OCR Text |
Show Foundlings Cared For. A. pretty baby girl was discovered In tho waiting-room of an elevated station sta-tion the other evening. She was crowing crow-ing contentedly to ribrself, even though she had been forsaken and had but Just set out on the long journey of llfo with not a friend on earth, no home, not even a name. Why need she worry? Tho city would take care of her, a fact well known to the Inhuman parents who left her there. Tes, tho mite of a girl would even be given a name. Foundlings of this sort picked up in the streets or odd places of New York aro first taken to tho nearest police station, sta-tion, and from there, in most instances, sent to Bellevue. Agents of the State Charity association and the Guild of the Infant Savior call at the hospital several times a week to Inquire if thero are any foundlings on hand. There usually are. It Is an Important point in the life of the baby when he or she is trotted out to the Inquiring agent. Then it Is decided whether the waif is to bo a Catholic or a Protestant. If the agent of the chnratles association takes a child that infant is destined to bo a Protestant. The next foundling goes to the Catholic agent and it Is to be a Catholic. The rule of alternation Is adhered to strictly, and, although tho baby doesn't care a rap about lt, his religious fate Is sealed then and there. It often happens that babies with decided Jowlsh features become Protestants and Catholics. They are christened at the hospital, either the chaplain of Bellevuo or a priest from a nearby Catholic church officiating, names being selected from printed lists kept on hand for that purpose. There Is no sentimentality In the choice of names, either. The one coming next to the one previously used Is given tho boy or girl regardless of baby beauties Buggestlve of all sorts of pet names. New York Correspondent Rochester Democrat. |