Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-03-21
COVER THE HILL TO THE POOR
HOUSE"
Some of the Inmate mt the Augusta Aims
House-Conditton ct the Institution. d G.

| one ofthe public institutions OF the city,
with which We apprehcnd our people are not
sufficiently familiar. is the aims house. Not
that we desire there should be an immediate
! increase in the number of bcnefcarics. but
an occasional Witt there might awaken an in
terest in the unfortunate poor that perhaps
would not otherwise be aroused. The three
story brick mansion owned by the city has
been the friendly and hosptsble shelter OF
many storm tossed one on the troubled sea
of life of some who through their own in
prudence and short-s ightedness have wasted
the very best portions of their life--of many
others who are driven there by unnatural and
hard-h hearted relatives and Of still others to
whom merciless want has come by no mis-
takes or false steps of their own.
There are at the present time twenty six
persons in the Augusta aims house, fewer
men than women; this number including six
children. We will briefly aludc to few
Of these inmates. We find Mrs. Donovan.
the Gnc old Irish lady to whom we alluded
the other day MS having passed the century
"HVst"He slttHB Ill uulct corner, scnlN
swaying back and forth in her comfortable
arm chair. counting her beads, as she is n
devout Catholic. Her face is fair. and
bright eyes look out from under the frills of
the old LADY, cap. She convcrscs freely and
with the grcatest ease. and was last fall able
to walk down street. She came over from
the green isle .elac forty wears ago. and re
mcphcrs the condemnation that fell upon the
people Of Augusta when the irst Kenncbcc
dam was swept away. She has been in the
poor house four wears. and though ladies
are praverbiallyscnsitivc concerning the pub
lie proclamation Of their ages, We trust the
good old .oul will pardon us for giving hers
to the curious world Many Of our citizens
will remember Joha Donovan, her late hus-
band.
Mrs. Powers, sged ~, is spending the
evening of her life here. ~ a private boardcr
and though still quite active. would be taken
for lady ten years in advance of Mrs
Donovan in sgc.
4 gentleman once in partnership with IL
former well known business man on Water
street. il here where he will undoubtedly
end his DAYS. The character Of the business
in which he was engaged led to his ruin and
the .hattering Of his physical nature: and
now, trembling old man. at an age that
should find him in the full strength of man.
hood. he is waiting for the grim messenger
to stalk in At the door of the aims house,
while his former partner in the miserable
liquor trsfic is sleeping beneath the SHOWS of
winter.
One of tho plessantcst rooms in the house
is occupicd by IL gentleman formerly in the
bakery business in Augusta. He was once
IN good circumstances. but misfnrtunns over
which he had no control reducedh him to penurv
and the first Of the winter himself and wife
| came to the institution. They have furnished
their room with good taste: il has many Of
the little home comforts and ornaments that
dispels the idea that they are dwelling in an
! abode Of charity. We were greeted most
cordially by the pair. the husband rcm.rkng
truly. 1--WE are better of here than good
many people; when We get onr breakfast, we
know where our dinner is coming from"
The wife of former proprietor Of the old
Franklin House il here. She had been
twenty years at the Insane Hospital, and was
then removed here, ~ much better for case.
Of her character-better for the patient. and
less expensive for the town. This lady is
constantly engaged in sewing, and more than
earns her board by that occupation.
Lydia. colorcd lady of scventy-sevsn
is here. and is not happy unless her fingers
are busy at some useful work. She sings
cheerfully IS she tolls. In another room. Just
across the hall. we find lady unable to W ork
formerly and for years head waiter at the
Augusta House, and in by-gone times 90 use
the stereotypcd phrase of hotel advertise
ments). well known to the travelling pull lie "
! Ruined by profigate life
sad but interesting case il that of a lady
who is here with three little children, the
Youngest Of whom is bat two wears of age.
She married wealthy sea captain. who smiled
| in his own vessels from the port of Belfast.
| They settled in the State of Iowa and four
beautiful children blessed the union. Very
suddenly the husband dies. and Immediately
comes forward another wife to claim the vast
estates The poor mother knew nothing of
this inideity on the part of the husband
knew not that he was married before plight
! ing to her his love. Stripped Of all her pos
sessions, she left the West pennies. and
came to reside with her husbands relatives in
the suburbs Of the city. Dependence there
seemed a burden, and like Cassie, in Uncle
Tom. Cabin escaping from the burdens OF
slavery. she made her way amid the SHOWS OF
winter walking four miles with hsr Youngest
child in her arms .nd found she tier within
the wall. Of the poor house. Tn, re she waits
in SORROW and in tears. hoping that the great
wrong may some day be rightcd, and a por-
ton of the property of her late husband given
to her. while the irst wife, who lives in Bel
fast in this State. rolls in luxury, surrounded
by all the comforts that wealth can buy
The rooms in the aims house are all large,
warm, airy and very convenient the food i.
wholesome and abundant; the .ged. infrnr
and sick have all the comforts and attcn-
tions usually bestowed st home and the in
mates were all eager to tell us how thankful
they were for the thou ghtful attentions and care
bestowed upon them by the Superintendent
Mr.. l.. Waldron, and his cstimahle wife. In
none of our frequent visits to the place. have
we seen more scrupulOus ncatn,ss or attsn.
ton torhc wants Of the innatcs
Connected with the house is IA farm Of some
65 acres. which Yielded the past year, As fol.
lows - tons of hav. ( tons Of straw 10;
bushcl. of oats. 30 bushcl. of barley. Il
bushels Of green peas, husl els sars o.
sweet corn. 10 bnshel. Of beans. 20 hushel,
of shcllcd corn, 10 bushels Of ycllow-eye,
beans. 100 bushels of potatoes. % bushels o
turnips 10 bushels of bects, l50 head, cab
bagc. Is bushels Of cucumbers. 400 lbs. o
squash. 100 bushels of apples, 2400 lbs. o
pork. 800 lbs. Of cheese, CAS- lbs of butter
There have been cut in the pastures some 2
l.. - l,., i,., A.