New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-18
PROTECTING THE HELPLESS.
REFUGE FOR GIRLS IN NORMANDY.

ARE SAVED FROM VICE AND TRAINED TO LEAD
PURE AND USEFUL IIvEs-DEsCRIPTIoN A
SUCCESSFUL sELF-sUPPORnNG CHARITY.
ITO ne Razor or The Tribune.
SIR: In France there establishments where
poor women are taught to work in the field as well
as the house, and they exist religious commune
ties. There none that have been created by
State municipal authority. Several OF them exist
III the Department OF the Gironde. created 10y and
under the control of the Sisters of Providence,
Sisters of the Good Shepherd, Sisters of the Holy
Family, Sisters of Charity. and other religious
orders The most important of these communities is
in the Department of the Seine Iniericure between
the towns of Rouen and Darntal 1t is divided
into two branches, the industrial and the agricul-
tural the former comprising works for the manu-
faeture of wearing apparel and Keeling cotton, and
the latter nearly 400 acres of wellcultivatcd land,
the whole representing a capital of nearly one mill
ion of francs.
The founders of this institution are Able Podevin
and Sister Marie Ernestine. The germ of it came
into being in 1S47, in u manner that was not with
out romance. The Able Podevin, who was then
Vicar of Saint NiVein and anoner of the prisons
ROuen notified by Sister Marie Ernestine at
tached to the prison in a religious way, that two
young girls to be liberated on that same day.
and did not know where to 90 having neither
family nor friends. The girls felt themselves dis
honored by imprisonment, and begged the Jailor to
allow them to remains but the official order for
thcir release could not be disobeyed. Besides
Sister Marie Ernestine knew that group of old
women were waiting their exit at the prison door
to lure them to vice. During the incarceration of
the girls size had brought about q sentiment of
sorrow for past msdeeds and desire to lead
better life and feared when the time for separat
came that her work had been In vain. Thus moved,
she wrote to the Able Podevin to ask what could
be done for the unfoItunates
The answer prompt, pointed and was thus
couehed:
Find chamber. buy a loaf of bread, straw to
sleep on, and q candle. Tomorrow God Will pro-
vide"
This the which has grown to the pres
ent oak. In time the chamber expanded into
house and small field which purchased and
the Able and the Sister applied themselves to the
study of practical agriculture The time the priest
could spare from his parochial and prison duties was
devoted to tllling tue ground As he owns, he
made some blunders in the beginning which fur
nished amusement to the neighboring farmers, but
she prizes obtained by him. for number of years.
at agricultural fairs for fowls animals and soil
products. Indicate that he is expert.
Afterward he and the Sister impaired their
knowledge to the young women sent to them good
crops were raised, charitable gifts and some sub
sides secured. and the esl Adjustment has
grown 30 it's present dimensions, where for the last
fifteen years the two founders have unnteruptedly
resided, and given themselves up entirely to its in
Creaslng demands and duties.
The object of the institution Is to reform and fit
for usefulness girls and young women convicted of
crimes and nllsdcmeanors. Thus all the Abbes
pupils come to him from a court of Justice for
others received. They sentenced by the
court according to their delinquenccs but the sell
tence, whatever it is, may not exceed their
majority, which is twenty-one; beyond that they
are consigned TO the regular prisons.
Able PoDEvIN AND Ills WORK.
The Able Podevin liz of medium height and tn
clined to stoutness When he is not talking, the in
elnaton to be occupied is betrayed in low
whistle not unlike that of an English groom while
rubbing down horse He is sixty-seven but does
not appear over sixty; he is enthusiast, and his
enthusiasm glows IN him to-day it did i'll his
youth. This quality. of a fitfuI and impracticable
kind, is common enough, bat in the Abbe it is asso
ciated with practical idea which has possessed
him for thirty two years. The monocal robe and
toque, though cleany show signs of wear for his
farm and mandatory do not allow time for the
nicetics of toilet. His ardor missionary is allied
to long and varied experience as a man of bust
ness, which renders him not credulous to the
mercial side of life, however accessible he may be
to the appeals of charity. This dual feature, i'm
bued with Norman b0ahomnpie. makes him equal to
the eXigencies of buying and selling in a country
noted for eon,mercial subtIlity. He was born edu
Gated and belongs to the in the midst of which
he lives. In addition to this shrcwdncss he pos
sesses the irmness betting Il who not unfre-
quenty has to d0 with turbulent and vicious young
women.
The agricultural branch Of the institution is three
Kilometres from the factories and dwellings of the
Able and the Sisters. aud the Able corresponds
with those in charge of it by telegraph of which
the posts erected by his pupils To show me
Ats efficacy he puts himself in communication:
"Are you there, Sister Jeanne 7"
After pause comes the response.
d" | am, Monsieur the SUPERIOR
6 How is the sick horse r.
I" He is better. He is now lying DOWN.
How are the girls ~
All at work."
I" Has anything happened -
"The dog broke his chain and killed one of tho
chickens
Ali, the villain w is the exclamation of the Able.
which is not sent the wire. " He is the worst
subject we have-wicked TO the narrow
= Has he been chained, Sister JeanneW
Q He has, Monsieur the Superior"
After TINS showing the facility of telegraphic
communication, he conducts to a hall contain
ang long table AZ the head of which is seated
Sister of the Sacred Heart, needle in hand working
pt an unfinished shirt and benches alon gsde the
Fable are seated the younger girls of the institution
plying the needle parts of the kind of gar
ment. They clad in the weekday uniform of
the place-a pale blue calico tunie, n ehemse a
light blue woollen skirt light blue stock ngs aud
pair of sabots the hair arranged with black vel
set ribbon.
GLANCE Az THE INMATES
They all rise enter. bat a motion of the
hand from the Superiorthe Al be being thus desig-
mated by everyone on the plaee-they resume their
seats and their work, so far their curiosity will
permit The oldest of the girls is sixteen, who oe-