Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-05-01
THE FOUNDING HOSPITAL.
The Building Erected ON the Lane
Left by Joshua Pierce.

4 Lett joshua F1efce.
CONDITION OF THE ENTERPRIsE-THE NEEI
4 FOR AN ASYLUM FOR FoUNDLINGs-wHAT
| THEINsrrTUTIoN WILL DO-wORK SUSPENDED
l ON ACCOUNT OF LACK OF FUNDS.
| A movement has been in progress in this city
| for some years with the view of establishing a
| hospital for foundlings. The ladies and gentle
| men interested have done a great deal in a
| quiet way to call this deserving charity to the
| attention of those whose sympathies and aid
| would likely be enlisted. AS was well known
| at the time Joshua Pierce, q citizen Of the Dis
| trict, who died In 1869, made a bequest of a
/ large frontage Of ground on the east side OF
| 18th street, between II and 8 streets. to VIM.
NJ. Shuster and VIM. II. Clagett, trustees, as the
site for the erection of hospital for foundlings
| to be built by any atiOn, society insti-
tuition that may be incorporated by Congress
| for this purpose. To carry into effect the pro
visions of the bequest bill was passed by Con-
gress April %, 1870, Incorporating the hospital
| latter were named as G. NJ Samson, O. o. How
ard, z. ID. Gilman, William Stickney, A. c.
| Richards, b. Sunderland, A. n. Zevely, Wright
Rives, Dr. Jam es c. Hall, David K Cartier,
William q. Todd, jr, ID. w. Middleton, George
L. Sheriff, b. b. French, Joseph S. Stettinius,
John X. Arson, and such other persons as
might be duly chosen.
THE OBJECT OF THE INSTITUTION,
as stated in the act of Incorporation, was "the
reception and support of destitute and friendless
children" 1t was provided "that fOundlingS
received by this hospital shall De considered
wholly under the guardianship, care and con-
troll of said institution, to be educated, ap-
prenticed or otherwise disposed OF, as the d.
rectOrs of said hospital may, in their judgment,
deem for the best interests OF said children,
until they shall attain the age of 8 years, when
said care and control shall cease"
On May Z, 1870, the following gentlemen met
at the residence OF VIM. Stickney and organ
lied the washington Hospital for FoundIings,'
in accordance with the provisions of the will of
Joshua Pierce and of the act of Congress-: CIV.
Samson. y. o. Howard, VIM. Stickney, A. o.
The PRESENT officcrs of the institution are:
President, r. I. Sewers, NJ. D.; secretary, A. C..
Richards; treasurer, W; F: Mattingly; board Of
land, NJ: NJ: Parker, A. G. Richards, Dr.. z. T.
Sewers, G.. Z. sheriff, j. p. klingie, Thomas j.
Luttrell and Thomas j. Fisher.
THE NEED OF FUNDS
As has been stated, the managers have
been endeavoring to procure the neces-
sary funds to carry out the objects of the
6equest. The property which they now hold
is valued at $4,000, and last fall, the di-
funds in addition amounting to about 500 900,
concluded to begin the erection of a building
This building has been erected, and is now UNI
der roof. Ii was constructed by Mr.. Robert l.
Fleming, from plans prepared by DR.. John s.
Billings, U. s. A, the distinguished authority
on hygiene, who is in this city, in charge of the
great collection of books belonging to the Army
medical museum. Dr. Billings, from his famil-
arity with institutions OF u similar character in
the building erected is pronounced to be a
model OF the Kind. 1t has frontage of Is feet
on 1otn street and has two LIS, and it is SO con-
Structed that as the needs of the institution re-
quire it can be extended over the entire 'front.'
age. which is $50 feet The work has been
brought to a standstili for the present, the
management was unwilling to incur any in
debtedness. A few additional thousand dol
lars are needed to prepare the building for use,
and the ladies and gentlemen interestered are
enllsting the aid of their friends to carry ON to
completion the enterprise so well begun.
THE LADY MANAGERS.
The following are the lady managers: Mrs. j.
p. Jones, Mrs. s. P. Brown, Mrs. z. &. Vance,
Mrs. J. ]. Ingalls,, Miss Sc.dmore, Mrs. Cullen,
Stickney, Mrs. III. NJ. Hutchinson. Mrs. II. b.
