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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thode. 1 2 3 4 5 6 MICROCOPY RfiSOLUTION TEST CHART (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) 1.0 I.I 1.25 m 11^ il IIIIIM M 4.0 1.4 2.5 ^ 2.2 !^ 2.0 1.8 ^ APPLIED IfVMGE inc 1653 East Mam Street Rochester, New York 14609 iKA (716) 482 ~ 0300-':>hone (716) 288 - 5989 - Fax I2.S>4 REMINISCENCE OF MY VISIT TO THE CREY NUNNERY (General Hospital,) MONTREAL. a uiJUiiUTiinyUJD x&u MARIE-MARGUERITE DUFROST DE LA JEMMERAIS (WIDOW YOUVILLE) Foundress OF the Sisters of Charity (Grey Nuns), Montreal. Born Octorer T5TH, 1701— Died December 23RD, 1771. " t w J i i » mnamm^ ml lERAIS klONTREAL. I77I. ! REMINISCENCE OF MV VISIT TO TlIK U GREY NUNNERY (GENtRAL HOSPITAL,) GUY STREET, MONTREAL. 10 Wllltll I^ ADDKh I' A FEW NOTES AND EXPLANATORY REMARKS, Ai.i. or WHICH The Hcufler will /i>id icorlhu of ir iumI. A VISITOR 87644 •♦Tliisistbo "(Iroy Nunnery, Sir," woro tho words iittcrod by my .T(>,lm, us li(^taMisl.mrnt 1 want to visit is one of tli.^ oldest in the. coiinlry, and what 1 see hefon^ nu* is\,f rei-ent dat, 1 camo to ^bmtreal with a similar intention, and arriving l)y the evening train, put up at the St. J.aNM-eiice Hall. The fullowing morning a (h-o broke out in the East end, which spreadinu' with such rai)idily, among the wooden tenements, set that whole i)art in a bla/.e. bJeven hundred houses wore consumed during the day. The heat whicii was already great, becoming intolenblo through the intensity of the ilames and the sullbcating smoke, ma.le inc shift my (luarters and lly from a city whic-h, thou-h surroun.led l)y tho magnificont St. Lawrence on one side and tho Ottawa river on tho other, was devoid of Nqueducts to furnish suMicient water to quell tho raging element. I tied from Canada and like the " Wande.ring .lew," I have been literally tlying over sin.'o. Tho old proverb says : "A rolling st.me gathers no moss," but I say, every ono to his ,,wn taste. Mine is a preferenco for loaves, and liko\all okf people T gratify it, in adding new sheets to tho journals sent from time to time to the young folks f(»r whom I s assure me thev read with int(>,rest, I add tho present details - - = ' ' ' '• the life rolatiu'j; to tho " Uroy Nunnery all of which 1 have taken from of tho Foundress or receive 1 viva-voce from tho Sisters, while, as tl le Janitor of i\\^ Institution call* it, "Going aro und. 1 soldi l!')rl iiiler Willi iiaiiK leiidi chosi at th Mil' si doiiK \"u'lo bill tl thi^ b to tin settle .^.y^^'^^^:^^'" y my t(. St. ICllt I •re iiu< I'll nil 'W. ut- t'O Olio SO, an- lio old , itli all sy will i>itii)!j; II, this ultli a I tlioSt. ^ st end, Ills, 8ot during; [irou;:h W lift my lilicoiit ,m//j,i w. >' ^ a ' t;^'&^?^.;*rli!-^-' '■ '"■■vf^^-^i I ; '• '~pinU':K hundred and (oi'lysix yonrs .'1^0,011 tho2iid Oclob.T J- 1535, Jacijucs-Carticr, with a small ronipaiiy of French soldiers and sailors under hisconmiaiid, stood for the first time Mil !he topof tho mountain crowning the Indian city e; town of ll'iihida.t^a, and discovering an innnense extent of fine countrv i!iters[)ersed with rivers, woods, hills and islands, he was filled with i'celiii-s o!' joy ,ind i;i;iti!ii(lM and uave to the (devation tho name of Mount i»oyal. whicii. wil h siiiill change, has since e.x- '''"tl'''l to th.' ciiy. Tiiily lib' nam.' was most apjiropriately chosiMi. From the summit thai nohlc lu-dsiiict mot his eve which al this day. is tho drli-ht of loiir:^'^. liiit greatly changed ii> the sctMi.' since tlie Hro'con voyaueur -^azi d upon it. Now, town, domi^ and spin-, wh to sail and gliding sliamiT, the magniri(!ent N'ictoria Bridge spanning the i-ivcr, all loud to enhance the view; huL then Fast, West and South, tho foivst was over all, while the broad li'uo lino of the great St. Lawrence gloamerl amidst the foliag(\ earlier, on his return to France, described his visit to this mountain, and recommended it as a favorable site for a settlement, but he did not live to see his idea carried out. -, : \ — 4 — Twenty years passed on, ere the island was again visited by a white man. In 1609,Chanii)lain, governor of New France, (by which name Canada was then kiiowii), wishing to establish re- lations with the great Indian Tribes of the interior, came to Hochelaga where he chose a site and cleared gronnd for the proposed tradingpost. The spot chosen was immediately above a small stream (now cov(M'ed by Commissioners and Fonndling streets), which entered the River St. Lawrence at Point a Calli- ere ; hiM-e, on the margin of the stream, he bnilta wall of bricks which he made from the clay, but no Indians appearing, the island was again left to solitude and thirty years elapsed ere its forests sent back the echo of European voices. On the 18th of May 1642,Paul de Chomedy, Sienr de Mai- sonneuve, a devout Christian, an able statesman, and a valiant soldier, having accepted the imsition of governor of the newly acquired isle, which had been purchased from the Company of " One Hundred Associates," for Lhesum of seventy five thousand livres, with his little flottilla, a pinnace, a flat bottomed craft moved by sails, and two row-boats, approached Montreal, re- solved to settle a Colony there,'^even if every tree on the Island were an Iroquois." Gliding along the green and solitarv shores, now thronged with the lif« of a busy City, he landed on the spot where Champlain, 31 years before, had chosen as the first site for a settlement It was a tongue or triangle of land formed by the junction of a rivulet with the St. Lawrence. This rivulet was bordered by a meadow, and beyond rose the forest with its vanguard of scattered trees. Early spring flowers were blooming in the young grass, and the birds flitted among the boughs. Maisonneuve sprang ashore and fell on his knees. His fol- lowers imitated his example, and all joined their voices in songs of thanksgiving. Tents, baggage, arms and stores were landed. An altar was raised- oti a pleasant place near at hand which. n visited bv France, (br stablish le- )r, came to id lor the ately above Foiindlinp: int a Calli- H of bricks firing, the psed ere its iiir de Mai- d a valiant the newlv ompany of 3 thousand med craft )ntreal, re- the Island iry shores, ed on the IS the first lid formed 'his rivulet orest with v^ers were — 5 — all Ih. company ^^^f^^^M. his mon cU.tovin, M.isonnouve-s waH.ke ^^"^^ ^^^^ laborers,-aU alike ,,onnd hin.