The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-08-23
A Founding Hospital in London.

Thomas COram, mercantile captain,
who became interested in the fate of the
numerous infants who a century and
half since were SO frequently to be seen
exposed in the streets, where they were
left to perish by their parents. After
seventeen years of difficulties he OBJ
George Ill. October, 1879, giving him
permission to erect hospital for the
support of deserted infants, and in Oc-
tober, 1740, there appeared notice on
the door of house in Hatton Garden
to the effect that twenty children under
the age of two months would be re-
ceived there, and that no question
would be asked of any person SO bring
ing an infant, on whose clothing some
distinguishing mark, however, was to
be affixed. At the hour named a crowd
of women with their babies assembled
outside the house, and the strongest
elbowed her way to the door and de-
posted her child in Coram's safe keep
ing. This clamoring and fighting was
subsequently avoided by the institu-
ton of the ballot, bags being
provided with black, white and
red balls. Those women who drew
black balls were pronounced unsuccess-
full, while those who were so fortunate
as to secure the white were at once re-
lieved of their children. As for those
who drew red, they were permitted to
draw again for any vacancies which
might occur in the event of successful
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, representing Christ
blessing children. In this chapel Mr.
Coram was buried in 1851. The organ
was originally presented by Handel,
and although it has been greatly en-
larged 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 gratuitous performance of the
Messiah The funds of the Found
ling 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 1901,
the income was stated to be Ell, $50,
and the number of children maintained
by the institution was 504.
The placing of child in the Found.
ling Hospital is not effected without
trouble. Application must be made be-
fore the infant lisa year old, and print
ed form is then given to the mother to
fill in, stating her name, age, occupa-
ton, inability to provide for her off
spring, the fathers name and when de-
serted. After presenting this form a
long time often elapses before the moth
er 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 be-
fore the Committee in 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 Casually a 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 basket
of infants clothes is placed. The moth
ers (for three children are usually re-
ceived at time), assisted by female
attendant, undress their babes and wrap
each one in large gray wooden shawl;
the doctor present examines them thor
oughly, after which they are clothed in
the garments provided, but instead of a
dress white nightgown is substituted,
the shawl is once more placed round
each child, and its name written on a
slip of paper and pinned to it. The
attendant now leaves the room, the doc
tor presses a bell, three Founding girls
enter, and almost before the mothers
are aware, their babes are carried away.
never to be known to them again,
unless in time to come they can prove
that they are in position to benefit
their children by taking them from the
institution. The mother is given the
clothes the child was brought in, to-
gether with a ticket bearing number,
the date, and the figure of sheep
holding a small branch in its mouth,
and, by presenting this ticket at the
office any Monday, she can learn par
ticulars concerning the health of her
infant. Unless it has previously been
christened, the child is brought into the
chapel the following Sunday for that
/ purpose, when it receives a new name,
by which it is afterward known. Dur
ing the first year of its existence the
child is placed out to nurse in the coun-
try, under the supervision of paid in
spectors, usually with some cottagers,
who receive IS, Sd. a week, and 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 re-
turns 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 appear at chapel twice on