St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-08
The Mems Department.

Inc men occupy separate building
from that devoted to the women. 1t is
a two-stOry frame structure. The
kitchen, where good, substantial meals
are prepared, is in this building. 1t is
conducted by one of the Little Sisters,
who is assisted by two of the old gentle
men inmates-one German, the other
an IriShman. AS neither one under
stands the other, the mother Informed
me that the two get along like brothers
and never quarrel. The sitting room of
the men, which is also the dining room.
like that of the women, is warm and
comfortable. The occupants, some
twenty OF thirty in number, were seated
about the room chatting among them
selves and telling stories, no doubt, of
bygone happy days when they were
boys. Those that are able assist the
good Sisters by doing odd chores about
the building. The second floor contains
the old mems infirmary and sleeping
apartments, also the ironing and clothes
clean clothes of the old folks,
neatly folded and laid away on
shelves. In the attic are the
dOrmitories of all the male inmates who
are not infirm. There is smoking room
in the basement where the old men can
retire when they wish to indulge in the
luxury of the weed. The Little Sisters
came to st. Paul in September of the
year 1888. They were five in number at
the time. There are now ten sisters in
the Institution who are caring for sew
enty-twO inmates, fOrty-twO old women,
and thirty old men. The object of the
Little Sisters of the Poor is to afford
home for aged people who are fit sub
nnfc fnr- nj, ifxy No 20
an inmate of their institution but those
who are over the age of sixty, and who
are deprived of all means of support. In
every city there are old people of this
kind, helpless, forlorn, friendleSS, many
of them lettering on the verge of the
grave; worn out, useless to themselves
and to the world. They are, however,
fellOw-creatureS appealing for Sympa-
thy and surely entitled to the boon of a
crust of bread and shred of clothing
while shivering life remains in their
old bones. Instead of leaving these poor
old forlOrn persons to the cold charity of
the world or to the coarse, unsympa-
thetic methods of public poor house,
deprived of the religious consultations
which serve to brighten and cheer the |
declining years of the aged, and COM
PEELED to conform to the cold routine
by hired and often unfeel- |
ing deputies, the Little Sisters, on the |
contrary, offer them a home which is |
indeed home in the fullest sense of |
the word, where every comfort is given |
to them for the body and all spiritual |
consolation for the soul. They nurse |
them in sickness, they dress their
wounds, they smooth their pillow with
gentle hands, they cheer them with
kindness and loving words, but even
more than this, they beg for them.
Have you not seen them, these
Little Sisters, going about in couples
from door to door. pleading and entreat-
ing for "a little aid for the aged poor"
The fragments from your kitchen, old !
wornout and cast-off garments, a few
grains Of tea for the comfort of the old
women, or paper of tobacco to soothe
a veteran SmOker-theSe and like petit
tons make up the customary sim
pie appeal of the Little Sisters for aims
to supply their helpless charge. They !
receive with the same thankfulness the