-.old,_ers - -. a^^ soldiers at need. 1 Ik-Y n^"' ' ^ -^^^^ turned and ,,,i.ed aloft ; and wL^" I - " ^^ - J '^^^.I seed that shall ,,,,,,.ed ^h- • y- --^^^ : Udow all. Yon are few hnt ;::X;'i^V;;::vor? Ood. his sn.i.e . on yo,., and yonr children shall fiU the land. ^^^ ^^^.tpm The afternoon ^^■^'^f^'K^;^^^^^^ twinkling over the f.vest, and twilight '^•;~-^,,^;7^^,;^^ ued them with threads M'"'"'*'''' " , „„..,. i.he strur'-les of the early Colonists, We will now pass ovei lhesln.„.R ^^. „,,uacksby Indians, d>se. ' "i ;P';'«^ ^^i'J .^ once to the „„„,p,„iments of snch -!«"^-X,i„,enM.M. Charon. Le- Ber & Kredn, proposed f°""^ "" ;,j,,.„,„„,„t began under the ,he siek and aged poor. The ^^^^: ^^ ^^-^^ ,f the Diocesan most ilonrishing auspices -.the heat 15 „ J ^^^ ,,„„„, , ,.ant oM-d rom t^^e S.,p ans,^^ ^^____^ ..S.i,neurs of '"^ Island wh>ch '< the same ling street to the banks of the fet. 1 aA ^ ^ ^^ cham- ,o,;iay and almost the same spot whac-^^^^ ,,lain had, H4 ye«'-^P'-«"°"'''y','"f„Vin' post -then came the Uo foundation of ''^P^'^P^^^^^.^'Hifiesly Louis XIV, Royal sanction under Letters paten b^ H M.J ^^ Y ^^ ^., in which the establisnment id st> lea u lemarie." , , , — G — _ Durin- the niaiingom iil of Mr. Ch.iron, (lie Hospital marlo rapid piv)^ivss ill pmsporiiy aM,l iiiiportaiK-o ; \ml after his dcatli his successors prov. Ml lo he i!!-|iialin.wl lo diivct !li(> afrairs of I'hc cstablishiniMil; Mi(3 i.in! iu-rhood was iTdiurd to two or '''«i'<'<' i" mmih:M' and the h.s], il;,l was invtriovahlv in dcl.t. [(, finally sucriinhLMl and ti,.' wh ui' rslalo was thLToloro handed over totho Scniinarv ofSt. Sn '!.■<•<- In 1737, th(> Hev. Mr No]-in,inf, a Snipician, acting in his capacity of Vicar-G,«n,'ral, .,r Parish pri.'st and also as the ropre- tciifativcof thcS.'i-iHMirs of the Island, sou-ht out iiK^ans of resuscitatin- th<' defunct (>stal.Mshmeiit liy Mio selection of a person capable of makinu it once more a home for the needy and infirm. His ciioice f,dl on a widow lady, Presi.leut of the confraternity of the Holy Family, who like another T^ibitha had made herself a mollier to the poor. Althou-h awedal the Ihou-lit of uiulerlakiii- such a work as that propos.!d by Mr. Normant, Mde dYouville, which was th(} lady's name, acc(-pt("d in obcdi(>nc(> to the voice of h(>r spi- ritual Director and in union with three pious companions, also devoted to works of charity, rented a small house and entVred it on the 80th Octob(>r 1738 with four or five infirm poor, the first foundations of a new order. All i>ood works ueuerally meet with opposition and the charitable ladi(>s soon ielt theefTtMJts of popular pirjudice and ill-will. The public susp(H'ting the de- signs of th(^ S(>minary in r(>-ard of the Charon [nstitnt'iou, were the promoters of the insensate persecution, while Mdo d'You- ville's relatives add(>d their voices to the popular clamor. The lh}\\ Mr. Normant foreseeing coming events, had pre- pared the little nucleus for the approaching trial and in a few appropriate words armed thmii for the battle. '^The Cross is everything to the Chiistian. It is his light, his guidt>, his armor. Like the walls of a fortified city, it must invest him all round, —there must be no breach,— it must be raised on the ramparts (J tal marlo lis d(!atli I (fairs of tw) or clclit. It 11111(1(3(1 -; ill his II' repre- icaiis of ion of a e 11(^0(1 y lit of till! itha had a work ch was h(M' spi- ns, also LMlt,0r(3(l )or, Uio ly iTH}()t fIV'cts of the de- ll, were d'Yoii- i(] pre- a few ]ross is armor, round, mparts „ „ \ . Yo, vil ind luT .■ouH>a.uons were pubUdy hnoU 1 " n„ 1, is Di'ltel wilh BtoMcs and densivcly on ■ nishhv. Iho Indians wilhMcohoUud 01 makn.^^^^^^^^^^^^^ „r it ihomsolves "avc I'isi' to the rpillK'l '■ wi"" ^"^' \, ,' N„n, 1 :tl Vis,. ,..,vy, beanng a donblo uu.anin. n, 1- nnicb. '"■ ■ TlilSl'^iwHr joint snl^xin, and of .Uiiau.b.opic^jK. H,d bin added to thi lives of th..se C.h.-islian ^^-^^^ ti-ms -rew and inereasod in spite of lyrannv and toiini. , nans j.5i«-NN 'iii^i -.11 1^^ fni' tliv(>e vounji; laaits 1 he little Society expand and develop, oi ^ .^ >; .^,,,, ,„„, offered tbemselves to Mde d'Yonvtlle '° " J^'j, „., ,,,,o U,., labors. Their olfer was accepted and tie ^"^ now six in number. As the helpers tnereased, ^° "^ ' . ' („„ an,Mne,U. likewise, and the work was ^''V:; «^.' ",;' ,! \ .„■ 1 ,,.]^an tho rrowniii"- Inal caiiie whu li ^^ah lu u- :::;f^\; tnt. ^M^eeiithehonrs of ni,ht and morn,n. ;, 1 st day OiMannary IT'.o, the whole >-n,este«s - ,.overod to be in tlanies The >.•--- ---r^ rto vest slnmbers by tlie ones ol '■ I-n-e, h,.', and l*''^'"" ,-,.,,« from 1 l>,.mselves, rn.hed ont in their n,ght gannents. «'« ;«_";;;; ' , a,e devouring element, Mde d'YonviUe ^^^'];^;;^^^-^^^ llock around her-one alone was ™f ;''S-%P?"7'' ^."i^^^l i„ ..one back for her wooden shoes (sabots), and had puLsUtd — 8 — the llaines. Shivering in the wintry blast, partly clad and no place of refuge open to them, the agonizing group besought the Ladies, with frantic cries not to leave them perish of hunger and of cold. Their miserable state excited the commiseration of a rich merchant, Mr. Fojiblanche, who gave them the tempo- rary use of one of his houses, while several other charitable persons furnished beddnig and other indispensable articles ; finally the Seminary supported them entirely for nearly a year and six months after the accident. Nine years training in the school of adversity, prepared Mde d'Youville and her companions for the tasks that lay before them, and the trials that awaited them in the new era on the eve of dawning. After many solicitations and years of patient waiting, the Governor, M. de Beauharnois, finally consented to give the charitable Ladies possession of the old Building, called the '^General Hospital," on condition they should repair it at their own expense and support the two infirm old Brothers who were the last relics of the '' Charon Foundation." The conditions were hard, for years of mis-manage nent and neglect had told on the once substantial edifice which was now a delapidated ruin with crumbling walls and windows requiring no less than 1226 panes of glass, but under Mde d'Youville's supervision the most urgent repairs were at once undertaken, and in October 7th 1747 the first '^Grey Nuns" with their family of poor made their home within its walls, and the '' Hospital" heretofore im- properly called '' General," became such now, through Mde d'Youville's extensive charily. Wards were opened for the reception of aged men and wo- men, invalided soldiers, incurable diseases, orphans of both sexes, insane persons, and Magdalens. On the 3rd of June 1753, the little Association of Ladies received the Royal sanction, transferring