Payne, Mrs. VIM. K. Morrison, Mrs T. w. Pal
m berr Mrs Mrs s Epemont Mrs. C. Frqden
Mrs: A. Graham Bell, Mrs. j. G. Carlisle, Mrs
>. M: Cullom, Mrs. Wickliffe Preston, Mrs
Aldrich, Mrs. Geo. Hearst, Miss f. B. Johnston
Mrs. n. G: Blanchard, Mrs. VIM. F. Wallace
Mos Wood T. B Mys MTs A W. Greeley Mrs T.
ton, Miss Oberly, Mrs Jno. Hay, Mrs. Cram
mond Kennedy, Mrs. Jno. o. Evans, Mrs. G.
Miss Haidee Williamson. The Organization Of
the board OF lady managers is as follows
Mrs JEANNE X: stickney, president; Mrs
Williamson. secretary; Mrs. b. i. McKee, nssaf f
nancial secretary; Miss Edith Oberiy, CORE
spending secretary. Finance eommittee-Mrs.
Alley, Mrs. SpOOner, and Mrs. j. z. Jones'
COMMITTEES on by-laws-Mrs. Fremont, Mrs
Stickney. District and congressional commit
tee-Mrs: s. P. Brown, Miss f. b. Johnston
Miss ScidmOre, and Mrs. Coolidge
WHAT ONE OF THE MANAGERS SAYS
The need of an institution of this kind here
it Is claimed by those interested in the project.
is apparent to any one who has given the
slightest attention to this subject, While it. il
allncuIt 10 obtain accurate satisfies in regard
and imperfect records which are obtainabIe
from official sources it is learned that there are
over 200 foundiings born annually in this city
ana allowed TO live. How many are DESTROYED
how many are kept by private nurses, there is
no means of knowing. "At any rate, said a
member of the board of management. who
had substantially made the above statements
TO STAR reporter, "persons who are In a posi-
ton ton TO 70 know great many facts about the
are are more such births than people
have ir any idea Of Naturally it
Is q subject that is not discussed very much.
we are none OF us perfect, and il some sin more
oeepty and foully than others we are not
taught by the Great Teacher to cast them aside
and extend no aid. Neither are we performing
our duty to Our fellows when we shut our eyes
and refuse 10 believe that such things exist.
y, You know some people say, or rather they try
that there is crime in the world. They sinn;v
deny and refuse to recognize the existence of
tionalities of polite society. Dickens in one of
his novels, very aptly describes this class. But
denying TACT does not extinguish it."
I'VE simply take the world as we find it., he
continued, "but We want to try to make il a
little better. What is to become of the ilIeeiti.
1t is no fault of theirs and they have as much
right TO Life as any one. 1t has been said to me
when have preached this subject 1T is better
to let them die. They Will only grow up like
their mothers But cannot help but think
why not like their fathers? They are Equally
their offspring. 1t does not follow that fOund-
ling Is the offspring of dissolute or Immoral
woman. They are temptations of time. place
ana circumstances which assail virtue We are
none or US so strong morally that we can afford
10 turn with scorn from one that has fallen
Now take the case of q respectable girl who mas
sinned. Her impulse in many instances Is to
Kill her child in order to protect her respect
ability and standing in society, In this yav "a
large number of children-hOw large there is
no means OF knOwing-are murdered We pro.
pose simply to provide place where such chill
dren may be sent and cared for; and we claim
that the tact that the child Is in existence acts
as restraint upon the future life of the parent
W men the mother has killed the child she is
Tree, but II o way is provided for the child s.
safety as Well as her own, her impulse will turn
her from murder TO the asylum. Then the mere
fact that a child bearing her features is in the
world has a hold upon her which nothing else
can have"
PRIVATE FOUNDING ESTABLISHMENT
'Then, he went on, ''there are cases where
the child is intrusted to the care Of some nurse
at the latter's home. know q doctor here
VINO Is attending seven or eight children OF this
class. He goes to the home of the nurse and il
paid with money furnished by the parents or
parent. Probably the father alter a while may
grow tired OF the constant drain upon his re-