Year: 1871

One OF the most needed institutions ever opened
IN this city was that OF the Founding Asylum under
the care OF the Sisters OF Charity. 1t had much to
contend against, both In Its first efforts for life and
in Its later exstence but its worst enemies at
the beginning have since seen reasons to cnange
their opinions as to Ats usefulness, an1 many OF
them are now among Its warmest supporters. That
the asylum could have been originated without the
best of reasons could scarcely have occurred remem
bering the fact that 1t was at the


SUGGESTION OF THE SISTERS OF CHARITY


1t was at first started, and class OF persons had
had or could have had so many opportunities Of
judging OF the good such an institution might &C
complish as they. Even among the poor and the
distressed, the downtrodden and the unfortunate.
they saw the sin, crime and misery that followed
from the destruction or abandonment OF iliegit-
mate children and the shame and after iniquties f
the erring mothers. The holy and self-sacrincing
work OF saving both child and mother from such
fatal consequences to both with all its labor TRIALS
and denials. was such work as might be expected
OF Sisters OF Charity; and from The moment they
undertook


THE SERIOUS TASK


down to the present they have been so unremttlnQ
In their jealous efforts, SO palnstaKing in their
charitable Deeds that the admiration OF both friend
and foe has been excited, and even the absolute
necessity Of such work in our midst most fully
acknowledged. Soon after the opening OF the
asylum in Twelfth street. two years ago. the promise
OF sustainment OF the institution was very en-,
couraging, and there was then reason to be.
lieve that the means to carry it on would be
abundant The SISTERS subjected themselves to end
less annoyances slept the floors OF the rooms 10
make room for the poor waits, and worked day aud
night to put the house in working order Citizens
subscribed literally enough for beginning, and
yearly donations were not to be complained Of


NUMBER OF THE INFANTS


left in the crib kept increasing until fter very
time hundreds OF them, for want OF room, had
to be sent out TO nurse and this has continued down
TO the present time: SO continuous were the mum.
bers coming IN, without, OF course any child going
out that the building now occupied In
washington square had to be rented and the
kept on Increasing, in rents house supplies, and
especially In the wages paid to outside nurses, In
building, the infants have @ % to 5e placed An idea Of
the discrepancy between the money allowed by the
easily Iormed by remembering that the State aid ia
only s. month and that the Rad a to
msacns TSere ars ao now asos Oh


SEVEN HUNDRED CHILDREN NURSING OUT


and about one hundred nd in The Asyum % the Latte
penses Of the first year Of the asylum amounted 10
S3s, oco; this year lending October y TO about
creasing from week to week. An interesting feature
IN the working OF the asylum is that mothers Of tna
the institution, and while thus occupied are boarded
and clothed Situations are also procured for tnis
thoroughly reformed. Many OF them nave been OF
the very lowest GLASS; and In only one case have the
Sisters efforts for the reformation Of these failed 20
prove completely successful. Additional expenses
Tor


THE NEW BUILDING


on Sixty-eghth street, between Third and LexinR.
ton avenues, will soon have to be incurred, and,
meanwhile, looking az the financial condition OF this
necessary institution as 1t is there Is just to
complain Of great negligence on the part OF the
public III not best0wing upon IL q more bOuntiful
support Probably the argument used by some that
the State and municipal governments should
altogether bear the burden Of Institution which,
while being emnently reformatory, is aso as has
been proved by t9e experience OF It's usefulness,
almost an efectual preventive against nfanuclde.
From month to month the good sisters have sert0ua
financial difficulties to contend against, and ara
puzzled how to tide over the difnculies The ald
they get sufficient to meet the constantly IN
creasing demands on the asylum