The Irish standard., 1910-11-05
NOBLE WORK OF
THE LITTLE SISTERS
fhe Home for the Aged a Haven of
Rest for the Poor and
the Infirm.
Untiring Devotion Of the Little
Sisters an Evidence of
Great Faith.

Goods in His heaven and all's right
with the world" Such is the feeling
that the visitor carries away from
the Home for the Aged conducted by
the Little Sisters Of the Poor. And
surely it is a privilege and pleasure
to be shown through that institution;
for there if anywhere, are to be seen
the most beautiful and convincing evil
dences Of faith. To crafty the many
wants of persons grown into second
childhood, to calm them in their i'm
petuous moments, to cheer them and
make them happy in the hope Of a
reward which the eye Of faith alone
can see is a task that often burdens
the closest kin and makes them ques-
ton the designs Of Providence. But
how different it is with the Little Sis
tiers Of the Poor whose lives are de-
voted to the service of God! the sor-
did cares that are inseparable from
wrinkled age, the meanest duties that
decrepit humanity shifts to those who
volunteer to cheer life's lost moments.
these are the tasks which the Little
Sisters of the Poor choose to do Of
their own volition for the honor and
glory of God. And to see them per.
forming their endless round of duties
with the cheerfulness and eagerness
Of one who looks forward to the re.
Taxation of the morrow is to be con-
WINGED that the leaven of life is faith.
There in their limited little world the
good sisters work from day to day,
administering to the aged and inflrm
of all nationalities and creeds with
no thought Of pleasure other than that
which is gained by serving God and no
thought Of reward except that which
will be reserved for them in Heaven.
The Home for the Aged is located
at the junction of Broadway and Sec
ond street northeast. The main build
ing, which was very much enlarged
by the addition Of wing on the east
end is spacious but still inadequate
to accommodate all those who apply
for admission. In the will of Mr..
Stewart, whose death occurred about
six months ago. a bequest Of $4,000
was made to the Home. When this
money is received it will be used in
paying off the debt still due on, the
improvements which were made FIVE
or six years ago and after that is done
similar addition will be made on
the west end of the old main build
ing. When that is complete it will
be possible to accommodate a much
larger number of inmates than at
present.
The main building is divided be-
tween the men and women. On one
side the women have their sewing
room, their dormitories, their infirm-
airy and dining room. On the other
side is the barbershop and reading
room, the dormitories and infrmary
of the men. In the middle and ex-
tending to the rear Of the building
is beautiful chapel where the Bless
ed Sacrament is always kept. Regu-
lar religious exercises are held and
prayers are said in common. But it
does not require the sound Of bell
to draw the inmates to the presence
of the Blessed Sacrament. They form
the habit of frequently dropping in
to the quiet seclusion Of the chapel
to pray-the only consolation that is
theirs-so that seldom during the day
is the chapel empty.
On the second floor are the apart
ments for the blind and infirm. Their
wants are all provided for on that
floor even to attending mass which
they can do by stepping out into
what corresponds to a choir loft, but
which is provided for the use OF
those who are unable to go below.
Detached from the main building
are two smaller buildings, one of
which is used for laundry and the
other is used for a smoking room for
the men. The laundry is equipped
with an electric motor and machinery
for doing the heavy part of the work.
In winter and wet weather the clothes
are put in the drying room and dried
by steam.
AS the grounds unoccupied by build
ings are limited there is very little
garden truck raised. The Home is en-.
tirely dependent on charity.
Only those are accepted as inmates
who are sixty years of age and have
no means of support. There are no
restrictions on creed, there being
Homes conducted by the Little Sisters
where there are more non-Catholics
than Catholic inmates. At the pres.
emit time the Home is providing for
one hundred and thirtv.f1vA neraons