The Daily Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Or.) 1876-1883, 1882-05-09
ST. ATarys Eosnisal.


ent the baiiding IS crowded to It's at
most capacity there being thirty-eieht
patients under treatment, and in view
of the increased demands the Sisters
contemplate putting up an addition
in the shape Of a wing on tho north
side. OF the number a. present re-
ceiving care, six are sailors, placed
here by the government, inur are from
the county, and the remainder are
from vaFious private sources. The in
atltution ia complete in ait Of its aP.
pointments, and with its clean, well
lighted apartments and tha cheerful
faces of the sisters in charge it is de-
void Of that repGisive feeling usually
attached 10 places where dwell the
sick and suffering These sisters, Of
whom thorc are at present six here,
are 4 branch Of the parent order in
Montreal, and are as their names i'm
ply, Sisters Of Charity The char-
ity that they exempiify in their daily
lives, IS, with them, hot a silent pre-
cept but an active duty. They devote
their existence 10 the alleviation Of
suffering and the nursing of the sick.
With sublime self nbrcgatiun they
minister to the wants Of the suffering
and afflicted and denying themselves
all The social surroundings that their
tastes aud education would cntitle
them 10, they consccrate their lives 10
the practical following Of the great
rule of their order, the rule given by
the Saviour to His disciple5-tbat they
"go about, doing good" They hold
that duty AigniGes daily self-denial;
that the criterion OF success IN hfe is
the amount of good that one does liz
the world, and they find their reward
in the Consciousness Of having, III
their humble way, made the world
better for having lived in il.
The operatine-room OF he hospital
is vel supplied with surgical ap-
pliauces and convenienccs. and adjoins
d neat little dispans1tory, where all
the standard preparations OF the phar-
mac"peeia are kept ready tc he mixed
up. Across t;e hail is The Gonzales
cent ROOM. wherein al the time of our
visit thns' uap were Just able to sit
up had gathered and were comparing
notes as u feelings and ailments. In
the rear is the kitchen, 4 model oi
Deatness, and the dining-ruam, where
plain, serviceab!e fo1d IS served e. the
patients able 20 appear at the table.
These not able 10 lcaYe their rooms are
supplied by little dumb waiter that
takes up apPetiziDg soups and jeliies
to the second story, which is filed
with patients, "a is the addition in the
rear. Several who were sufficiently
strong to he outdoors we're keeping in
trim the tasty grounds and the garden
in the roar, and the appearance "f the
outlying grounds fully jus;ities the
pride with which they are regarded by
the Sisters and the patients.
Every bitofavailab!c roomis utilized,
and the Sisters themselves are crowd
cd for room, though they hope 10 have
that obviated when they feel able to
add the mUch-needed addiriun to the
main building.
As . business institution, the hos
pital IS conducted ON The broatesJ
principles of charity ''rhe door is
always open,' says Sister Joseph,
"and we never ask the needy or
afflicted If they have lnpucy. It is
enough for US to know that they are in
suffering, aud need whatever aIiovia-
tian Of misery Sc can give ihela tn
entitie them 10 our help" Nothing
can be more purely in accord with the
command of tina Divine Mister than
this, and it is with pleasure We
note that the number of patients that
are able TO pay for their treatment is
sufficient to give the Sisters a sun
that enables them Ia meet their cur
rent expenses without drawing too
heavily Oh the parent Order in Mon
treal. We're the institution entirely
self-supporting, the sphere of its use
fulness could be still further increas-
ed, and it is the opinion of the Su-
perioress that hy the close uf the sea
son il will be.
In conclusion; We wouid speak OF one
thing that, we are confident, need but
be mentioned To be remedied. The
patients need reading matter. We all
know, when sick, how tired one gets
Of looking at the wall and the pattern
of the hedstead and how grateful q
| little something is that breaks the
monotony. We all have an illustrated
paper or magazine that has been reat
and thrown aside and is Of 10 value Il
us any longer. Sueh papers and mag
azines would be gladly and grateful,