those who had turned to a better life and
held to it permanently. As she talked her eyes brightened, the tones of
her voice became stronger and clearer, her manner more vivacious, and
the years seemed to slip from her. Finally, as if overcome by the
memories that the long retrospect had brought to her, and thrilled by
the recollections, of all this work meant to her, she ended by
exclaiming, "O, my dear St. Lazare!" I looked at her astonished. I had
just come from the walls of the gloomy prison, and the place had chilled
me with horror as I walked through its corridors, and read the stories
of shame and guilt in the faces of its inmates; most hopeless looking
faces, belonging to little children of ten and twelve up to hardened and
prematurely aged women of fifty and sixty. I could not comprehend a term
of endearment applied to such a place. But a moment's consideration led
me to see that this aged saint had there fought and won the best of her
life's battles, and the place remains glorified in her thoughts by most
hallowed and Christ-like memories.

Now that Mademoiselle Dumas is kept to her room, the deaconesses still
come to her weekly, make their reports, and keep up the proper entries
in her books.

A recent letter from Mademoiselle Monod says: "Mademoiselle Dumas still
lives, having completed her ninety-sixth year the 26th of last December
(1888). Only yesterday our prison committee met at her house, she acting
as presiding officer."

The life of this quiet woman is but little known outside the circle of
her immediate influence, but it has been more valuable to her country
than that of many a general or statesman who has been ranked among the
famous of the earth.

The deaconess home has also branches of work in different parts of
France. These include nine hospitals, two homes for the aged and infirm,
four orphanages, two work-rooms for young girls, and a convalescents'
home. The house has established close connection with the deaconess
houses at St. Loup in French Switzerland, and with Strasburg. The ties
of a common language and former memories are strong, and these are the
homes most akin to the Paris home.

The ordinary expenses of the Paris deaconess home are about thirty
thousand dollars a year. Nearly seven thousand dollars are collected
annually by subscriptions, the remaining sum being made up of returns
arising from service.

The institution was founded in 1841 by Rev. Antoine Vermeil, a
distingui