The times., 1898-12-04
A FAMOUS CRADLE
Has Rocked Thousands of Bnbies in
Its Time.


It's Time.
New York. Dec. 3.-Just within the
doorway of a pile of stately New York
buildings that cover almost an entire
block stands cosy little old-fashioned
cradle of wicker work. with snow white
coverlet and plump little pillows. that
would bring peacefulness and rest to the
most pugnacious, sleep-defying your
ster.
1t is the famous crib of the New York
Founding Asylum, in which every lap
less infant brought there must be paced
by its unhappy mother. or some other
person. as a formal act of abandonment
before the Institution will assume the re-
sponsibility of its future care and welfare
II is now rather shaky and feeb,e. from
old age and constant use. and it wou'd
have been consigned long ago to the lum-
ber room of an ordinary Household. But
1t has a record that makes it not only a
notable object of interest but endsars il
as well to the hearts of the self-sa iiic-
ing women whose lives have ben de-
voted to the helpless babes for whom
this quaint little basket of wicker-work
has stood silent sponsor through SO many
years
From the opening of the asylum on &C.
tober H. 1869. up to November 70. this
year, every one of the 81 029 infants re-
ceived and cared for during that period
has been temporarily an occupant of the
same Identical crib. IL has been patched
and repaired and repainted TO conceal the
traces of time, and still does duty at The
same old stand. seemingly as clipper
and cheerful as when it first started in
business.
The appearance of this crib marked an
era in the charitable work of the great
metropolis. a peculiarly hearuess phase
OF mans inhumanity TO man" ceased
when good Sister Irene, the foundress OF
the asylum stretched the broad mantle
OF Christian charity until it also covered
these Iuckless iInocents.
The first home of the foundlings was
in very limited quarters al No. IL East
Twelfth Street, and the opening day was
signalized by the installation of the now
famous crib. 1t was gift from Mrs.
Paul l.. Thebaud. truly charitable wo-
man of wealth and social position, who
has ever since been sianch friend of the
institution. The crib was brand new In n
of the latest fashionable design, ano
would not have been out of place in the
most aristocratic nursery on Fifth Ayenu :
But circumstances and Sister Irene wilied
otherwise. Instead of an easy existence
as a resting place for youngsters clad in
purple and fine linen. this costly crib
daintily furnished as 1t was. stood fol
many years Just outside the front door
OF the asylum ready TO welcome in It's
warm embrace the castaways silently de-
posted there by unknown hands.
This was a trying period in The careei
of this erstwhile modish crib, posing as
the official receptacle of deserted mites
of humanity The summers sun and win
ters storms played havoc with Its classic
contour. IL became weatherbeaten anc
began to age rapidly. when fortunately
the asylum authorities deemed it advis-
able for certain reasons, to surround Inc
abandonment of infants with more Tor
mallty. The crib was brought within
doors thus compelling the person wh'
wished to surrender a child to summon
an attendant, who was always IN wait
ing TO receive IL.
One benefit of the change was tha
MANY A desperate mother. whose self
destruction might otherwise have quickl,
followed the abandonment of her unfor
inmate infant. has been gently detained
kindly reasoned with, and finding a sym
pathetic listener to her sad story, ha
allowed herself to be helped back TO
life OF quiet resignation, IL not happiness
II seems strange how cheerful the OLE
cradle looks, after listening througs s.
many years. to countless tales of WON
ans woe; and the snowy coveriet an'
the plump little pillows show no sign
of the myriad tears of anguish droppe'
upon them from the eyes of heart
broken mothers as they pressed pas
sIonate kisses of farewell upon the In
nocent faces of the ill-starred little one
from whom they We're about TO par
forever.
1t is interesting to note that tn
"foundling crib" OF today had its pro
totype as far back as ll9S. when tn
great hospital of Santo Spirito in Rom
was rebuilt. At that time a turning-bo
was fixed in an opening of the wall. i
retired part of the building. in whicl
the abandoned child could be place
secretly at night A bell was rung a
the same time. and watchman o.
duty within the building turned TN
box and took out the infant. which wa
cared for and educated. and afterwar
apprenticed to some trade or profes
sion.