The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-07-03
CHILDREN
CALLED II
A HEAVEN.
Doors Of New York Infant
Asylum Closed Because Of
Lack Of Funds.

New York. July s.-Far up the cool,
green roadside that winds through Ches-
ter hill. Mount Vernon, is a big. breezy
knob set with great elms that rustic all
the day. Up through the green shoots a
giant white pole and from It floats every
day In the year a big American dag.
From along the spreading lawns comes
the din OF many happy little voices.
But the nag Will be hauled down for the
last time on the night OF the Fourth and
the little voices and the patter OF many
feet will die away forever. In their place
Is to come the rap OF the auctioneer's
hammer and the shrill clamor Of the bid
ders. For the nrst time In twenty-one
years there will be no little ones there.
ALL ARE LITTLE ONES.
Folks call It the New York Infant Asy-
lum." The children call II Heaven" A
big. redbrick building occupies the CEN
tire Of the park and dotted round about
II are twenty other buildings, all painted
bright yellow. In the big building are
the doctors and nurses and the rest of
the staff. In the cottages dwell little ones
OF all ages from two weeks 10 six years.
Lack OF funds" sighed Miss Foster
the superintendent, when asked why this
happy charity was TO cease at last.
BRIGHT-FACED PUPILS
fearful children were grouped about on
the lawns. Other weeping ones were ST.
lently making their way down the hill
side with attendants, bound they knew
not where. Some were destined for the
care OF the Children's Aid society and
others for the State Charities Aid society.
The Catholic Home bureau and the Guild
OF the Infant Saviour took others. Many
were on their way back to the miserable
tenement homes from whence they came.
Cant stay here. please, Miss Foster?"
begged one tot with the big tears we'll
ing In her eyes. I've got a rose bush in
the garden and next week the first rose
Is coming out"
Miss Foster kissed her and tried 10
whisper a word OF comfort. One we'll
dressed woman stood there silently look
ing over the babies Suddenly she rushed
to one bright-faced midget and clasped
her In her arms.
"I'll take this little dear" she cried.
Can she come home with me?"
AS kindly as she could Miss Foster ex-
planned that the babies were not TO be
adopted by any one. The child's mother,
she explained, was servant In Mount
Vernon, and paid its board regularly. But
the superintendent couldn't keep back the
women who kept coming from every
where, looking for babies TO adopt.
A dozen times she had 10 tell them that
each child had either parents of friends,
except those who had been abandoned
while they were there. Another woman
went weeping away.
II had little boy once just like that
little chap there, but he is gone now.
and thought he could take my baby
boys place"
NEITHER RACE NOR COLOR.
The door opened just then and three
solemn colored mites stood on the thres-
hold with quivering lips and melting eyes.
They were going away, too, 10 the Color
ed orphan asylum. They had little hats
and pinafores and dresses, but even the
bright new clothes couldn't console them
for having to go away.
1--WE are having these scenes every hour
or So" explained Miss Foster. 'Of all the
children of our 800 who have gone away
only two were not crying. Then outsiders
people who want TO adopt them. This Is
not So We are not an orphan asylum or
a founding asylum.
CHILDREN OF THE POOR.
These are the children OF the very poor
or OF the unfortunate. Some are able TO
pay n little for board. We are also will
ing 10 take In q mother who has been
unfortunate and try 10 let her learn
mother love for her little wsif. After
year she can go and the child may stay.
There are still 9S children left, and 46
mothers They must go soon. We have
been sadly hampered for money OF late.
Our property Is worth about 100000. and
will be sold. New York city does not con-
tribute rs much TO our support as former
ly. and so we are going out OF business
here The New York branch at Sixty
first street and Amsterdam avenue will
stay OPEN
10
causes are 10 blame for the closing of
the asylum. Some say that tho influence
OF the wealthy residents OF the town have
forced the charity 10 close. 1t Is right IN
the handsomest portion OF Mount Vernon,
and across the street are its two most
presentious residences. The cottagers don't
want an asylum so close at hand