Year: 1865

old battered az II DrOtcul VINO 30 10 III Ai' -'%-
house Of the metropolis Some OF them arc mere rom
nants Of msn Lecless men, armlcss men ano-iof
sqeht Of reason in many cases-headess men, the hall,
the lame and the bliId, they move about IL p"e'u,
nbccie wsy hopeless ecss on tie ocea. n lie ana
fast going to pieces the coast OF eternity Many o.
them mrst long and pray for that last long home.
There are at present 800 men in the Aims'honse'
The first story is devoted TO the blind and crippes'
who, IN many instances are unable TO DO anv worh'
The second floor is occupied by those inmates who are
able 70 perform some kind Of labor. One wing OF tue
third floor is devoted to hospital purposes and the
other for paupers vno are enabled to GO up and down
the stairs They receive nearly the same treatment
The mechanics who do regular work, receive meat
every day except Friday when mush is substituted
Every inmate receives three me ais day. Those VINO
DO no work receive meat four times week The reg.
uar meals consist of vegetable soup. fresh beef aud
bread.


We stood M TIE door Of the Aims House dning-roon.
Three hundred tin pans filed with excellent vegetable
soup were placed npon five or six long, pine tables
with wooden stool at each place. The soup must have
been excellent aud nutrtive, judge by the fragrant
steam which mpregnated the atmosphere OF the apart
ment Beside each pan placed large slice OF
good soft wheat bread and at two or three oi the
tables there was an addition Of meat this side Deg
occupied by the paupers who do daily work OF one khu
or another The repeated clash of large bell Is the
signal and from all quarters the men block up ana ia
into line The line is put in motion and the head OF
the column enters the Falstaffs shlrtiess ana
disabled recruits were eboded and In the lustyvgor
Of YOUTH as compared with the Alms-House battaion
On crutches on canes Ghe cane is unyersal-ai nave
canoO on wooden legs and almost on hands and knees
come the warriors 10 attack their meals-limping,
hobbling hitching, creeping, grouping they come:


The event is one Of the three which break the weary


nono,onv ~ their drearv lives and they to enjoy
il wonderfully. They TO love and respect the
Warden, take what they get gratefully and lounge
about the grounds. unthnking or unknowing oil the
flight OF time Their bridge of time is so brief thar
may seem but step with them from The prison'house
Of the present the immortal liberty OF the great Be-
vond And II it is mostly Bridge OF Signs. regret iof


the past must be mingled with hope fr the future ana
the lingering looks which they cast behind must DC In
mersed in tie longing they throw 10 the opposne


side There is something sadly beautiful in these ou


men wrecks they their lives but failures friend
less and alone coming TO spend the last remnant Of
their broken days among the sweet flowers and cool
groves in the pleasant sunshine and soft breezes OF
their island home-their last on earth before their
weary limbs are laid in the chamber Of the tomb





ways. Weaving has been recently introduced, at tie
suggestion Of Mr.. Anderson. and is carried on to
a considerable extent All the blankets that are used
on the entire island are made here. An excellent gTay
cloth is made Of wooden and cotton combined, and in
sufficient quantity TO make clothing for all the inmates
. OF the Aims House Department.


Those who are. or who have been mechanics make
all The tinware and do al the csrpenterng and shoe
mending for the enf re department,


All tie brooms that are used on the island are made


by the blind inmates of this Department who usually


live and take their meals apart from the other inmates
e TEE FEMALE DEPARTMEST.


Tie building devoted this department is the SAINT


size as the one we have Just described and very sim
Is lar in appearance. The FIST floor is occupied ~ ole
D. women too decrepid to up stairs The second hoo
lie is occupied by old ladies little veer, able to work
le the ewing On this floor are also given out th
ID little orphan children to be taken care Of The thiF
floor is appropriated to those inmates who are eve
D moIe active.


As with the male department by far the largest por
n ton Of the inmates very aged persons-old wome
from GO TO 50 years of age but upon whose wrinke'
y features misery has wrought more deeply than axe
e Fully half of them imbeciie When question


put TO them they sit down quietly take up the hem
their white aprons and settle themselves down for abou
x fortnight OF earnest va Nh' ''"'N
our INQUIRY and at the end Of that time probably oI
get that any Is necessary Other inmates ar
IS Young women. who are totally imbece. and regar
r everything with vacant stare. In scruiinizng tn


faces Of the old women il is with difficulty that re
alzes that these old women have passed through th
bright warm lifetime in whose passionate whir Sc
l. the voune and the bthe and fair Of the present day
< Yet they have known ii all They, also have bee
Young and beautiful. They also have enjoyed the hey


day Of youthit faults and foes and gittering mimi
d ir Of amusement and suffering In every wrinkle
I. their dried and bloodless features is written an
II mapped the searngs Of old passion, the sparkle Of o
smiles and the channels Of old tears. They stormly
y plaeidly flowed from brightness into gloom. and th
& tide of their beings is cbbing 10 the Infinite, wit


the slow ground swels which all that left Of th
n .orms and whiilwinds and foamy enioyments of tn
4 past but with the grand pulsatons OF creations sou
i forever throbbing under as the tide sweeps on
,. TIE BABIES.


n The babies quite feature OF the Alms-lIous'


The orphaned ones which .scnt from the city ar


placed in the charge of old ladies' who delight in akin


care Of them The upper floor Of the building is occr


pied by mothers who are expected 10 take Of on
;. child in addition to their own. Each orphan child
allotted quart Of milk day with crackers and fariDa


When y woman is taking care Of two childrcn-onc G


them her Own-the ration Just mentioned Is gwen I


the orphan while she has apportioned to her for he
0 own cld, pint of milk only-snce it has the add
/ tiona nourislment afforded by her breast.


There are at present about 80 babies IN the establish
mcni They are kept there until they reach the age


two years, when they are sent to Randars Island.
general rule they are scky when first brought 70 th
Alms.H House but soon faten up under the treatmen


which they there receive Many Of them ale adopted


by clildess ladies' and while we were in the depart