The Portland daily press., 1869-06-11

Poor, old and hoIneless What words in oiir
English language can combine more touching 4
claims to our sympathy? Do we realize at the
first glance all the misery these words nor
tray? Can we hear them without thinking of
the wretchedness of human beings, with all
the bright hopes of their lives faded, all their
vigor spent, feeble and unfortunate, with moth
ing to make their declining years comfortable,
no sunlight emanating from happy homes to
lessen the shadows that fall upon them as their
tottering steps descend the path that leads to
the dark valley! What stronger claims can
any class of unfortunates have upon the COM
passion of humanity? 1t is to provide COM
Portable home for such as these that an effort
to raise money is being made in this city now.
1t is to enable those who have for so long, un-
der circumstances Of great difficulty, sought to
relieve the necessities of few of our aged
poor, to do so on a more extended scale that
that this appeal is made-that they may no
longer be compelled to reject worthy appl-
cants with the chilling answer, I'VE have no
room for you.''
The present "Home for Aged and Indigent
Women" was founded in 1854 AT that time
house of nine rooms was purchased on the
corner of ELM and Oxford streets Three of
these rooms are occupied as kitchen, dining
room and parlor, leaving but six for the Mat
ron and inmates. Two of the chambers have
always been made to accommodate two per-
sons each, the others being only large enough
for one, so that seven has been the largest num-
Der that could be comfortably received; nine
have been crowded in. 1t will readily be seen
how inadequate this Home is to the wants of a
city like Portland. Could those-whose for
tune is such as to place it within their power
to help us to enlarge our facilities-but know
of the many hearts made sad by our inability
to afford the shelter of home to all needing
1t, they would, we believe, cheerfully extend
the aid for which we ask. Since the great fire
(which swept away so many homes, these appli-
cations for admission have become much more
frequent; and now the dilapidated condition
of portion Of our building renders it impera-
tive to take some steps for it's repair, or part
even of our small number can no longer find
comfortable shelter. Will generous public
aid us to build new Home that shall be an
honor to our city? We do not expect one that
will compare with similar "Home" in Bos-
ton, which accommodates 100 aged persons,
but we should like one of sufficient size to ex-
tend its comforts to those who will otherwise
be compelled to seek that shelter which to
many of the old is more dreadful than the retreat
of the graye--the Poor House. Does it not re-
feet somewhat on the "good works" that should
go hand in hand with faith, that city which
has thirty organized religious societies, cannot
point to one public charitable institution, aside
from those benevolent societies which must be
sustained by ladies' sewing circles, promenade
concerts, and pin-cushion and needle-book
fairs? In the many changes in life, the muta-
tions OF fortune, who can tell whose mother,
wife or daughters may seek the sheltering COM
forts of this Home. Somebody's friends sure
ly will. Will you not then respond to our call
for aid, and enable us now to prepare suitable
place for them and assist us in maintaining it !?
Some have already given generously, but we
lack much yet before we can feel justified in
commencing our work.
To those who are not familiar with the con-
stitution of the present Home and its details,
we may say that the officers are President,
two Vice Presidents, Secretary and Treasurer,
with Board of twenty-five Managers, chosen
from the different religious societies of the
city. 1t is the duty of some of these manag-
els, appointed monthly, to visit the Home sew
eral times every week, to provide good and
sufficient food and all other comforts consist
ent with the state of the finances, for the in
mates. 1t is also their duty to see that the
meals are regularly and properly prepared,
that the rooms are clean and comfortable All
persons can satisfy themselves as to the way in
which these duties are discharged by visiting
the neat and well ordered Home. Into its man
agement no sectarian feelings have ever been
allowed to enter. No institution in the city
has ever been more harmoniously conducted.
We make this statement that no one may be
| kept back from giving by the fear that their
money may not be intelligently invested or ju-
diciously expended. Any donations forward
| ed to Eben Steele, Esq, will be gratefully re-
ceived.
ONE OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS.