been complicated by gaps in the records caused by internal disorders such as the pillage of the Archeveche in 1830, and the burning of State papers during the Commune of 1871.
The history divides itself roughly into two periods—that prior to the great revolution and that subsequent to it. Both are of the greatest interest to modern students.
In France, as in England, in early days the relief of the poor was in the hands of the Church. The earliest foundation was that of the Hôtel Dieu, whose duty it was "ouvrir ses bras comme ceux de la Providence à quiconque frappait a sa porte." But soon the struggle began between clergy and laity; as far back as 1559 there were loud complaints of the mauvais traitements que font les religieuses, prieures et sous-prieures, aux pauvres malades y affluant tellement qua raison de ce (sic) plusieurs malades ne veulent pas aller au dit Hotel Dieu, ce qui est un grand scandale," and a petition to the King and Parliament prayed for a reduction of the "great and excessive expense of the institution," and complained of the "presence in the halls of pretended convalescents, irregular officials who are a useless expense to the house, and for whom are reserved the wines and delicacies which ought to go to those who are most grievously ill." Moreover, the duties of the hospital nun do not consist in "endless services and reunions of the community," but should be "at the pillow of the sick poor and not in the chapel and refectory." The constant feasting of those charged with these duties became a byword, and earned for them the name of the "Confrérie des goulous"—of so early a date is the association of poor relief with feasting! In one direction at least the community appear to have been successful—though they received all without distinction of faith, "no Jew or heretic ever died there without abjuring