to them under the title — 9 — 3lad and no )esought the 1 of hunger mniiseration n the tempo- r charitable )le articles ; early a year ly, prepared at lav bel'ore CI era on the waiting, the to give the , called the r it at their rs who were conditions ict had told delapidated no less than )ervision tlie in October f poor made iretofore im- rough Mde len and wo- ans of both o[ " Sisters of Charity " of the " General Hospital," the righks and privileges granted the '' Hospitaller Brothers '' by Lettws [•alont in 161) i. The title, now claimed by others of recent date, ix'longs by right to the Sisters of Charity, whose Institution's real name is '^ General Hospital of Montreal." " Grey Nunne- ry " is only a popular appellation given of later years to the Es- tablishment. The peculiar dress which characterizes the Sisterhood at the present day was adopted by mulual consent and worn for the first time in August 25th 1755. From the date of its foundation, till 174i, the '' General Hospital" was without (Miclosure of any kind, but prudence now suggested the erection of a fence or wall, to surround the [)r('cincls of the Convent, and Mde d'Youville undertook the task which re(iuired four years for completion. It was not the Sisters' intention to clos»i themselves in from all intercourse with an outer world, or to restrict their zeal to the Convent boundaries, for the Nuns issued forth daily on their missions of love to succor the needy in their own little homes ; nor was their charitv limited to one nation, for Mde d'Youville had taught her comi)anions the lesson she hersell practised so ad- mirably. No suffering memlx'r of humanity, whatever his country might be, was an alitMi or a stranger to the great heart of the generous foundress. Hardly had the Colonists earned a respite from Indian war- fare, than they entered into the phase of a fiercer contest with a [)owerfiil nation, who had come, fully resolved to supplant the Lilly of France, by the Lion of England. The rumors of war entered within the cloistered precincts, filling the Sisters' htvuts with sorrow at the thought of the fate which awaited their kindred and country, — but no denmr on their part from their self imposed tasks,— fathers and brothers might fall 'neath the fooman's steel, but to them was allotted, to tend, to heal and — 10 — to slu'llor alike, both IVUmhI and Un, In 1751',, whiUMhe war was ra.Mni^lM3Uvo.ii Fran.-, a.ul Kui^lancl. a prstileiuT, iwhoso vcTV nanio in-odurrs a panir in our days,, In-okr out aimniK ^ Uandwassoviol..nn.a,it..ana.anirl.l^ lh,> M-onnuius and llu> Nipissi.i^urs aud soon vxiM o the LuMonl.. llwasatthis.innr,un>Md.d'YonvilUMndjscn. ,nualMv ihivw op.n lu>r Kslablislnn.nt. v.srrvin, mi. lar^e V a lbMl.MM..lish .ddi.is, siyl.a lluMvlVom : ; La bal^ AnMai. " -Th. EnulislnnanV ward," and in 17.('> Ih. acconn i^!d.. nmHM;n>v Nnnn.iT showed th. snm or ^IS.(I()0 .xiHM.d.d ror thr i-U.d' nnd tlu' snpporl of iMmlish prison.TS ol ^^^'^-^^^ ;^,,. ,,,, ,,r wlnrh was ovrr mado gorMl by .Mthn- Ih. iM-.nu-h 01 the En-lisb (lovonnnrnls. In 1757, llio niagnaninions woman, h,arin.^ llial an EnuUsb s.,1.1 rv was abont b-'in. pnl to tho tor- tur.^ nai.l two huiHlivd tVanrs lo tli. savag.>s lor his nnnson. 'PlnMvleasrd capliv. rrniainrd wilh Ih. sisters and altvrwards l,,,Hn. k(M-p.>rorth. Kngbsh Inbrniary, an.l was known as -Joan TAniilais;' -John tli. KngHshnian;' Sevrral oth.n-slran- ..vis w(MV also kept "» ^'i'' establishnunU, bnt ownig to the ddh- ruUv .'xp.-rhMuvd hv tho Fn-ncli sist(>rs in prononncnio- h3roign word^ IhovshanMrJohnV snrna,no,- lionro ranio the i-nlnes inthor(M'ordsol(:hrisfophorKnglislnnan,JarkKnuhshnian,c^(,'., .V. Tln> Ib-v Mr. Lavalini.M-o, a Snlpician. ransomod a Mrs. (VFlahortv and li.-r dan.ht.M- whom ho found bound to Iho stako H:)lh molhor and child wor(> sml lo tho Groy Nunnory whoro Ihov wore ror.dvod with ..[.on arms, and m tho course ol time the voung girl became a (Iroy Nun. Numerous well an. tluMilicatcd storio> are preserved in the Archives olth.^ Esta- l)lishmenl, tolling how, tune and agaui, tiiey saved soldiers Irom thp re.dd.>^s furv oithe Indians. The savages respechul tiiesis- tors while hostile to (>very one o or scon men pursued a party Nuns had lo hide them in Ise On one occasion the re d lh( Is into the very Convent, an the vaults. The Indians departed _ 11 — , ,, .s,..,rl, 1ml 111.' n-xt trnnUo was in s,T,H.n Ihom ,,,„„ 11,,. vvnaua.Ml s.U.l.(> ui I" |,,„sist,Th0.l(l, ,,,,,,,, an. ,l.nnuUlv.doA,m^^ |„„ .„H,,^.rH..-' Ih.m tlirou.U II... VN.m . ^^.^_ '' ■'''■^■"'''"'' ''':;•, /aoU^^n^^^^^^^^^^ on anon,,., on.aslo„. ,,„„lv o,.,.„,.i,.a l>n.pa,an. a la,','- " ■ ■ lo ^^^_^^^ „.„nn,ls wa. sn,l,h.„ly H.-wn o,,, 1 ";'.-,,,,,„„,, „„„v i„ ,,.-,11, irno,- a,.i,i,'ie.l on ev..,'> I'''"' ■,,;'_.;;,;„„ „„. an,l,lo folds oMuitMi Miat la> al I,, i K I. sn r„n<,us sava;,',', ,,U,U ton,al,awk ..ised. .•nsl.e,l '' ' '^ 'T! , I , ,„,„,„ed to te Dni'ins tUo .nonlh ol A,,.«s 1 .bO, f';\;"' ;,„;,,i,i,io,„ of laUMl amon,^st the ( ,t,/xns .,n>„.oarhivv' Tl,c;so I'Ol'orts w..,-e eonlirnied on the 6th ol S-^.l'^'" \"^ , \ ' ,,„' Vt the two ,Ue Division Hon, Lake «>' '"° ;'',.^; ;,,':, ''by an army of ,„„o,.s the next day. Mctreal wa. , v ) ; 'V^,^Jj,.,,^^ ,,,,.ed M.m English soldi,-rs and l"'^' I"^" ,; '^; .,„„, being only ,.„v was ill prepared tores.slso ^'^;^^'^^^;, ^el^nd it. lhecnem> 1^"^;..:.:: ... ,h. i^nolishGeneralsstemeainchaud )lemeius ill imp to Uirn the whole force Of Iheh artillery to bear ou the — 12-. 2;::';:t,r "«'" '"--^ -^ "-'>'-'— ^ wo,.i<, s„mce to ■•'"" '-i"-^f"n,Mnfo™!! ,1°;,, ,v"h'"' ^"'""-■'' "'^ '^""•"■■•" !."-■ ';-, .-i.-nin/;;' I;;: „r;;:;::',t f '"""■"^"^' ''"■^^ i-onnl,oi-,„,„u],.d and sever,! n ' '„ ''' '"'■ ''''«"'i>«lion was "''"'''bssonMovisitteHo T^'^T*"'"''"^ -l'Yo.,vi„e, infon,:^ ^the ^'h v' Ir' /"'"■f' '■' '•"""■■'• "d« ""•"' '■' I""'' own Kra ions w,; , ''f 'l«I""»'ion, receive,! "I'ole KsUblish,,,ent a ° u o^d ;r" '' """' ""■""8'' ''<''' "■•"■'^'l'^ of a l»ncla.o„ ,;;',!'''";,'' '"'""■' "'">' '^f'-' ""inners uo,i the esteen, of tVeO •'°'"""^^-^ ^-d dignified «avod. v^iiiti, and the Hospital was ^igiu'oi'uiri:'; S;:;;:^':'-^'''' '"^"^'"-' '--• at the ""dy to i„,p,o,.e ^ de V ,2 rf'"'' '["'"'' ^^^'^■"'"ed in a lies. The day follonLl 1; /" 'T '^™ '"'^ "'«"■ 'ami- de Va„dreuif,i.„ed e'tre't^ ofT'- f "'" "' Soptembe,, M, fern.e unde. t,.: ro,ds7th:'£rcf '°''' '^"' "'"'^^^^ '^'^ tl-e city, discom^d n lie ^e oTtlT'''' T' '° '''^ P°°'- «' •■an through Foundling 'eet 1 bod r '''' "^"'«'. "''"ch dagger i„ its throat ..T/j^!!':!' ! """^y "^ an mfant with a woman resolved then a^d ,h" ",''" "S*^'' '*>« ee-'^rous .e, to adopt all tUlle^TstLT '" ""'" ' "^""^'^ CI — 13 r some forti- il. Thoraii- t tlieir post, 'lis General uilding was lose cliai'itv '■ades, owed I'l'ow escape I'll c( ion was oke French 'port. Mde n, received rough her only after 1 dinnifjod ?d most fa- spital was '•or at the ibled in a lieir fami- ember, M. iiada took and, Mde Le poor of 3t, whicli t with a generous a double Th Tolony was still suffering from the disastrous etlects of Ihe war, and tlie Hospital funds were at their lowest ebb, l.iit trusting to tliat Divine IVovidence which had never failed, she began the work wMiich her spiritual daughters continue to the present day. The registers of tiie General IIosi»ilal ''Grey N'uiuiery," boar the names of (30,300) thirty thousand and three hundred foundlings. '' Certain newspapers of our city fill their columns with hard sayings relating to the number of foundlings that die yearly in our Establishment," said a sister to whom I siioke on thu' subject. ''They accuse us of neglect, &c., &c., and insinuate as nuich as if we actually helped to destroy the poor little crea- tures. During: the time that these tirades were raging, some years ago, I went to visit a sick protestant lady. While at her house, one of iier friends called to see her; I was introduced and after a few sentences of ordinary conversation, the new comer t-u-ned at once to the newspaper topic, which I saw she iicartily endorsed, and asked me in a cutting tone, was it not through neglect or want of maternal affection that so many of (.ur foundlings died yearly?" " Why, Mrs. G...," said the sick lady, taking upon herself to answer, "how is it that you, who have had eight children, could onlv i-ear one, aud a delicate child, that one is ? Do you accuse yourself of neglect or of want of maternal affection ? " " This home thrust was sufficiently conclusive," added the Sister, " I had nothing more to say. Our Protestant neighbors opened a foundlings' Home and were sanguine of good results. We w^ere glad they did so, knowing what the consequences would be. They cannot say V>tj/, vidi, yinci, but We came, we tried, and we failed." The little Society of charitable Ladies now styled " Sisters of Charity," had reason to rejoice at the rapid development of their Establishment which increased and improved year by — 14 — yt'ai", nolwilhstaiidiii- ilio many trials and advcrsitios oxporien- ccd dnrin- its inlaiicy. It would li.ivr been only natnral tliat I In" peace of llic invscnl day should ohlitorato the rtuiKMnbi-ance "' ""' liinuoil ot flic past, but nndoubt(3dly a prophetic fore- sight of trials to coini-. led tin; Fonndress to soloct as motto for tiu' Ollicial Seal ol' the Gcnci-al Hospital, a Inniinous Gross, siir- I'onnib'd by I be woi-ds : /// hoc siijnu r'ncrs. It was truly ])y the (aoss and Ihron-li the Cross tlniy sliould triumph. Ou I In- iSth of May 1771, tlu> .leucral Hospital or Grey Nunnci-y bt'camc a picy to tho llanics. and nanuht rcnnainod of KI s'^; the whole bnildinu with its outhouses, tVc, but a h The sisters with their lamilv of eap of ruins. poor w(>re again without th house or home, bnl the coura,^e and energy which uplndd Mde (rVouville (Ml a lormer occasion, were not wanting now. Wi'h aid from the Seminai'y St.Sulpice and other lltdigions Gommu- nili(>s. the sisters and then- suHering ilock were sheltered and sujiported till, like the i^lueni.x of old, their Home arose anew I'roni its own ashes. Six yeais more did the admirable Foundress labor with her comi)anions. sharing IhiMr hardships and their toil, instructing em Ihrongh liei- example and guiding theii by lier snjjerior wisdom and vii'ln(>. Rejoicing to sim^ Jier Hospital once more in a nourishinu- condition with a sisterhood to continue and i)erpetuate her works, she departed this life on the -^^rd of D.M'ember 1771 in th(( 7()lh year of her age. The night of lier d(>ath the i)eople in the vicinity remarked a large luminous Gross over the Establishment, whici< it in a manner covered, and I'.ersons passing in the streets at the time, on seeing it hastily asked each oiIhm-: '^What new misfortune was going to btd'all tlie poor Grey Nuns ? " ;iri'ive Tl and th diate, ( iVrtile de;i and tl riad s ^ca to (lenii'C I'N'es t( Itrighl m the si'cds were ] lows a (i! Gai ivach an.l I Super (lie III. Inilli and i as ton tnith — 15 II SKlPPINd with a l)onn(i tlin period of SO ycai-s. (liirin<; which liuu' the (Ircy NiiniHM'v .uivw ami ihosjk immI, we ,,iiiv(' at iS'iT, the year of th(^ IvvviUr ship lVv.«r Tlic horrors or that period caused hy the iri-htl'nl faiiiiiie ii'id the lerrihle i»hi:-;iie whicli followed and made Ireland des- ol.ilc. can \\i iViiilc conn illK ver he forj^olten. Thi! heanlifnl ,<:rcen Ihdds lA' that try refused food to tin' famished eliihlrm of its soil. di'jith in its most friuidfiil form stalked thron-h ihc hind ds died in their cai)ins or lav nncollined on lht> til 1 lht)nsan 1 si(l(>s. Hundreds and thousands of otliei's Ihd ai-ross the to seidv on a I'orei-n shon.> that [>eaee, ph'uly and liap[.iness the land of theii' forefathers. They Inroad their (h'nied Ihtiu in I'Ves towards America, tin; Kldorado of their loudest hopes and hii.uht was tin; i)ictur(? which tlieir imagination drew of a lih' the Western World. Alas! carrying with theniMlves the 'ds of th(^ contagioe.s disease, many died mi shi[)l)oar(l and huri(.^d in the ocean's depths, while the treaidn-ron; 111 set were \vs alone sang the funeral du'g( ('anada onlv to expire hil- others landed on the shores On the 17th of June IS'tT, the news reached the Grey Nunnery that hundreds wen? dying uuai( an 1 unattended on the^ shores and at Point St. Charles. Tin? \\ this time, tin; v(?nerahle Sister Elizabeth Forbes, of lied Sister McMullen, bcdieving there umst be Superior (Uen^arrv, ca \v\\ 111 in "the report, (diose Sister Ste Croix to accompany her, once to the speciiitnl locality, found to her id starting out at ilStOlUS shment and sorrow that for once reiiort lell short of tht truth. Acting promp tlv and decisivelv, she collected all the 16 — n facts jiiul laid Minm. in tho shape of a Report, before the Kmi- p^ratioii Agi3«l 'fp' inig powers to act so as to ameliorate the fate ol ihi' nwi >v,i. late Irish iinniigrants. These powers were at once aured in the (-omnniiiity room, the conversation was anima- ted, and from time to time peals of lau^httu* issued from one ,n'oui) or tin; other. The Superioress Sister McMullen (Mitered, and the Sisttn's all rose to receive her. Taking her seat in the cir^'le slu! signalled for general