A HOUSE OF REFUGE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 20, 11 September 1885, Page 7

A HOUSE OF REFUGE.

(Correspondence of the Catholic Mevicn\)

The French show good taste aud contrivance in most things they do but particularly, I think, in works of chaiity, of which that nation has been and is still so fruitful. They carry out, m ways of their own delicate considetations for the feelings of the recipunts of the charity, and seem to think of many kind things. And the more the work derives its motive power from religious influence, the moi c abundant and various are such excellent ti ait . lam prompted to these express'ons from reading m the Figaro of June 3, an account which one of its journalists, Mr. Louis le Boursj, gives of a night which he spent in one ot the three night asylums, opened of late years in Pa 1 i c . where destitute men can get a night's shelter and a bed free of charge. These institutions have bi en veiy prettily and apptopriately nanr>d L'Hospttalite de Niut, — "Hospitality for the Night." Of course, the nanator went there of his own accord, for a purpose similar to ihat which animates .he übiquitous reporter in his rounds in our metropolis. So, for convenience sake, we shall refer to him a-< the Figaro reporter, and call him for short •' Figaro "

The house which he selected for bis visit was No. 14 Boulevard de Vaugirard, behind the Montparna«se Kailway station on the out. skirts of Pans, and was founded by Mgr. de Latnazr. Admittance is at geven p.m , but Figaro found men gathered as early as six, sitting in silent expictatton on the benches of the Boulevard. As soon as the door was opened the assembled men filed in, one by one, silently. They were first directed to a room, wheie vvirra water was supplied them to bathe their feet, a most welcome ie!irf to those who bad walked far and felt footsore. The next move was across a yard to a waiting room, on their way to which the procession stopped at au office, and each man in turn had to reply to tne following inquiries made by two surveillants : Whe i were you bore last ? Wh:v is your name, birthplace, and last domicile ? No inquiry is ever made about the religion of the applicant. Tne Figaro leporter listened while the m^n nearest to jhim replied to these mterrogattves ; one man stated that he was a labourer out of em pi lyment, but not a tiamp ; another was a lad, a journeyman, confectioner who had come all the way from Nice on foot ; another was a seafaiing man ; another, a eickly, weazen-faced young Parisian arab, described his means of livelihood to be the gathering of orphans, which he afterwards explained meant collecting segar stumps, and the last one was an ex-journalist of a Berlin newspaper.

After all had been gathered in the waiting-room, which smelt strongly of the phenol used for a sanitary purpose, and were seated on the benches there, large chunks of bread were served out to those who felt hungry. Then an employe called out, "Come, messieurs, are there any more applicants for shelter to be registered.'' This appelation, " messieurs" or " gentlemen," in the midst of such an assemblage, sounded to Figaro stiange, but very considerate ! At one end of the room was a long table provided with pens, ink, and letter paper, for the use of those desiring to write to their relatives or friends, of which writing facilities many hastened to avail themselves, and their letters were afcerwards taken charge of, prepaid, and duly mailed. This provision is certainly a very delicately kind one ; the narrator goes so far as to term it " divinely charitable." After this business of correspondence had been despatched, the Superintendent Mr. Thircuir, an ex-captain of marines, a kindly faced, sympathetic man, whom some of those present had met before and whom everybody took to, came in to assign to each the number of the bed he was to occupy. But before doing this he ascended a low platform to read the regulations, to which all are expected to conform, and recite the night prayer, during which latter all must have their heads uncovered and remain standing, but are at liberty to cross themselves and join in the prayers, or not, just as they feel inclined. The prayers consist of an " Our Father " and a " Hail Mary," said by the captain on bis knees, his hearers all standing and very many of them joining in the words. It struck Figaro that men who are in distress are not averse to be reminded of God. Before entering the dormitories any that feel the need of it go to a purifying room, where they leave their garments to be fumigated with sulphur during the night, and they are provided with night-shirts.

There are four dormitories, each called after the name of a saint, and Figaro was sent into the largest, called of St. John of God. Where a bed has been given in charity, it bears the name of the donor. The bedsteads are of iron, low, but the matres es, which are stuffed with sea-wrack, and the sheets and blankets are all right and quite sufficient for comfort and rest. Then after every one had turned in, aod the single gaslight, at the end of the room had been turned down low, the Captain made his appearance again, but this time in the midst of darkness. He came in to say some parting recommendations conducive to hygiene and to good order, and he closed by wishing them all ''Good night, messieurs." " Good night, Captain," was the response from a chorus of voices. Figaro is entirely silent on the subjetof night-mare", and snoring, so we may infer that he was not disturbed by either. It is a pity that Figaro did not thiuk it worth his while to inform us h>w many men, besides himself, were harbored that night '