The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-02
CHILDREN FOR ADOPTION.
THE NURSERY AND CHIJD's HOSPITAL'S
ORIGIN AND GROWTH

The demand for children TO adopt never
ceases at tho Nursery and Ohild's Hospital In
this city and Its country branch on Staten
Island. II should like a blue-eyed boy"
says one applicant. and straightway re-
lay Of bue-eyed boys are presented for
inspection. The critical visitor looks over
the blue-eyed battalion. and. after taking an
inventory OF tho points OF its component
parts. selects the boy that impresses him as tho
most likely 10 become President of tho United
States and bears him away. Or 1t may be that
black-eyed girls are in request and the same
programme is carried out, with the supplement
perhars Of native coquetry on the part OF the
embryo women who even at that early age. as
sumo pleasant expression and sock to secure
q choice by wreathed smiles. The managers
invariably require references from tho parties
wishing to adopt children. and then are not
allowed to take the little ones away until as full
information as is possible Is obtained as TO the
respectabillty and circumstances Of the appli-
can't Once in a whilo there is a case 10 which
some mystery Is attached and an example
OF this was afforded recently when lady
OF evident refinement and richly attired called
and said that she should like to adopt boy OF
n certain ago She requested that her name
should not be known save 10 one OF the man
ayers. to whom she was obliged to connde 1t,
uIlu Salu lilhl SDe WOulu nave ttnl u btTNtut W
fetch the child. but that she desired that none
OF the household should know where It came
from. The boy will undoubtedly DO reared IA
her own son. and owes his good fortune. 1t is to
be remarked. to the fact OF being blue-oyed.
Not nfreduenty the nursery is tho scene OF
marriages at which. to be sure. there is no
cake. no wine. no flowers. no ushers no any
thing. but which are sometimes moro impress
sive. because more eloquent, than many
fashionable ceremony. One OF these occurred
not long ago at the Staten Island branch. the
bridegroom being n young German who had
called TO see tho girl who was the mother Of his
child. After greeting her. he asked to see the
baby. ana the boy was shown him, whereupon
he produced ring and said that he was ready
10 assume all marital responsibilities. They
stood up. and were made man and wife, and
then he and she and the baby all started for
New York on a delayed. but still happy. honey
moon,
The particular baby that first suggested this
deserving i charity; anu which. II II sun lives.
nate as 10 be caught between the sill and the
sash OF a window one day while Mrs. Cornelius
ing the danger which threatened the child.
sprang from her carriage and. rushing up
the narrow stairs OF the wretched tenement
house. made her way into the room and re-
eased u from It's serious position. IL had been
lett by us mother while she went out TO her
perceived by any one save the merciful lady
who was so prompt in taking decisive action.
This incident led TO tho ultimate establish
ment Of q creche where women could leave
thor children while they were at work. Many
OF these mothers hitherto had been accus-
toned TO let their little ones wander about the
street all dny and to take their chances OF find
ing them when they returned at night, In the
event OF the disappearance OF tho little
ones. which was not unlikely. the parents were
forced to be content with inguiring Mt the sta
ton house Tor Information. WHAT with all the
abuses. the " Nursery for the Children Of Poor
Women was not opened any too soon. Shortly
was raging in the city, IL became evident that
the house was overcrowded and that either tho
Inmates must DO divided up or they must die.
In this emergency 1t was discovered that the
next house was vacant The key OF the base
ment door Of the nursery was found TO fit that
OF us neighbor. and women were sent in with
pals and brusl les to clean the rooms while the
manager on duty drove 10 the owners Office.
lie was wiling TO deliver up the keys OF house
he did not expect to rent IN summer. and gladly
received quarter's rent in advance. although
pated by reason OF absolute necessity. The
children were saved, however and an outbreak
OF small pox was shortly after successfully COM
| bated the manager on duty allaying the sus-
picions of the wet nurses by taking the child
whom the disease had attacked on her lap and
soothinR u 10 sleep. The nurses remained and
they ami the children were vaccnated with the
best results.
Gradually the nursery extended both its
sphere and its accommodations; the admission
| OF lllegiumato children was one OF the most i'm
portant steps. the institution successfully living
down the narrow-minded objection that such
| action was calculated TO encourage vice and
the establishment OF lying;in hospital fol-
try branch was opened. and now there are
many cottages on its premises. These each
bear mo name OF some one OF tho managers
! there are the Barlow. Cooper, Appleton Van
Rnnsselaer. Sullivan, Kingsland. Walden Pell
! anu BROOKS cottages, besides the home and
| hospital, tho sanitarium. or glass house. the
! Anthem and Doremus memorial chapes and
ihe u,sp"hshry anu reception house II has
been found that residing in different cottages.
instead Oh bclng grouped IN one institution.
! has beneficial effect on the children. since
| itglyes them more Of an individuality, and It is
also remarSed that the woman under whose
charge each cottage Is feels more OF an interest
IN her particular brood than is usual when all
are under one roof.
There are two improvements needed at Staten
Island. however; one h "A new building for
quarantine PURPOSES. and the other building
! Tor the mothers who come there with their
| children. These unfortunate women are obliged
To remain and nurse their own infants. rs we'll
| as one other. and thus they are afforded an
| opportunity Of developing that natural affection
| which might never DO demonstrated were they
allowed TO depart Immediately after their con-
nnement. IL Is, sought to discriminate be-
| tween abandoned characters and those who are
young IN sin-wretched mothers who come
inherit no constitutions they are far more deli
| cate than legitimate children are apt to be. and
| thus thoy need especial caro- and the most skill
full treatment to. preserve life at all. At the
| country branch tho physicians are women. and
| they have been very successful.
The interior OF the nursery aud hospital on
Lexington. avenue is cheerful place and on
sunshiny days the long rooms. with Illuminated
texts on the walls. present sight which those
who thlnk OF an institution rs a sort OF pcni-
! tenttary" might be surprised at. Mrs. McEyoy,
| the natron. Is herself n CHEEKY body. such u
| good, motherly soul that she can remember oil
| the babies names. and seems TO take special
| delight in pointing out the prize ones, the
| mothers meantimn, looking on with visible
| satisfaction. 8" HI. Edward I" says tho mntron 10
| y PARTICULARLY Jolly blue-eycd boy; and Edward
| digs his fist into his fat neck and crows back
| again in an attempt to say good afternoon.
| There's Lizzie Wilson's child" tho matron
says, indicating n healthful hoy. You rcmcm-
| hor the poor girl who Jumped from the window ?
/ This is the baby the mother dicd you know.
| And hero are tho children OF McNab the law
! yer, who disappeared. See. here are twinsl"
! Whereupon the matron disclosed two innnitesi-
mai objects that were scarcely rs large MS good
| sized dolls. They were only six weeks old, but
us the marOn said. they looked AS though they
! hhd not existed six minutes.
Among the oldest and most dctive managers
| are Mrs. - J.. NJ. Barlow and Mrs Edward
| Cooper. wife Of the Mayor. These ladies have
| been active in the work from its earliest days
! up 10 the present time. Ii Ia. thanks largely to
| thor efforts. that tho annual ball is apt to be
such a success. This year the receipts will
amount 10 little short OF eight thousand dollars.
| IL IS "A matter Of remark that SO few legacies.
| and no very large ones. Rre left to this deserv-
| Ing institution. and that 1t thus has 10 depend
! mainly upon the Charity Ball In former years
MFn lllaag nsffnn .trsf. "a.