Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-20
WAITED ON THE OLD FOLKS.


Society People Attend the Dinner 1t the
Little Sisters Home.
st. Joseph's day is the great feas. day of the
Little Sisters Of the Poor and therefore ali over
this country and in Europe in the houses of tha
order today the usual quiet gives way to the
sounds OF merriment The feast for the
aged inmates Of these homes IL at
tended by the rich and FORUM
ate and the greatest contrasts which
society affords are presented in those Who
serve and those who are served.
The fzst two Little Sisters Of the Poor
were young girls Of the town of St Servan, a
little hamlet Of Brittany on the seacoast
These angels Of charity devoted their lives
to the care Of the old people left destitute
because those upon whom they depended
Tor support lost their lives at sea. That
was in 1870. and it was not many Year, be-
fore the order had spread and was doing
its WORK Of charity all over Europe. The
order has been in existence in this coun-
try about twenty-five years. and has houses
in nearly every large city from the Atlantic
to the Pacific. Perhaps few of those who
see the sisters every day on their, mis-
sion through the streets are aware on
what broad lines their work is founded In
the poor people who are received into their
homes no distinction is made because of re-
ligion, nationality or color. The appii-
cants must be destitute, be of good
moral character ard be sixty years or over.
All the housework and outdoor begging are
done by the sisters. There are no servants.
Every morning two OF them go out ON foot
and beg from door to door. At the same
time two others 60 Uu: II a wagon and
collect from the hotels broken meat.
tea leaves. old clothes and anything
else which is offered TO them. Every morning
i'll the market houses the sisters can be seen
going from stall TO stall receiving from each
dealer with a charity which never grows
less something to add to Tie collection
house clean, prepare the food. one tends the
furnace. another the cows and all nurse and
care for the heiD.ess and crippled Old peo-
pie of the house. The health If the in
mates is generally good. and few die the
VICTIMS OF any disease not the ic.,lt OF Old
age. This is the ordinary routine Of the
house tie whole year around. Today it
Was slightly different. The begging sis
tiers renamed at home today. During their
rounds Ike rast few weeks they have
asked every one wherever they went to be
present today at the annual dinner. in
the c,.cscitv OF spectator. of course. TIE
inmates dressed in their bes. clothes.
tidy dresses, pretty aprons ard caps bright
ened with gaiiv co,ored ribbons. Dinner was
served at 1890. and the ordinary menu III
L
consisted of soup. roast meat. several
vegetables. with ice cream. cake. can
dies and oranges for dessert Every
thing was special donation from
Niends of the mouse. many Of whom were there
to see 1t partaken of. The spectators. most Of
macy. fashion and society, distributed them
selves rs servers and assistants in
the four dining rooms fo- the white men
and women and the colored men and women.
Goth ladies AID gentlemen pat on big white
aprons and went right to work. After the meal
vas over the g-andest entertainment was to be
had in the old mems rerectory, where the
annual song OF complimentary praise and
thanks to the patrons Of the house sung
By the white men. accompanied by the
music OF the violin and accordion. The
old cco-ed men and women contributed
dancing. &C.. which was alone well worth
the trouble of going ont there. BEFORE the eel
ebration of the day was over all the inmates as
well as the spectators gathered in the chapel
fo- beIediction. which was given by the chap
lain of the house.
occasion by waiting on the table were Father
Walter. the Misses Riggs, the Misses AIullan,
Col and Mrs r. |: Fleming and their little
daughter, Mrs. Vedder, the Misses Clag-
EFT. Mr.. Boeufve and other members Of
the French legation. Count de Charlbrun, Mrs.
Gibson, Mrs. Blackburn. Mrs. w. W. Dixon,
Mrs. Hinckley. Mrs. W. F. Mattingly, Miss
Acosta, the Misses Patten. Miss Amy the
Misses Merrick, Mrs. Wash. Mclean, Mrs.
Moore. Mrs. Janin. Miss Morse, Mr..
Woodbury. Lowery, Miss Mildred Carlisle,
Miss White, sister OF Senator White. Mrs. Win
throp. Mrs. Schmidt, Miss Louise Mitchell,
Miss Palms of Detroit. Mrs. r. J. Wynne, Mrs.
and Mise Laingerfeid, Miss Redeem, Miss
O'Too!e, NJ. Hunter. Mrs. Bancroft DAVIS a.a
Mrs. apd Miss Ellis.
Before and after the dinner all the visitors
great: enjoyed going all over the house from
the kitchens to the garnet. All the inmates con-
fined to their beds had al the good cheer they
could take and many visits from the young
ladies.
One old coIored woman, upward Of ninety
years, Law diving in the room adjoining the
dining room, where her old friends were enjoy
ing their dinner. The merriment did not af-
feet her. As no earthly sounds will ever again.
Before the sun goes down this evening the
sister watching near her thought the life Of the
old soul would be ended. She was, according
to the happy calendar Of the house. especially
blessed in the fac. that death was approaching
to her on st. Josephs day.