Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-08-29
London's Founding Hospital.

I
The Founding Hospital, situated in
Guilford street, was founded by Mr..
Thomas Coram, a mercantile captain,
who became interested in the fate of the
numerous infants who, a century and
half since, We're so frequently to be
seen exposed in the STREETS, where they
were left to perish by their parents.
After seventeen years of difficulties he
obtained the grant of IA charter from
George III, October, 1879, giving him
permission to erect hospital for the
support of deserted infants, and in Oc-
tober, l740, there appeared a notice on
the door of house i'll HattOn Garden
to the effect that twenty children under
the age of two months would be received
there, and that no question would be
asked of any person so bringing an
infant, on whose clothing some dis
tinguishing mark, however, was to be
affixed. AT the hour named crowd of
women with their babies assembled out
side the house, and the strongest
elbowed her way to the door and depos-
tied her child in Coram's safe keeping.
This c,amoring and fighting was subse-
quently ovoided by the institution of the
ballot, bags being provided with black,
white and red balls. Those women who
drew black balls were pronounced un-
successful, while those who were 50
fortunate as to secure the white were at
once relieved of their children. As for
those who drew red; they were per-
mitted to draw again for any vacancies
which might occur in the event of sue
cessful children being ineligible on the
medical examination. Such was the
origin of the founding hospital. In
1745, the western wing of the present
building was opened, and the House in
Hatton Garden closed, the two other
portions of the hospital being built soon
after, and in 1747, the chapel was begun,
large, light structure, with some
stained glass windows, and with an
altar-piece by Benjamin West, repre-
senting Christ blessing children. In
this chapel Mr.. Coram was buried in
17j1. The organ was originally pre-
sented by Handel, and although it has
been greatly enlarged and altered, there
still remain some of the actual materials
before which the great musician sat
when he helped to fill the Golfers of the
hospital by the gratmtous performance
of the Messiah The funds of the
Founding are mainly derived from the
rents of the houses surrounding it, and
with which the hospital is endowed,
thanks to the eXertions of its benevolent
founder. Something also is obtained
from collections made in the chapel. In
the last annual report, for lSS0-Sl, the
income was stated to be eli $50, and
the humber of children maintained by
the institution was ga.
The placing of child in the Found
ling Hospital is not effected without
trouble. Application must be made
before the infant is year old, and a
printed form is then given to the
mother to fill in, stating her name, age,
occupation, inability to provide for her
offspring, the fathers name, and when
deserted. After presenting this form a
long time often elapSes before the
mother is summoned to appear before
the members Of the committee Then
she is closely questioned as to her former
life, her prospects should her child be
received into the hospital, and the
names and addresses of ladies by whom
she may have been employed. She next
receives instructions to come again
before the committee in a fortnight, and
during the interval careful inquiries are
made as TO the truth of her statements.
Should they prove correct she is told to
bring her infant on certain date. On
the day appointed usually Tuesday,
the mother, with her child, presents
herself at the institution. and is uShered
into the room, where fire blaZes on the
hearth, and before which a basket of
infants clothes is placed. The mothers
flor three children are usually received
at time), assisted by female attend
ant, undresS their babes and wrap each
one in large gray woolen shawl; the
doctors present examine them thorough
ly, after which they are clothed in the
garments provided, but instead of
dress white nightgown is substituted
the shawl is once more placed round each
child, and its name written on slip of
paper and pinned to it. The attendant
now leaves the room, the doctor presses
a bell, three founding girls enter, and
almost before the mothers are aware,
their babes are carried away, never to he
known to them again, unless in time to
come they can prove that they are in a
position to benefit their children by TAX
ing them from the Institution. The
mother is given the clothes, the child
was brought in, together with a ticket
bearing a number, the date, and the
figure of a sheep holding small branch
in its mouth, and, by presenting this
ticket at the office any Monday, she can
learn particulars, concerning the health
of her infant. Unless it had previously
been christened, the child is brought
into the chapel the following sunday
for that purpose, when it receives new
name, by which it is afterward known.
During the first year of its existence the
child is placed out to nurse in the coun-
try, under the supervision of paid inspec-
tors, usually with some cottagers, who
receive IS. I'd. week, and a bonus of
los. Cd. at the end of the first year if the
infant seems healthy. AT the end of
five years the child again returns to the
hospital and begins its education, ending
with apprenticeship to some trade. or
with some situation in domestic service
being found for it. The children APP
pear at chapel twice on Sunday, and on
that day dine in public the nurseries
may then also be visited by those wish
ing to do SO. Personal inspection and
inquiry as to the conduct of those who
leave the hospital for the various occu-
pations of life are kept up, and every
year a meeting of the apprentices takes
place, and gratuities are given to those
who can show certificates of good
conduct.
FOSSILS in China,
A writer In referring TO fossils in