St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-03-11

! shake hands and have a few words
with their guests
From this room the visitors were led
into the back yard, and across to the
smoking room, little stone building
standing alone with only walk con-
meeting it with the original stone house
that did service for the home before the
brick structure came into existence. In
the smoking room were some forty old
men, smoking and having a jolly time.
Among these was nOn-CathOlic of
Yankee origin, who was twenty years
ago one of the wealthy men of st. Paul.
The wheel of fortune turned the wrong
way, andlalI his earthly possessions van
lShed. There were dozen or more non
Catholics there, but the Yankee was
about the only one of note. The rear
side of the smoking room opens
into small workshop. In this
are miniature carpenter and shoe
shops. Two or three aged
carpenters while away their time at the
planning bench, and their time is not
altogether wasted, for they make many
useful articles. Several shoemakerS
put in much of their time mending
boots ana shoes at the other end of the
room. Lumber and feather dealers
contribute the material used by these
old men. When the shoemakers chance
to have good supply of stock on hand
they make new shoes for the use of in
mates.
The women and men are kept apart,
and are allowed to see each other on
Wednesdays and Saturdays only. On
these days they are allowed during GER
tain hours to enjoy each other COM
pany.
The aged inmates are required to
submit to the rules of the institution.
These amount to mild sort of dis
cipline, bearing no faint of hardship
and humiliation. The Sisters say that
they rarely have trouble with any of
them, and only two or three times in the
ten years has it become necessary to
eXpel persons. The two or three persons
expelled were SO incorrigible that it
was not possible to keep them there
No punishment is inflicted aside from
the bare requirement to leave the place
for attractions Of the rules.
The old folks are allowed to follow
their inclinations so far as they do not In
terfere with or annoy each other. They
can talk and laugh and play to their
hearts content. And many or them find
much amusement in the games they laid
aside seventy to ninety years ago. The
Home OF the Aged contains happy fam
lly-a family of playmates.
The food IS wholesome, the beds CON-
and the house is clean and tidy
from basement to garrett. The ventila-
ton is good, and temperature of the
rooms exactly suited to the condition Of
those occupying them.
Cages of canary birds and few potted
plants are kept in the sitting room, and
the walls are adorned with p lctures.
One man, who is somewhere in the
has canary bird for play
mate. When he eats the little bird
perches itself on the corner of his plate
and enjoys the meal with him. When
the little creature has its fill. 1t will
fly upon the old mans head or shoulder,
and sing a song. After few measures
the bird will hop about mischievously
for few moments, then perch Itself on
the mans finger or ear and sing some
more. When the grandpa" is tired of
the birds frOllc, he puts it in the cage
and takes a nap.
Time seems to- weigh lightly upon the
old people there aud death is stealing
upon them unconsciously.
1t is noble work, that of the Little
Sister of the Poor, and few there are
who after becoming acquainted with it
can look with anything but favor upon
the two sisters in black that make
periodical cells asking aims for the
home of the aged.