attention, and after a short paiu.se, said : "Sisters, I have seen a sight to-day that I shall never forget. I have btM-n to Point St. Charles and saw hun- dreds of sick and dying huddled together. The stench eman- ating from them is too great for even the strongest constitution. The atmosphere is impregnated with it and the air filled with the groans of the sulTerers. Death is there in its most appalling aspect. Those who thus cry aloud in their agony are strangers but their hands are outstretched for relief. Sifters, the plague is contagion;,." Here llu^ venerable Superior burst into tears ?ind with a broken voice, continued : "In sending nm there, I am signing your death warrant, but you are free to accept or to refuse.' Then; was a pause of a few seconds, duiing which, rapid as the lightning Ihish, each Sister saw herself kneeling in imagination (mico nu)re before the Altar steps, again hearken- ing to the Bit^h •;■>- «olenu« warning, before she prononnoed the I hor stops [11 of old, al i>ile, — old, were as aiiiiiia- IrOlll 01H3 1 entered, at in tlie • a short al I shall saw hun- ch enian- nstitiition. lied with appalling strangers ;ie plague into tears )U there, I :cept or to hg vviiich, neeling in 1 hearken- lunoed the I — 17'— irrevocable vows: ■• Have you ronsiilriril allfntivflij nwd rrllcch'J srriously on the stt'p yon are now going toty.k(>? Tliat from this r.iil your life must l)e our (){ six^ri/ire, even of <^^'i'h if the glory of (lod or tlie good of your neighbour i(M[uiu> dV " Yes, my Lord, and I am x.illing lound' rtake the task, with (lod's help."' Such were lh<' words onci' uttr-red bv each of those wiio now wn' called on to prove their iidelity. There was no hesilaiin.i, no (hunur, for all arose and stood WUm) their Superior while I he same exclamation escaped from every lips, "I am ready." Sister McMnllen knew the courage of her spiritual daughters as Madame d'Yonville knew that of her companions Oiu of this willing number eight were chosen and the following morning ^aw llii' sisters cheerfully depart to fulfil the task allotted them. On arriving at Point St. Charles tliret; large sheds of from i:)0 lo -iOO leet long, by '»U to 50 wide, met their view. S(«para. ting, the little band of pioneers entered the sheds with the per- >ons they had engaged to assist in the work of ressu-sitation or of death. What a sight before them : "I almost fainted," said oiK! of the Sisters, relating her tnnotions on that eventful day, •• when on approaching the entrance of this sepulchre, the stench sutlbcated me and I saw tin; number of beings with .listorted features and discolored bodies lying iiuddled and heap 'd toge- ther on the ground, looking like so many corpses. I knew not what to do. I could not advance without treading on one or other of the helpless beings in my path. While in this perplex- ity my senses were recalled into action on seeing the fra tic ef- forts of a poor being trying to extricate himself from ame igthc prostrate crowd, his ieaturtv^ expressing at the same time m in- t(Misity of horror. Treading with precaution, placing the ;)0int of one foot where a small space could be found, and then o on with the other, I managed lo get near the patient who, exh lust- ed after the efforts made to call our attention, now lay back pillowed on. Good God, what a sight ! Two discolored corpses — 18 — alrondv in a state of de now. Gl(>ai'in,^ a small passa-e, we first, composifioii. Wo s(>t fo work (luickly bodies, and tlicn affei- strcwiiif-' the fl carried out the dead OOP with straw red thereon, tiie livii;-, wlio soon liad to b rej)la- tnrn. In tiie 0])en space between lliu sheds, lav tl e removed in tlieir f men, women and ehildren, once the personniheation forms o of health and beanty, with lorin^^ and ardent heart fined to fill a nameless -^rave. M le nianimate s, now des- ore sick inuni^rants arriving from day to day, new sheds had to be erected, till at last 2i of these temi)orary hospitals stood side by side, each one contain- in- abont 180 common cots, or rather plank boxes, littered with straw, in which often three poor fever-stricken victims lay down to rise no more. El(>ven imndred hnman beings tossed and writhed in agony at the same time, on these hard conches. The bears.^ could hardly sullice to carry off the dead. From eight Sisters the number increased till none save the principal ofTice'i-s, the superannuated and those absolutely necessary to maintain' the good order of the Establishment, remained at theGrey Nun- nery. The ardor of the sisterhood continued unabated and until the 2Uh of the month (June) no Sister had been absent from the muster roll. On this eventful morning, two young Sisters could no lon-er rise at the sound of the matin bell. Th^e plague had chosen its fii-st victims and shortly more were to follow, till 30 lay at the point of death The professed Nuns of the Es- tablishment amounting only to iO, could not suflice to supiM-in- tend their Institutiou, tend their sick sisters, 30 of whom now had the fever, and assist at the sheds. Then^ were at this time 25 Novices, who now ardently r.^(|uest(Ml to be allowed to fill up the vacancies in the ranks. Their nWW was accepted and side by side with the professed Sisters did they toil and triumph —for what else is d(>ath when it gives the martvr's crown ? Fears were entertained for the safely of the Convent, which fears increased still more when eight "sisters were called to re- 19 — ceive their reward. Withal the Sisters held on iinninchiiigly to their diitv and continued their rl-.n-itahle ministrations not only throuj^hont the year M but also during the I'oUowing, when the Cholera replaced the Typhus. From the Gross came the Grown. The numbers of preten- dants to a reli sobs of others, with their frantic ellbrls to escape and s(>arch for the parents already beneath the sod. The scene in the children's sh(>d was beyond description. Their wailing was heard all over, adding a new pang to the agony of an expiring father or mother. His Lordship Bishop Bourget daily visited the sIhmIs and sought out means of procuring a home for the unfortunate waifs. An appeal was made to the country people who, faithful to tht> voice of thinr Pastor, came from all the sur- rounding Parishes of the Diocese and each family adopted one or more of the strangers. Amongst the number of those who thus found a home, were a boy and girl chosen by parties li- ving in different parishes The adopted parents of both were in good circumstances — liaving no family of tlieu' own, — reared and educated the cliildren of their adoption according