New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-13
PART ".
EIGHT PAGES.

ers leaving their offspring in private doorWays
and or the steps of public buildings prevailed in
New-York to deplorabie degree thirty-fve years
,ro One DEPARTMENT OF the Board OF Health spent
most OF its time looking after these abandoned in
fants and the police were often called on to trace
and the courts TO punish mothers whose oables
had died from doorstep exposure. Hardly a day
nassed but the newspapers chroncled one or more
ebsndonuents Of this sort. At time the prac-
ice was so prevalent that it was no longer news
when mother rang the door bell OF the residence
~ some prominent citizen and then slipped away
an the night leaving behind her a little bundle
:. ,,,r,anjt,- who would be cared for II the bell
&c answered and who, as likely as not, would
die II the bell not heard
rrbe Board Of Health took charge OF most Oh
these cases, turning them over TO the perIuhc'oiS
care of the already crowded public institutions
There were so many Of these htue walls nc ~
,esl+h doctors coined name for them 1hey We'e
csIled Uncle Sans babies. and few chllofeh hau
q harder row to hoe than they.
7, the early fall Of 1869 q baby was aoahooheu
IN a doorstep in Barclay-sta The mouse happsA
20 be training home for Sisters OF Chal1ly en-
N. of the faithful women in charge answered ms
rel The wall Of the infant lying on the stone sIep
~. IN the heart OF this woman, ana d mouth
,o+er basket was placed IN the doorway VI d
house in East Twelfth-st-, ana 'Ae
Founding Hospital was begun
II was long before the BOARD Oh -, $3.50
IN notice a falling off in the number OF aoahooHe0
infants. .,-,,o c.-,.s
srIyhat has happened TO the crop OF Uncle Dan"
babies'?' the doctors asked each other.
Senator s s Cox heard this query one day on
g visit 10 health headquarters. and gave the an
swer: There is a house down on my street VIZ" I
keeps little basket on the front steps. No'Hels
can lava their babies there and no questions VIII
be asked. The Sisters Of Charity are taxing care
Of Uncle Sans babies
There was no end OF opposition at the time 10
tbe plan Of the good Sisters. The indignation OF
,,, vor+l,v citizens WIS Of great intensity They
held that a founding hospital would be an h4ce"-
tive 70 immortality. and added induceTnent 10
bring ueeitimate children into the "oIl"- Inc
Sisters knew the other side Of the story the nope
lessness Of many unfortunate mothers ana '1e IN
possibility OF giving the innocents proper care III
exfstIng municipal institutions TheT persisted
and in the first year cared for 400 babes
The CITY authorities became interested IN the
work and leased to the Sisters DOCK OF Iano Il.
Sfvf7--eislltfl-st. between Lexington and Ihfo
aves for term of one hundred years, at an
annual rental OF 81 a year Then the city onereu
10000 toward the hospital building II the 0ls'e's
raised a like sum The terms Of tins GIT We're Iiet
and the foundation laid of a hospital which mas
crown 70 represent value Of more than Sl'''''0V'
r. became stiu more public institution when APP
rreciatfve LEGISLATION gave an appropriation per
csu!ta which assured its maintenance
This. IN brief, is the history of the beginning OF
an institution which has cared for some forty
thousand infants in the last thirty-fve years and
given assistance 20 many thousands Of homeless
mothers Last year the records show that 1851 in
fants 584 homeless mothers and 956 maternity cases
were on The register. There is an outdoor Depart
yae7t which annually distributes $4,000 10 needy
and deserving mothers who have lost their own IN
fants and are eager 10 for little foundlings
Within the last five years 2126 children, at an
average age Of three years. have been placed IN
r,er-nsnent homes where they will grow up IN
ignorance OF the stigma misfortune OF their
birth.
It is in connection with this important work OF
finding comfortable homes for the foundlings that
ihe hospita! has recently come into the public eye
The Sisters some time ago received a number OF
requests for children for adoption from Mexican
families living in Arizona. The usual procedure in
such cases was followed. The nearest parish priest
was asked to visit and report on the condition Of
the homes in which the children were wanted. A
fayorah bic report was made in most cases. and
party of children was sent West. They were &C
ro1lrauied by two Sisters OF Charity with expert
euce in placing children several nurses and a
doctor
The long railroad Journey to Arizona made
without accident unusual incident. The Mexican
homes were found 10 DC all that was represented
Just one factor had not been taken into considera
lion. Although the Mex!cans thrifty and in
comfortable circumstances. there much feel
ing against them The part Of the American resi-
dents OF the towns. When the Americans the
pretty, curly headed waits from New York they de-
cided that they should not go into Mexican homes.
So they took a number OF the children and dis
tributed them among American citizens IN Ari-
iona. The Sisters then recalled all OF the children
they had placed with Mexicans. and took them to
Illinois where number Of families had applied for
children No further attempt VIII be made to
place children in homes in States near the Mexican
border.
The Sisters were hurt beyond by the
food OF misrepresentation which followed this
Mexican incident But in the institution itself there
IS the strongest possible refutation of any charges
Of acknowledgement. as a Tribune reporter found on
visit TO the hospital few days ago
Just within the doorway Of the hospital is one OF
the most interesting and striking features Of the
institution. II is draped cradle painted white
and filed with soft blankets The door behind
which the cradle stands is unlocked dav and night
and any mother who is unable TO care for her baby
can leave II in the cradle.
For years the cradle stood outside the door and
the mothers were not watched when they came
with their babies. This drew unfortunate women
from ether cities in this and other States and grew
10 be an imposition on the taxpayers Of New-York
VINO support the institution. 1t was also made an
instrument OF torture by an occasional angry
husband. who. after q quarrel with his wife would
lahe llelr baby TO the hospital The Sisters now
INSIST mat only mothers abandon the children and
mat they be residents Of this city No other ques-
Nons are asked bur the mother has the privilege
o. giving the baby a name if she desires
Il theTe IS brighter happier, healthier nursery
u any Elttr-aVe. home than those in the Found
ing Hospital. wealth must have taken IN new,
po"eFs' The typical founding nursery is a long
room with high windows on each side There are
O rows OF spotiess trundle beds with plenty OF
room between them. and a wide aisle in the centre
i"o-thlrds OF the children in this nureor,, ara
-uhsoouts'-bright faced smiling vounqe+ers 80
I'm TWO 10 two-and-one- half years The olber
'h'1o OF the nursery population is made nm ~
nursing Danies. with nurse for every two babies
E@ch fuhaoout' has his or her li,tIe cbaIr
and individual dolls and TOYS 1-tr 80 mar
Uniform IN the dresses Of the girl babt