Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-14

The Good Work Carried on by the Lit.
tie Sisters Of the Poor.
HOW THE LAST DAYS OF OLD PEOPLE ARE MADE
coMFoRTABLE-A VISIT To THE HOUSE IN THIS
cTTY-SONETHING ABOUT THE ORDER.
I'VE have faith in God" These cheerful
words fell from the lips OF small slight woman
dressed in the GARD OF the Little Sisters of the
Poor. Her face. fresh and rounded with the
charm which youth impresses upon the female
counteaance was primly bound about by the
stiff bands of white which formed part of the
habit. The dark eyes were lustrous with light
when she spoke of the work of their order. and
the color came surgng to her cheeks. but when
she finished speaking her face became cold and
impressive again. Her speech was marked by a
pretty broken accent. showing her French .X-
traction What. then was the work VIII ch this
delicate, attractive woman spoke of with SO
much suhGued enthusiasm This was the oues-
ton which STAR reporter mentally asked him
self "a he stood in the waiting room of the
house of the Little g sters of the Poor on II
street northeast the other day
1t was a question which the Sister Superior
the quiet. self-contained little oman. who stood
before him proceeded to answer The answer
was not however. wholly in words. The re-
porter was conducted through clean hut bare
corridors into a large. long room. Seated about
the apartment were number of very old wo-
men They We're not pleasant objects 10 look
upon. They had lived past their youth and
hralty; they had survived their hopes and USE
tulness. and they had little lett them now but
life. Even for the latter they were dependent
upon charity.
THE INFANCY OF OLD AGE.
eve have to dress and wash them night and
morning. just like children" guietI; remarked
the Sister They are so helpless you know"
she continued as she glanced about the room
The old women. bent double with age their
toothess jaws working in unmeaning numb
lings, paid little heed to the visitors They
seemed to be destitute of any interest in the
external world. To sit still and gaze vacantiy
into space was their chief occupation. Some
indeed. had a bit of sewing. which tremb!ed i'm
Their feeble hands for moment and then rested
in their laps again. The vigor and activity .of
youth had we'll nigh died out and only the
WORKOUT hulks were left moortd IN this quiet
harbOr
Some Of the women were more active. and
were able to do little things about TIKI, house.
but the maj ority seemed to be as dependent
as children. In another room were more old
ladies'. The sister said that there were 3 al
together. In another part of the house there
were groups of Old men. and the same condition
OF decrepitude marked them. The male inmat ns
were 81 in number. and all of them were over 60
years of age. That are is one Of the conditions
upon which they are received There is no dis
tlnctiOn made en- account of religious belief or
color. All are given home. They must also
be without any other means of support.
FOR THE SAKE OF DOING GOOD.
$40 these old people have any gratitude z"
asked the reporter.
Eve don't know" was the simply reply. "Old
people are not demonstratve But we don't
expect it. That is not our reward 1t is from
above"
Hearing this explanation. but not under
standing it fully,-for who can comprehend the
meaning of faith that willingly unIergoes per-
sonal prvat;ons and sutlrrtngs for the sake of
others ?-the reporter asked:
How do you feed and clothe these poor
people"
we do it by begging. was the quiet response.
Every day four sisters go out, two for money
and two for clothing and food We take what
is given us.-bToken meats and old clothes. and
We live day by day on what is thus Obj aimed
Encouraged to speak further Of their WAY of
living the sister sad that the Institution was
managed by twelve sisters who d q all this
work. They had no servants. All the washing
cooking and the other household tasks car a
family of nearly two hundred PERSONS was per
formed by the sisters themselves. Those of the
inmates who were capable Of doing ANYTHING
assisted them as far as they were able: but
naturally. such assistance could not be very
tItt'iNt lEt care ot those VINO iiau no ore TO
care Tor them who were worn out in the Strilr-
gitS of life and whose relatives in many in
stances were unable 10 take charge of them or
rs Is sometimes the case. We're unwilling to as
sumo what was often q thankleSs task. had de-
vplyed upon these Little sisters. How nnbly
they are bearing this burden people who are
familiar with their work can testify.
THE ORIGIN OF THE LITTLE SISTERS
The history of the origin and growth Of the
order is but repetition Of that sublime spirit
which seeks TO do good for the sake of doing
good and not to crafty any personal ambition
Or desire. Two poor but devout girls in small
village in Brittany, fired with a Zeal to serve
God, laid the foundation Of this order which
has since spread throughout the entire world
There are now 2lS houses Of this order 81 of
which are in this country. From the small be-
ginning. which at the start only contemplated
the care Of one poor. helpless and dependent
woman. has developed one of the nvb!est
and most disinterested OF charities. The
house in this city. which has teen steadily but
quietly going on witt! its good woik for the past
twelve years. has enlisted the sympathy aud CO.
operation Of a large number of our citizens
With their help the Little Sisters have been
able to secure Il comfortable home for their de-
pendent charges. and upon the continued char
ity OF the public they rely for the Necessary aid
to carry Oh their work.