to their means and position in life. Years passed by and tlie rememb- rance of tha sheds with the language of their youth had faded — 20 — from the memory of both boy and giii. One had attained the yeai'K ol manliood, the other was a blooming maiden in her teens After tliis interval of separation they met again bnt as perfect strangers, withont the slightest remembrance of the past. They were introdnced to each oth(M' nnder the names of their adop- lioii, and after a short acqnaintance, the yonng folks, with the lull consent of the eld(;rs, a-^reed to nnite their fate. ' It was a ,i;ala day for the two parishes w'um the yonng couple stood side by side at the altar to pledge their vows, and manv were the good wishes that followed them to the pretty home bnilt and furnished by the loving care and generosity of the parents on both sides. Some four or five years of married life had pas- sed by and two pretty children were equally petted and spoiled by the proud gi-and parents. No thought of trouble or sorrow enten^I th(>ir happy little home, till one dav the rumor arose that a stranger had called on the priest, to ask his aid in finding hei- sister's children, who according to indications given, were in one or other of the Parishes. She held the proofs, alas 1 too true, that the husband and wife, so happv in each other's love according to the laws of God and man, nmst rend the tic:- now l)Owerless to bind them. The heretofore husband and wife were ah'eady brother and sister. - Words cannot describe the ellect of the discovery. It seems to me that I still witness their -rief and hear their frantic cries," were the words of the Sister who related the circumstance from her own personal knowledge. Kight Grey Nuns, amon-st whom is the present Snperloress Genei-ah are still living out of the thirty who caught the Typhus at the sheds and were at death's door. The souvenir of these events, which could furnish one of the most touching episodes ill the history of the city of Montreal, will pass awav with the actors in the sad Drama. All that now remains to' attest the fact, is a little spot of ground, at Point St. Charles, neatly fenced * in and on which has been rai.sed a mortuai y monument,' con- ained tlie her teens, as perfect 1st. They eir adop- with the It was a pie stood any were )nie built e parents had pas- d spoiled r sorrow nor arose [1 finding en, were alas! too er's love, ti(:'' now I'ife were he ellect leir jji'icf 3ter who edge, lerioress ! Typhus ol' these episodes vith the test the y fenced nt,' con- *■ — 21 — sisting of an immense bolder taken from the bod of the St. Law- lence river, bearing the following inscription : '''^^-^^ To preserve from desecration the remains of 6000 Immi^ranLs who died of Ship Fev^er A. D. 1847-8, this stone is erected by the workmen of Messrs. Peto Brassey & Iktcs, employed in the construction of the Victoria- Bridge, A. Dr'iS^Q. — 22 — THE bravo and gonerons Trio that put their slioulder to the wheel and started the Institution, whose progress I have followed to the present year, could not wish a greater success than that which has resulted from so small a beginning. To each of the three, who were the foundation stones of the Esta- blishment, hundreds of others have arisen to replace them. Their works extended and new Houses sprung into existence. Montreal alone possesses eight charitable Institutions under the care of the Grey Nuns, viz : Orphanages, Infant Schools, Homes for the infirm and aged, an Academy for the Blind, a Hospital, a Night Refuge, and a Servants' Home. Seven others are in Parishes outside the City, but m the Diocese of Montreal, and four in the United States, in Salem and Lawrence, Mass.; in Toledo, Ohio; and at Fort Totten, Dakota Territory. Three larger ('onvents also (enacted from the Mother-House with the rights of founding others in (urn, viz : those of St. Hyacinthe, Quebec and Ottawa, but they are distinct branches independaiit of the General Hospital (or Grey Nunnery.) It appears that neither hardships in perspective nor in rea- lity, can daunt the courage of Mde d'Youville's spiritual daugh- ters when any good is to be done. This must surely be the case, for in 18'i4 a colony of Irev Nuns consented to leave their Convent Home in Canada and isolate themselves amongst the wilds of nature in the far Nor' West, to devote their lives to the relief of the Indian tribes and the education of youth. Their principal EsJ;5blishment is in St. Boniface, Manitoba, being now —'23'— Ider to the [•ess I have ;er success iiiiiig. To r the Esta- lace them. I existence, under the )ls, Homes I Hospital, lers are in Ureal, and , Mass. ; in ^y. Three e with the lyacinthe, dependant or in rea- lal daugh- ely be the leave their iiongst the Ml" lives to ith. Their )eing now •^ 'd Vicarial House with four other missions n that Diocest\ Pro- ceeding further on, we discover in the Vicariates of Bislio[)s (irandin & Faraud, the Convents of St. Albert, that of [.ac-la- Biche, or Red Deer Lake, ol lie a la Crosse, of Athabaska ;ind almost on the bordei^sof the extreme North, that of Provideiire, McKenzie River. All these Houses have each a local Superior who is subject to the Mother Vicar of St. Bonifacr ; she in turn owes allegiance to the Superioress General of the Grey Niiiniei-y, Montreal. A veritable mania has seized speculators, during the last year or two, who have gone in crowds to Manitoba. The trip is now an agreeable one, accomplished in five or six days, thanks to the Rail Cars, luxurious IHillnian, &c., &c. ; but when the Grey Nuns migrated to the Red River in hSii, it took three months. A few extracts from letters written by the Nor' West Sisters to the Mother House in Montreal, will give you a good idea of what they had to undergo : "Our mode of conveyance is an antique cart with high wooden wheels and drawn by an ox. For days we travel through the midst of vast prairies, the bright sky overhead, seas of wa- ving grass as far as the eye can reach, one of nature's primeval forests in the distance, a few streamlets and finally a river to interrupt our progress. Neither bridge nor boat existing, we must devise means to reach the opposite shore. When the cur- rent is strong and the river wide, the men construct a small raft, made of the branches of trees ; on this raft we and all the baggage are carried across. The frail construction is guided and sent onwards by men swimming on each side. If no wood he found in the vicinity of the river, a cart whe«d is taken off a vehicle, a buffalo robe thrown over it and on this Thetis car we brave Neptune's wrath. A