The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-08-01
How to Get Rid of a Baby.

Children are received at the gates at all
hours of the day or night. All a woman has
90 do is to deposit the little half orphan in
basket always kept in the vestibule for the
purpose and pull "A bell. which summons an
attendant to take the child. No attempt is
made to recall the mother. or whoever left
the child. but the wait Is taken in and cared
for. The mother may come around the next
morning and apply for employment as wet
nurse as many Of them do, and usually gets
her own baby TO take care Of for the good
hearted nuns always let them take their
pick OF the new arrivals, and IL is an I'M
natural mother who does not recognize her
own. Often tag Is attached 10 the neck OF
the child, or a paper pinned TO its clothing.
telling what its name is; but If there Is no
such information the nuns call him or her
after some saint, give him a bath, dress him
ia coarse but clean garments, put a rubber
band around his neck with a tag attached.
on which is a number, and then notify the
bookkeeper of all the circumstances attend
ing the arrival. These are noted down on
the books, together with the name given 10
the child, and any clothing found upon it is
bundled up. labeled with the youngsters
number, and slowed away for purposes OF
Identification. Those who have a cross
around their necks are accepted as having
received the rites OF the church, but those
who have not are sent at once TO the priest
TO be baptized before they get their suppers.
Twenty-four Thousand Foundlings.
There are $4,000 children in the institu-
ton. which Is a lower average than usual.
and there is a similar hospital at Moscow.
in which are 1900 increasing at the rate
OF over three thousand year. There is a
lying-in asylum connected with both of the
homes. and its beds are always full of poor
girls.
What becomes of the children? MANY are
adopted by childless families: there is
scarcely day that several bright-eyed little
ones are not taken out for this purpose;
Others when they reach an age when they
can be made useful are disposed OF rs SER
wants in the families OF the mobiles. and the
poor things have a hard time of il, expect,
for they are bound out" Hundreds of them
go out every year 10 work in factories. The
boys are educated for the army. many of the
girls are trained for nurses in the hospitals
and lots of them are saved by death from a
worse fate. The mortality in the institu-
ton is very large. although every possible
care is taken of the children. and they are
much better off than in the homes where
they were born.
The institution was founded by Catherine
the Great. who had u number Of illegitmate
children herself-no one knows how many
and had kindly heart toward the unfort-
innate from any cause.
Catherine founded another hospital.
(which stands on the banks of the Neva, and
; is one of the most conspicuous landmarks OF
sfhe river, being situated ut the head ola
wiSe curve where its vast proportions can
be seen from all directions. It has a 'front.'
age of GOO feet. Is 400 feet WIDE and has $50
Nbeds, which are free TO those who cannot
afford TO pay. Those who are not paupers
are charged small entrance fee, and are
required to pay such a sum weekly as cor
responds with their accommodations. There
are several other fine hospitals in Peters
burg with an average Of 4.250 patients, all
cared for by Sisters of Charity.