The Republican journal., 1903-06-25

usually belong to the poorest classes,
and arrive naked or wrapped in rags:
occasionally one is dressed in the dam
tiest raiment that love and wealth and
the instinct of maternal tenderness can
suggest: and that with the latter is COM
monty found a generous sum of money
for the child's maintenance and not in
frequently a tear-blotted letter be-
seeching special care for the forsaken
baby and promising to pay well for its
future support What suggestions of
tragedy are here, of human frailty,
and divine compassion, of the old per
picking problem that came with the
tempter into Eden.
This box is an ineXhauStible source
of revenue for the Asylum, and nearly
every night it is secretly revolved by
outside hands, presumably by those
who have unacknowledged children
withinl and purses are put in, labelled
for the support of the infants received
on such and such date. Noquestions
are ever asked and no effort made to
trace the parentage of the waits. On
certain days of the week the institution
is open to visitors, and the children
may be adopted by whoever desires
them: thus giving the unknown parents
All opportunity of secretly seeing their
nd Of lly
ing them without fear of discovery,
unless, as sometimes happens, nature
is too powerful to be overcome by guile,
and unfortunate babies develop a
marked resemblance to the author of
| their being.
| The outer walls of the quaint old
| building are four feet thick and ramble
around three inner courtyards, each OF
| which has it's central fountain and tan
! gle of flowers and passion vines, and
clump Of olive or fig trees shading the
shrine of Christ, a Virgin or Saint.
| These courts are surrounded by corrl-
doris, whose tiled arches are upheld by
long lines of queerly carved pillars,
|
now streaked with mold and crumbllng
under ''the insidious tooth of time.
Traversing their moss-grown pave
ments we found the path INSTRUCTED
by several donkeys that had been driv-
Ell to the inner doors with supplies of
fuel. milk and vegetables; and the blue
goWned matron, her round benevolent
face shining like full-blown peony in
the sun. with rosary, crucifix and bunch
| of keys jingling at her side, and the
flaps of her wide, white bonnet stand
ing out like sails, failing to bulge the
animals by the usual est th-th" put her
strong, fat shoulder to each ones rump
and quietly pushed it out of the way.
Such immaculate cleanness prevails
everywhere that one might eat off from
every inch of flooring, whether Of
wood, tile or adobe; and such absolute
silence reigned that we found it diff
cult to believe there were actually a
great number of children quartered
under the roof No muddy little foot
prints, no marks of careless fingers,
or shouts of childish glee, proclaimed
! their existence. A glimpse of the per-
feet discipline needed in such crowded
institution is anywhere enough to give
one a heartache with the knowledge
that the rescued waits, though COM
fortably fed and clothed, must become
| tho
and retiring, eating, sleeping, playing
and praying by memorable rule, led by
the nod and beck of their keepers.
The good Sisterhood, by the way, being
all maiden ladies of certain age, are
scarcely the natural guardians of child
hood, having voluntarily foregone the
development of the maternal instinct
and being compelled by their VOWS to
sternly repress the most tender senti-
ments of the heart. Worthy women
though they undoubtedly are, searched
every countenance in vain for a trace
of that undefinable, yet unmistakable
sweetness of expression indicative OF
completed womanhood, that comes
only to the faces of those who have
loved.
In this asylum the children are care
fully trained in the tenetsof the church,
and educated to a moderate extent in
the lore of books, while each is taught
some useful trade which he or she may
practice for future support. Thus,
while the boys learn shoe making, sad
dlery, poncho-weaving, cabinet-work
ETC., the girls manufacture artificial
flowers, fancy boxes, lace and en-
bFoidery, and are trained for domestic
service. If not adopted, and if self
supporting, they may remain here per