half-breed or Indian has to draw or push our frail boat forward. If the men of the caravan be not numerous enough, a cord is fastened to the wheel and — 24^— thence !o the lioi'Ds of an ox, the othtii- end is given ns to hold and finide onr bark to the best of our ability. So long as the weather continnes favorable, our caravan proceeds on in this manner, halting each day about sun set. The oxen are then let loose to graze, search is made for fuel, the fire is lighted, the kettle put on and the evening meal prepared. After the repast, jirayers are said, our tent put n\) and onr bed, a bulTalo robe, spread on mother earth. On this soft couch we repose as best we may, to rise again at 3 next morning. The tent is loweri^l, morning pi-ayers olFered up, the num go in search of the oxen, left free during the night, the fire is renewed, the morning meal prepared and eaten. Breakfast over, dishes washed, the fire is cai-efully extinguished, the order to mount and to proceed issued, and our caravan begins another day's journey. On, on, through the boundless solitudes, whose silence is relieved only by the song of the birds, the chirping of the locusts, the murmur of the breeze, the rustling of the leaves, the creaking of the cart wheels, the call or shout of the drivers, the cracking of their whips as they urge on some weary or stubborn beast. Such is life in the Pi-airies when the sun shines ; but when the tempest rages, with the wind blowing, the lightning Hashing, the thun- der ])faling and the rain pouring in torrents, a halt in the prai- rit> or in the wild woods, under a simple tent that every gust Ihi'catens to carry oil" and no other bed than a buffalo robe on the \vet ground, — pleasure is no longer a realit\. Even when the weather is fine, we are followed, surrounded, swarmed and literallv devoured bv the most gluttinous creatures in creation. They stalk about in day light, they revel during twilight, res- Itect not even the sliades of night, yet have the effrontery to "sound their own trumpet." I allude to the mosquito, that venomous mite, whose sting condemns its victim to perpetual motion. It is nothii g but scratch, scratch, scratch all the time till we arc literally scarred from the process. It was during t — 25 — s to hold ng as tlio )n in this (} then h't ihted, the he repast, falo robe, le as best lowered, the oxen, linp,- meal the lire is :^d issned, , thron;4:h ly by the nrmur of f tiie cart g of their Such is e tempest the thun- the prai- very gust robe on ,'en when ■med and creation, iiji^ht, res- ontery to nito, that perpetual the time IS during i onr per(>grinalions through the prairie that I 1 of these little plagues. Although I douh you with the account as 1 earnt the ori-iin o' I of ils veracity, 1 fav- or our sfx, therefore I tell it v received it. li is iu)t Lo on ng before th ;ul very llatteriin > rosa. while man left his trail on Ih Prairie and when the red our tribe, said the narrator, took to 1 liu-ned out to bi e e grass of lii men wenj master of all, an Indian of ns wigwam a squaw who a perfect shiwv. Her tongue like a bell sound- ed from morn till night, growin, worse and worse as ye "s wore on. All her h.isband's corrections failed to ellect a chan 'e --she was beyond control. It was tire hnnting season and the nbe migrated to follow the moos.., the bnllalo and the bison rn the midst of plenty, the squaw sickened and died The e * ^•ampment wason thebordersofa pr.tty stream but the tents ; r-ed and all departed after placing a pyramid of stonest 'laik the woman's grave. The Indian warrior, without a sh^h 01 regret, turned from the spot and strode oli' with IHt step aud ighter heart. Two years had elapsed when the r^u-n o^ 'i^- liinmng season saw the tribe encamped where the bullalo H.dccl. Fate willed that the tents should be cast on the s S vv h h had received the remains of the troublesome squaw With a glance of satisfaction towards the funeral pile, and 1 ^d by curiosity the Indian approached and through thi w^vin' NMlt. lid. said he, -silent at last, you hard head in which ^vagged a noisy tongue." On saying the words, he kick^ he lull It opened and from the yawning cavity'rnshed forfh a vaim of winged insects buzzing and biting in their wTath On, on they gushed till he was completely e^velopped by to I'umpe in, host After wreaking their vengeance in the ^ 01 unate man, they spread far and near, and ever sine L^e held possession of the Prairies. " ( r n — 26 - Wishing the Sisters success in their courageous under- takings and health to carry out their good designs, I hid fare- well, for the present, to the land of the Aurora Borealis, which will furnish me, later, ample matter for other manuscripts to add to your collection. Meanwhile, I resume the details rela- ting to the General Hospital or "Grey Nunnery" proper. IV THE City of Montreal continuing its progress, extending its limits, enlarging its commercial thoroughfares, the Cor- poration aimed at opening a street through tne Hospital grounds, which street would he a continuation of St. Peter's down to the wharf. So far from wishing to cede their land, the Sisters needed even more to carry on the many works they had under- taken. Their eyes were finally opened to innovations of commerce in their vicinity. Surrounded on aii sides by stately buildings, sounds of busy traffic filling the air, forests of masts from the ships in the harbor, towering over their walls, — all tended to prove that the time had come for them to quit the oasis where their Order had grown, lived and prospered through one hundred and twenty-two years. After mature deliberation, the fiat was issued, the order to migrate made known and the Grey Nuns henceforth looked on that home, the cradle of their religious life, with tearful eyes. fc under- bid fare- >, which ci'ipls lo liis rela- ding its he Coi- rounds, 11 to the Sisters I under- tions of ' stately if masts ;ls,— all quit the through order to oked on ul eyes. — 27 — reminivT" "" "f ^ew Convent?" In a pleasant location ZT,I' r'''' ""'""'''' ^■'■■"""'"s. vvith a lar,.er building made to su,t the exigencies of the times. « Where in flue ? " Tradition tells us, (said the Sister who has held the office of 0.p«.