Evening star., 1905-10-01

have been the recipients of unfailIng cour-
.esy on all sides. OF Protestant patients
they are said to have had many In this
city, and of these missions the sisters are
SAID TO have the happiest recollections.
washington has been a particularly pleas
Ing Held of endeavor for the Ron Secours
sisters ever since a branch of the order was
estapiisned In Baltimore, and the sisters
are SAID to have always hopefully looked
forward to locating a house In this city.
some months ago negotiations were OPEN
ed Tor the purchase of the old Middleton
mansion in Tenleytown, d c., and as has
peen previously announced in The Star,
were satisfactorily concluded Since Sc
curing possession Sister Urban the head of
the order in this country, has set about inn
proving the property in order to adapt IL
to the needs of the sisters but these i'm
provements have necessarily been limited
on account of the condition of the finances
of the order. Besides the chapel. parlor
ana dining room there are quarters for
eight sisters. which are thought to be suf-
hc1ent for the present at least as there is
said to be scarcely a day when three ana
sometimes all of the sisters are not out on
missions.
As has been said, the sisters are always
the recipients of unfailing courtesy but
circumstances often place them with ex-
tremely poor and illy-fed humanity, and,
of course, they share the lot of each house
hold in which they are located Extreme
poverty comes within their own lives at
times, and many distressing conditions
might doubtless be related were the sisters
inclined to talk of their experiences 1t is
known that in one case a sister who was
nursing case of typhoid had nothing more
substantial to eat than potatoes, and, as
may be Imagined, there was no variety in
the way they were served. The recent ty-
phofd epidemic in this section OF the coun-
de m he Sic
tiers. One, who is now in Maryland. had
hoped to be present at the opening of the
new home this morning. but account of
the condition of her charges she Will have
to forego this pleasure. She is said TO have
had two typhoid patients on the road TO
recovery when two others of the same
household became afflicted, and now the
sister Is more than ever occupied.
Among physicians the Sisters Bon Secours
are said to be highly regarded. They are
tireless in their endeavors and constant IN
nocturnal vigils. AS may be imagined the
percentage of mortality among the sisters
is very large, due to too little regard for
personal welfare. With considerable pride
an admirer of the order pointed to the fact
that in Baltimore cemetery there are
thirty of the Bon Secours laid away side
by side. veritable pyre to the cause or
suffering humanity. Consumption Is the
principal cause of demise in the order
though of late year typhoid fever has been
the cause of the physical undoing of sew
eral of the sisters.
While young women are admitted to the
order from all over the world, each candi-
date must go to Paris, to the mother house.
for matriculation Here they have a no
vitiate of from two and a half to three
years, during which they have the benefit
of lectures and practical nursing. Then
they are sent wherever the superior of the
order may elect.
Truly" said a well-known physician.
''the opening of house in Washington by
the Bon Secours Is a positive boon to the
city, and will certainly serve to more than
enhance the well-being of the poor
when serious Illness comes to them. They
go to all but obstetric cases.
Already number of charitable Wash
ingtonians have signified their deep interest
in the undertaking by remembrances in the
shape of furniture and other household ef-
fects, and the finances of the sisters are
at present in bad shape L trust that there
will be even more substantial recognition
made of their vocation and the great good
the exercising of it has done and will no
doubt continue to do for the suffering poor
OF the national capital
Six sisters arrived at the institution yes
sterday, and these will be permanently at
tached to the house, with Sister Victorine
in charge.