Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-24
PALACE AND HOSPITAL.
A Monument OF MagniGcient Charity
and Deep Disgrace I'm Genoa.


There is in Genoa a beautiful building
on the heights overlooking the sea,
which is called "The Hotel OF the
Poor" This was founded and endowed
by Genoese marquis. Here respecta'
ble workmen, when they are past work.
can come and end their days IN per-
feet peace. Another nobleman, when
# was proposed to move the
University to Ialua for lackS oil
room. instantly gave up his mag
nilicent palace 80 the town, saying
This il hcnceiorward your university.
But all deeds of I'll 5 sort are put into
the shade by the princely charities OF
the Duke and Duchess Of Ferrari-
Galliers. The Duke, shortly before
his death, gave G1,000,0O0 towards
the building Of the new port. The
Duchess, continuing the good work. has
founded several noble charities which
are almost unique OF their kind, aud let
me say that the Ferrari- CALLER fortune
is estimated at el0.000,000, and then
YOU will understand how the pious
works Of this noble family are able to be
carried out on such gigantic scale.
Duchess Ferraris browning work IL 10
be p general hospital to be opened thus
month. and as it will be undoubtedly the
finest and most complete in the world /
must write YOU something about 1t. But
first let me tell you the sad story which
l., bound up forever with it-a story
which the Duchess herself has handed
down to posterity by having IT inscribed
upon marble tablet in the grand
entrance hall. THIS tablet states that
the building OF the hospital has
been delayed for four years lowing to
the treachcry of my agent, General So
and-So." The Duchess names her trea-
cberous agent. who was her own cousin,
and so brands him for all time to come.
fits trcacherv was this : He decamped
with eSOO. 900, the money PAID TO his
credit bv the Duchess for the building OF
the hospital. Poor old gentleman lie
is eighty wears Of age now, and he is said
10 have hidden himself from the
world in a monastery, there to ex-
piate his fault. They say that the
money did him no good-that he IS poor ;
that he took it to save from shame the
son be idolizcd-thc son who was lead
ING life of extravaganza, and who had
involved himself IN such a way that the
Door old General had to use the Duchess 5
money to save him. Whatever the truth
nav be. the General used 1t. and his
tr.achcrv is writ large - upon the walls
Of the magnificent hospital. the building
o6 which his unhappy act delayed for
four long years.
Tie hospital itself stands in a mag
nifcent position above the sea, andis tue
perfection of every modern principle.
II IS So perfect and so full of marvellous
appliances and inventions that one feels,
in walking about 1t, that 1t IS one OF
jules Vcrne's ideas. The glorious halls
and corridors, the massive marble pillars,
the splendid marble staircaSes IN
dictate wealth, but the perfection
of the sanitary and scientific ar
Engagements tell of long years OF anX-
lous thought and study and research
So perfectly is this marvellous hospital
built that, in the event Of plague or
cholera breaking ont to such an extent
as to infect the building, the whole OF
the inside Of the hospital can be re-
moved and another hospital will be left
standing rs complete rs the other. To
accomplish this the hospital is being
built double, with spece between the
walls.
This palatial hospital looks on to the
sea and on to the mountains, and IN
order to isolate it and give to the in
mates gardens and terraces and glorious
views the Duchess has purchased a
whole street Of houses in the neighbor-
hood and demolished them, that nothing
shall detract from the perfect sanitation
Ct her glorious gift to the city OF Genoa.