Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-01

tidcial flowers, fancy boxes, lace and en-
broidery: and are trained for domestic SER
vice. If not adopted, and if selfsupport-
ing. they may remain here permanently,
should they choose to do so; or at the age OF
Is they may go forth to shift for themselves.
Orphans of Middle Age.
There are number of "orphans" here,
both male and female, reared in the institu-
tion and are now nearing middle age. who
prefer to work hard all their days for the
general good rather than leave the shelter
OF the only home they have ever known.
The young men earn considerable sums at
their various occupations, and the girls take
In hne sewing. embroidery and laundry
work. They have also model bakery In
the house. and the very best bread that Is
sold In the city comes from these ovens.
At present there are 426 children in the
asylum: The smallest OF these able to be
out OF the nursery, "a class of AZ between the
ages of 2 and 5 years), were put their best
PAGES for our edifcation, with little songs
and pafrotlike dialogues, each setting forth
their religious faith and the goodness OF
their protectors. ALI were neatly though
poorly clad-the girls in blue gingham
gowns. the boys with jean jackets and
trousers, both sexes wearing aprons exactly
alike, of the same coarse blue cloth that the
Sisters wear for dresses, with wooden hose
knit by the larger girls and pegged shoes
made by the boys. Each little apron had
square pocket patched on in front, into
which was thrust calico handkerchief, but
the usual lamentable neglect peculiar to
childhood's use of the latter article pre-
vailed.
The Comb and Rosary.
At the head of eachilittle cot in the long,
clean dormitory hung calico bag, marked
with the owners number, containing
comb and rosary, and woe to the luckless
youngster who forgets the use of eitherl The
most amusing part OF our entertainment was
furnished by the large boys band. We
came down the old stone stairs of the old
dormitory at the tap of the drum, and saw
ranged under the fig trees group of lads
from IL to IA years old, who rendered some
really cre0itable music, upon what at first
sight looked to be frst-class instruments.
Closer inspection, however, disclosed that
the horns and cornets were nothing but
pasteboard and twisted paper, the bass drum
made of skin stretched over half barrel,
held in place by the original hoop, and the
snare made from a lard can, which still
showed the New York brand painted on its
side. One young genius had a section cane
cut into flute; another had a common
mouthpiece, and the rest footed away upon
fnetooth combs.
Outcasts of An Glasses.
Among the crowd of little faces it is notice
able that none of them are purely Indian,
though so large percentage of Peru's pop
ulation are Indians. Many are unmistak-
able aristocrats in features and bearing and
not few have the fair hair and blue eyes of
Anglo-Saxon blood.
On the following Sunday we were invited
to 60 with the children to beautiful estate
in the outskirts of the city which had been
willed to the institution by a deceased
Frenchman. We marched three miles
through dusty lanes bordered by cactus and
wild institutions, beside the blue-gowned
sisterhood and troop of castaways, simply
for the pleasure Of seeing the latter enjoy an
hour or two of freedom and sunshine. There
is house on the estate, beautiful flower
garden, an orchard, swings, arbors, fields
green with barley and alfalfa, and meadows
where sheep were browsing; and it did ones
soul good to see the forsaken creatures happy
as SO many butterflies. the elder children
taking care of the little ones, and the good
Sisters sitting by, each busy with her knit
ting work. FANNIE B. WARD.