The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-06-12
FOR SWEET CHARITY
Sad Romance of a Beautiful
Philadelphia Girl.
ABOUT THE BRAZILIAN ADAM.
Novel Treatment Of Strange Disease-YelloN
Fever NOtes-Santa Casa da
Misericordia.


Sister Of Charity died the other day in the
great Misericordis hospital of this city,
whose true name, if given here, would be
recognized by many of my readers and
whose brief life (she was barely thirty,
was remarkable blending Of romance and
tragedy. But since she kept her secret &c
well-desiring nothing kinder OF fate than
that her former identity should be lost
under the cap and gown OF Sister Of
Mercy, which she had worn through seven
busy years. am not at liberty to tell you
much Of her story. Only this: Ten years
ago she was the petted darling Of one Of the
most aristocratic families in Philadelphia
the daughter Of wealthy parents who yet
reside in that city-beautiful, accom-
plished, gay and charming. Like many
another's, her bright, young life was
wrecked by heavens choicest blessing pre-
verted to curse. She loved, mot wisely,
but too well, and chung to the object of
her choice despite the protests Of her
friends
THE DEEAM WAS SHORT
She awoke to find herself the victim Of q
pretended marriage, her supposed husband
brigsndist and foreer, who is now serv
ing q sentence in prison. Overwhelmed
with shame and sorrow, she renowned the
world and sought refuge in the sheltering
arms Of the church. AS a Sister Of Char
ity she was sent to Brazil during the fever
epidemic Of seven years ago. and remained
until the day of her death a humble nurse
In the hospital at Rio
Everyone who has visited the "Santa
Casa da Misericordia" in recent years must
have noticed this quiet, but jealous young
sister, whose lovely face and figure even
the ugly habit Of the order could not dis
guise, because she was so different from
the rest Of the Sisterhood, being the only
one among them Of purely Anglo Saxon
blood. Struck by her appearance the first
time came TO the place SIS a sight-seer, 1
addressed her In English; and in course Of
time friendship resulted, as close as the
restrictions of the stern order would allow
between a Nun and wanderer from the
faraway world which she had long since
renounced-closer, perhaps, because the
kindly Mother Superior was aware that
death had marked the Sister for his own.
During the hours spent at the bedside of
the dying girl, I learned to appreciate to
the fullest extent the holy lives of self
asnegstion led by the gentle Sisterhood in
all parts Of the world where suffering and
sorrow exist, and also to understand some
thing Of the benefcient work of
RIOS GREAT HOSPITAL.
We would not like to be classed with
that imaginative servant who was discov-
cred crying aloud in the kitchen and was
finally induced to explain the cause of her
grief-that the thought occurred to her
when she looked into the oven What If
she should get married some day and
Hurr hwnr l.
should crawl into the oven and be baked to
death''-bul l do want to impress upon you
that. should you ever come 70 Rio de Jan
eric and happen to fallln here, IS most for
eigners do, your very wisest course would
be TO get yourself conveyed with all posi-
blespeed 20 the Santa Casa da Misericordia
Few cities in the world are better provided
with houses Of refuge for sick people than
lilo, and none need them more. Wealthy
Brazilians do their almsgiving almost eK-
clusively through the various irmandades
(brotherhoods), in whose charge are all the
hospitals and asylums.
TIE IRMANDADEs
are not unlike the benevolent societies of
the United States, except that these are
on ss much larger scale as the climate is
more unhealthy than that Of the north
They are usually composed Of laymen, and
are known as third orders" as for exam
Ordem Terceira do Dom Jesus, Ordem
Terceira da Boa Monte. etc. The brothers
wear peculiar style OF dress approaching
the clerical, those of each association hav-
ing some distinguishing marx To become
q member Of one of these orders, liberal
entrance fee Is required, and afterwards an
annual subscription; the members being
entitled 10 support in sickness or health,
from the general fund, and a funeral of
ceremony when dead. And the Irman-
dades, in return for numerous legaces re-
ceived contribute 10 the erection and sup
port Of churches, provide for the sick
bury the dead, and support masses for the
repose Of souls. Many Of these orders
have become enormously rich in the lapse
OF years, through donations and legacies
and membership in them is eagerly sought
Chief among the brotberhoods is that of
Santa Misercordia, in whose hands have
been placed the principle charitable offices
of the city, and which has received so
many valuable requests as to be able TO
dispense large sums in aims and to maintain
some Of the best hospitals and asylums in
the world. Ii was founded as early as 1891
and has always been granted exceptional
1BYOrs from the church-such as exemption
from parochial administration, from house
taxes, etc, and afterwards, by papal bull
the privilege Of receiving the reversion of
ali unfulhlled legscies. The state also
gives il the products Of three or four an
DuA4 AOllClEeS DeSlAbh port ana Olner taxes,
Thus the Sacred House OF Mercy has
come 10 OWE houses and lands In every part
of the city ard to enjoy an annual inc me
OF at least million miireis Besides main
tanning in the best possible manner the
enormous Hospital da Mesorlcondia. lat an
annual cost Of about $500. 00O.) it also sup
ports three branch hospitals the Pedro IL
insane asylum, two orphan asylums.
1oundlings home, TWO large cemeteries and
the exclusive monopoly OF all the inter
menis made in the Brazilian capitol, except
those of British subjects, who own Gene
terry at Gsmboa, In which the bodies of
Protestants OF whatever nationality are
generally buried.
THE SANTA CASA DA MIsERICoRDIA
IS beautifully situated near the seashore
under the brow eff Castle Hill, on the spot
where that celebrated Jesuit Padre Jose
de ADchieta, built the first hospital in Bra
I'll, away back in 1852. About that time a
Spanish armada Of sixteen war vessels ar
rived in the port, having on board 5000
Spaniards bound for the straits of Macel-
Ian. They had suffered severe storms and
nearly the whole number were sick on
board Anchieta, who was at that time
visiting The old college OF his order, whose
lowers stiu surmount Castle Hill, was
moved by compassion for the dying searnen
10 make arrangements for their relief, and
in 90 doing laid the foundation OF an insti-
tuition which has alleviated Rn incalculable
amount Of human suffering. During the
$40 years since that day how many hun
dreds OF thousands have found an asylum
within the Holy HouEe'-how many tens
OF thousands gravel
BRAZILIAN ADAM.
Speaking Of Padre Anchieta, / lately
came across 6 volume, printed in Iisbon