mt. The old Council, just going out of '''
ice, voted to close the City Insane Asy-
NJ and transfer its inmAtes to the Louie
IA Retreat, but the new Council prompt
repealed measure interfering SO
iously with the privileges of members. OF