„ „,„ ,n the Grey Nunnery for the last 26 years and ttt i',^ H ° r "' '"' "'"■'^- ^''°'"-'" °' '■• ••^« former period? that in the boginnmg of the Colony of Villomari.;, n fearfu A good and mdustnous couple living on their well stocked farm IZrZ '"a"" T°\ °' """"' «">'■-"■ had reared 2 th° limp nn ■'■" V^: ^'"'' °^ "'='"''°''d and coveting h . httle possessions which would be his at the death of his fote, parents, the wretch imbrued his hands in the blood o his benefactors. He was accused, fou. d guilty and nnanimously condemned by the Colonists to be torn asunder by wild ho ses The punishment began at the scene of the crime Ld when he mfnnated animals fell, through fear and exhaustion, the in 1 Tv^'; J'' ^,"' ' '^'''^"'^ """''■ With his las breath he avowed his guilt and was buried on the spot. A red cross then and there erected, served to point out the murde e 's "7Inrtn7rp '!,,"""' '° *' P'*""' '^^"''d thenceforth, the a mt?e fu rttr off ^"'"l ' ""'' "" "°^^ ''"""'-'^ »°d planted a little fuither off. Search was made for the remains, supposed to he underneath, but no trace of a skeleton was found. I taovv ?ed tZein Th'"""r''K'' °""^" consume what is embed On the 1 1 th October 1871 the Sisterhood bade adieu to the Sd halwed'f 'h '^ """"""^ ''°'"« ^'>"=h their F^nndre" had hallowed by her presence, precent and ev.^n,nio tk , themselves away, with grief at heart 'and tearfureves tolscend the hill on which their new Home is raised and to which hey gave the appropriate name of " Mount of the Holy Cross." On — 5ft — on, thoy camn, asconrlino'. ns Mo«os on TTorob, still on oarth. yot to nhiflo witli Gorl. Thosp Inst flofnils Imrl hoou riii'nishod inc in I Ik; Knirnnro Coi'ridor, to wliirh T rohn-n'Ml nl'iry visitinu: tlic lari.'0 Kst;i])lish- nifMit, and irlnnrin? liii'onu:!! n siflc window I saw the (^ross that tho Sistor spol^o of. Tiikf ;i1I riiwlos which (nid wIum'o thcv hn.trin, aftor hnvin? "Gon(> .'irouiid." T. once nioi-c rcachod th(3 dooi'. With thnnivs to tho Sist<'i's foi- llic information T roroivcd. a ,i:ratification fo I ho Janitor and my hcst Ixnv. I ma(h? my exit. '■'■ r hopo all's 7'iLiIit, Sir?" saWl my rai'inaii. as ho jnmpod down IVom Iho olovat(>d position wIi'M'o 'lo had hoon noddini: to all mankind, for tho Inst two honr^. " Yos. yos." I answorod as I took my soat in tho roarli. " I liavc^ all the information T wantod, and a porfnmod i'0'-fd)nil in my hntton-holo into tho hai'pain, to sorvo as a ploasant MEMENTO OE MY VISIT TO TTtE Grey Nunnery, Montreal I earth, iitrnuro tablish- (' (]ross ro tlicy liofl th(? ^ceivod, ny ox it. jiinipod 10(1 dini: swcrod lation T iito tlio I Jiiid — 29 — NOTES AND i NARKS. — The fMaiprnl Hospitrd (Groy ^ iiu-crpomtefl .Iihk^ :;i<|, 17-).'}. Ik' proscnt biiildin-s woro ho-un Ml '"u. .1 Ai)ril V}\h Ifini iidiir i st i tltll T, , , .. '''nn(lo( ipit'd in Sopt. 1^71 •ly thrcH, hMn.l.v,l tlumsaiul &nC! '' ^"''^'' '^'■""'^' ^^" ' -Ono ^^■\lv^ has boon loCt unlinislH.l for want <,r Uimh 'iUi liio alms aii.l (lunations of vLsitors .in'''"iui.s cinu otlior cluirital)lo por- XATTTRE OF GOVEIlNTXd BODY: Tho Snporioross and lior Council DTSTRTBUTTON OF OFFK'EsI^. or Sistkhs .x .vc„ • Oonoral Snporioross 1 | y^^,,^,^ Workers.. Dept. i lonso Stewards Hursor for the ^lissions....... ] Private Socretarv .. i Under " ''" ., CI iron icier., Culinary Dept. Portress. Shoemakers Dent ()r«-niii^f n.wi r'l • T i ^ »> onien s V\ ard ur.,anist and ( hoir Teacher ] ()rt)h'oi lu^,- aV-V" Sacrisfains .. A l ' VL ^ >> iinl.... Pl.amiacists fi') H T^""']''";- ^'''y^ ^^ard. jHspensaries.:...:;::::;::: '^ I /« ^v^^f ^\^r^^ • Librarian Stranirers Jlent i Ql,^^ I 'rv " I 1 2 2 o 2 2 on's Ward AVoiiien's Ward. rpiian ^nn> uard 1 Outdoor {)oor Dopt (2) larians Wax Statuary :::;;::::;;;:;;:;:;:;;;:; ? 1 JSi™!! ""^ ''' '> — 30 — — Tho total n'.imbor of innintris on tlio Hist Dofonib<>r 1881 \s is oij^ht hundrod and two, and was HassifuMl jis follows: Affod and Infirm men 7(5 ** " wonion IJill Orphan Boys i.>,s Orphan GiflH !)7 I'onndlini; boys and ;:irl,s (5) ?22 Servants 18 rtrtfd'sscd Ntins 95 Novicns (4) 67 (1) Tho Sisters pn paro a larjjro amount of tho. Tinctures, pills, ossnuros, cordials, syrups, salves, &c., used in the Kstuhlislinient or distrihutod to tho poor in tho DisjMMisaries. Thoy have also a very popular remedy of their own, called "Pancreatine," which tliey dispose of in tho Institution. I (2) Four Sisters daily visit tho sick and poor iivinj? in tho West end and succor them accordinj]^ to the moans at their disposal. Two thousand charity visits were paid to outdoor poor in 1881, and over ten hundrod and forty nifjht watches with the sick and dying. All tho sisters who can perform this duty, take the night watches in turn. There wore some nights when six Sisters left the Mother House together, to watch by the couch of outdoor patients. (3) The office of the Sisters styled " R^glwmontairos," is to ring the bells wjiich announce the hours of each occupation, whether that of prayer or of labour. The matin bell rings at 4.30 A.M. both summer and winter. Tho last boll is at 9.30 P.M. Tho Roglementaires are also the Messengers charged to answer the Porters bell and inform the different Sisters whose presence is required in tho Reception Rooms or elsewhere. i (4) Tlie sixty seven Novices are alternately occupied as apprentices in the different Departments during the three years of their probation, before making their vows. — 31- ^<'^H oijjht 5) 222 18 95 67 >tribnto(l r popular ispose of end and rin 1881, sick and the night •s left the )atients. the bells of prayer mer and are also form the n Rooms (5) From seven to oight hundred foun.lling.s are received vearlv in H t «t.tution T|u.y are afterward. ,ivon out t. h^' ^\ ^.^li:; thorn till they are eighteen numths old at whirh tin.l brought back to ho roared in the ^nJ^^J^.^: nurnvs unex,HMtcdly several timo.s during he vear innrlV «K,m.lvesof thecare that is taken ..^Z^^Z^;^::;^ u^ al Imea. .n their power to diminish the nuIrtalityaLnglt these httle waifs, but cannot succeed to rear more than one third of th number. It is the same case in all similar Institutions through, out tlu3 known world, where the Infants cannot have wet nurses The following statement snows the condition of FounZga when received, during the year 1881 : ounuimgs 535 Partly clad. 7 Naked. 25 Syphilitic. 50 Umbilical Hemorrhage. 23 Hemorrhage of the Imigs. 18 Dysentery. 20 Unwashed. 20 Covered with vermin. 274 Half frozen. 1,2 }^f"Kgod with opium. ^i JV?'"^^ by instrumenU. 49 Dying. 1 Dead. 16 Inlirm. 12 Exposed at the door. These children come from various places, viz. : United Stat«« H.U fax, Quebec, St Hyacinth, Sherbrooke, Ontario, In" Int^^^^^^^^^^ Others supr>o.sed to be born in Montreal must hive come fro n aX tance on account of their exhausted state when handed in A laree number of the Foundlings also belong to mothers w^come rom various places to be received in the Lying-in Hospitals ofTont^e'l es in the robation.