The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-02-05
THE HAHN MARKET .
iiO" Certain San Francisrians Manage TO
Make Living

Z"
In this city there are about half
dozen lying-in hospitals. nearly all con-
Quoted on the same plaE. They are
generally managed for private gain, but
sheir practical nature does not prevent
them from serving humane end.
These hospitals are great blessing
10 some of the poor creatures who 90
10 them in their hour of Distress said
u person who is acquainted with their
workings to reporter recently. There
they receive attendance at the lowest
rates for medical service, and do not
want for anything in the way of care
ful treatment and nursing. One of which
| have particular knowledge is on Fourth
street, and is kept by German woman.
She has experienced nurses. quiet
rooms, and her place is visited by near
ly all classes of people. Among those
who are most frequently received are
servant girls. L know of woman in
this city who has had no less than six
girls working for her at different times
who have sought refuge at this hospital.
The girls are expected tOpay a uniform
fee of $50, which covers the entire ex-
pense of their stay at the hospital. II
they have bat little money they are al
lowed to work out the fee, either as
house servants or nurses. if they are
found capable of filling such positions.
This is, of course. after they have suf-
ficiently recovered to be able to make
themselves useful.
And what becomes of the child
ren?'
''They are all brought up by hand
as it is termed; that is, on the bottle.
The healthiest and prettiest are kept
for the purpose of adopting.direct from
the hospital. and the rest are sent to
the founding asylums to take their
chances. Where the maternal instinct
is SO strong that the parting between
mother and child is found too painful,
then the matron does not insist on the
separation, and is, in fact, not at all
anxious to keep the infant unless it is
found to be somewhat prepossessing.
Then the prettier the child the bet
ter its chances for adoption?"
Exactly: and here is where the main
profit of the institution is derived. The
proprietress, besides getting reasona-
Bile fee for her nursing and other SER
vices, often makes a much larger one
by dispOsing of a child to a person of
wealth who is anxious to adopt it.
Childless ladies come in their carriages,
rustling in silks and satins. to select a
bright-eyed infant to love and cherish
and tighten the household. have heard
of the prices paid in some instances
running as high as 5000 or 81, 900.
The shrewd proprietress knows how TO
tuln to her advantage the fancy taken
by wealthy lady to pretty baby. The
little ones are always arrayed in fine
dresses when a customer is expected,
and are shown off at their best, that
one of them at least may not fail to
touch the chord-the golden chord, in
the case, TO the proprietress-of the
visitor. Some of the customers are
more eager to secure prize of infant
humanity than others. There was the
case of 4 lady recently whose husband
had been in China for several months.
and who, being childleSs. was some
what anxious on the subject of q son
and heir. The round of the foundling
asylums and hospitals was made in vain
bp the lady for the object of her search,
but one day, happening in at the par
ior of the institution have referred to,
4 little red-faced darling only DAYS
old took her eye, and Il bargain was
Immediately struck. J he lady saw
resemblance to her husbands face in
the TINY features of the infant. and tax
ing it home duly installed it in her
household and affections, all unknown
to her absent lord. Next day the news
papers contained notices OF the birth of
a son to the wife of -, and copies
of the papers were sent to the delighted
husband, who shortened his stav in
china in order to run home and get a
look at his supposed offspring. 1t was
not long before the secret was out,.
however. for, woman-like, she couldn't
keep it. I hen q squall struck the ill.,
fant's home, though it quickly blew
over, and the house re-echoes to squalls
of more diminutise, thougL, perhaps,
not less heartrending nature. The hus-
band has become reconciled TO his dis
appointment, and if the youngster does
not develop TO an alarming degree his
inborn Tar-tlat tendencies he will doubt
less remain welcome guest at the
honse of his foster-parents.-S Fran
cisco Chronicle.