Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-14
n)me for tbe A9eo.
Conducted by the Little Sisters Of the Poor Third and
Streets Norheast-Its Beneicent Work.

Among the many large charitable institu-
tons of this city one of the most important
Is the Hcme for the Aged Of the Little Sis
ters OF the Poor. located at the corner of
I'D and II streets northeast Here the UNI
fortunates of humanity. when they expe-
rience the sorrows imposed by age, ache
andpenury' are cared for until death comes
to claim them for a richer reward. The
world loves the young, the bright, the
strong, but to this haven come the deere pid
whose lives have almost run their course.
and the palsied. who can no longer join in
social intercourse.
The home of one of the largest institu-
tons in Washington. the building and
grounds occupying the entire square bound
ed by H and l and Sd and Ith streets north
east. where 30 old folks are cared for by
eighteen sisters. The building and its fur
nishings are simplicity itself. but the sis
tiers have provided ample means of main
tanning their charges through dint of much
labor and sacrifice The Little Sisters of
the Poor devote themselves In the closest
manner, by the vow of hospitality, to the
service of the aged and ailing poor. Two
conditions are needed for reception into the
home-old age and poverty. With the Lit
tie Sisters of the Poor old age begins at
sixty, and from this age upward the needy
are admitted. Beyond this the years run
on indefinitely, reaching as high as eighty,
ninety and there have been centenarians at
the home.
The sisters receive old people of either
SEX and they have a separate section for
men and women, with separate sitting
rooms, yards, infirmares and dormitories.
The colored race has also been well looked
after They have a separate building; and
at this writing there are seventy persons
sheltered beneath its roof. The old folks
are received pretty much in equal numbers.
sometimes a preponderance of men and
again of women, but the general total IS
said to vary but slightly. There are a num-
Der of cases of old couples entering the
home together and peacefully closing their
existence, but of course they must occupy
tn" several wards set aside for the sexes.
There are no privileged people in the home,
no annuitantS. unless, perhaps, the most
desolate and the most infirm, and all have
the same dietary.
HI the midst of their old people the Little
Sisters give themselves up to the work of
hospitality. With them there are no serv-
ants, no paid employees. They wait them
selves on the inmates and share among
themselves the work of the house. Not
only must the household cares be dscharg-
ed, but then there Is left what, TO the lay
man, seems the hardest task of ALL the
asking of aims for the old folks. There is
no more familiar vehicle in Washington
than the long black wagon labeled Home
fo- the Aged and Little Sisters Of the Poor"
which every day in the year except Sunday
in fair and foul weather. makes the rounds
"
homes of the charitably inclined to receive
the aims of the generous merchants and cit
liens. Two of the sisters make the rounds.
And as the Little Sisters receive the
needy regardless of their religious beliefs,
so also are the benefactors of the home
representative of the charitable spirit of
all walks of life and various religious
sects Few stores are visited where the
sisters are permitted to walk away without
receiving an offering of some sort for the
sustenance of the old folks, and thus, little
by little. food and clothing are daily gath
cred. Then, too, the home has number
of benefactors, who contribute time and
again for the keep of the home. But the
utmost economy and care must be exercised
by the mother superior and her assisting
sisters for dark days often come and the
aged and infirm folks are seemingly for
gotten.
Besides feeding the inmates-a large task
in itself, considering the number to be