The evening world., 1903-09-29
LEASES HOUSE OF NATIONS
TO NUNS FOR LOW RENTAL.
Might Have Sold the Famous
Resort for a Hall Million, but
Declined to Accept, in Order to.
Let Sisters Have the Place.

king. a spirit OF renorse.
His first signal act. which has caused
n sensation little short OF Supplying
among his former friends and asso-
ciates. was the refusal of a p~rinceiy
fortune for the famous or Infamous
House of All Nations" once the most
luxurIously appointed hall of vice in
the city. and the turning over of the
building to n little group of Franciscan
nuns for the use as a home for poor
working girls.
Refusing an offer OF half a million
dollars for the big double house just
west of Sixth avenue and which runs
through the entire block from Thirty
third to Thirty-fourth street, "Ar' Ad-
ans has leased 1t for n rldiculously
small figure for the purposes of charity.
and 1t is now in possession OF the Little
Order of Nuns.
Home for Working Girls.
Sister Frances. who is the head of this
little order. which will mako this for
:ner abode of vice a home for the poor
working girls. was seen to-day by an
Evening World reporter In the famous
rose parlor. Standing beneath a paint
ing of Popa Leo XIII. which has re-
placed a hugh canvas bearing a wild
3acchanalian scene from the brush OF a
noted French painter, Sister frances
told of the purposes of the new home
and also Of the untoward bonevolence OF
Il Adams.
although I have had no personal
dealings with Mr.. Adams" said Sister
Frances, II know that the spirit of res
titution for the wrongs he has done ac-
tuated han in letting us have this great
building forSa humble renting. what
ever his business methods have been In
the past he must have some good In his
heart to be SO kind.
I'VE had never hoped to secure this
place, as we knew enormous sums had
been offered for 1t. We little thought
when We asked our lawyer, william NJ.
Sullivan, of No. 30 Nassau street. to ne
s~otiate with Mr.. Adams's agents. that
we would succeed In renting the place.
and when we did succeed we could not
withhold a prayer for the man who had
made such d sacrifice for charity.
visitors Startled by Change.
1--WE have been settled here for sew
eral weeks and we have had some
strange experiences. Every evening
when we answer the ring of the door,
boil we encounter some nashily dressed
stranger who, when he sees the uniform
OF our order, %staggers back as II he haa
received n tremendous shock. Last Sun
day night there came ten OF these men,
and as their glances fell upon the pic
lures OF the saint In the hallway 1
really thought some of them would rant.
In fact, they were so shocked that
they could not open their mouths IN
question of the change. White and
scared-looking, they skunk AWAY In the
shadows of the night.
Fifteen years ago the House of All
Nations first attracted the attention OF
the frequenters of the Tenderloin, and
its fame soon spread throughout the
country. Ne ;er before in America mad
A hole of vice been furnished and .hJ-
pointed In such magniicence. Fortunes
were spent In fitting the walls with piet
uphoistering' were of the finest texture
that money could buy. More tann this.
the furnishings were not OF the garisa
kind that one would expect In such r..
sorts. They were selected with splendid
taste and with an idea of standing out
in bold relief from decorations OF their
Great IL the Change.
tied. the house to-day he saw IN the grea!
parlor of the mirrors a little rag don
some walf the sisters had taken from
ing for sister Frances he heard from an
adjoining room, where once came the
sound OF popping oorks, the sprightiy
The famous umbrella room, which 60,
its name from the shape OF the mir
Tored ceiling. where wine was served
Agony " in the Garden" in n Corner iH'
The great 6ining-room. walled eight
f TACK h, Sah, with Nth { Be- w usss ss : : S St sSl,s
room for the inmates 81 the home. Thee
walls Of this, room are frescoed with
fsmSns esprsseste Sceh being mG rran of shs
monks: This will all be changed. though
there 10 nothing in these wall decora-
tons tia ,n snsse sasr ssny va1k I that hat s ina t
The ratings Of the stairway are all
Of carved oak. On the second floor are
all Egyptian and Turkish par'ors. sep
arated by slender pillars. The walls
are covered with damask and the wood
work Is painted white, with decorations
of lotus flowers in bright red and green.
To Pat In New Furniture.
Sister Frances said to-day that few
house beyond removing some OF the
most glaring details and substituting
snrniture more appropriate for the new
purpose.
Lawyer Sullivan, who acted for Sister
Frances In securing the house, said that
The agents OF ':AT'. Adams had really
ing down the offer of half a million dol
lars for the place. This showed, said
Mr.. Sullivan. that the one thought OF
as a home for poor working girls was
of making restitution. "Al' Adams had
several Consultations with his agents
since he has been confined In Sing Sing
and arranged the terms Of the lease
from his cell.
Ducked . wife heater.
nXnH q SAINT aa-Iahn Ensah an