The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-17
FACTS VS.. IMPRESSIONS"

THE WARREN COUNTY rOoRHoUsE AND ITS
INMATEs-ANswER TO "REcroR"-wHAr ARE
THE FACTS ?-coMM1ssIoNER FOSTERS oPIN-
ION.
10 THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
am glad that you have printed the communica-
ton from "Rector" in this mornings HERALD.
in which special plea is set up in behalf
of the management of the Warren County
Almshouse. I fully expected controversy Of
this kind; but when saw the heading,
"Facs VS.. Impressions" certainly anticipated find
ing some facts in your correspondents letter. is
with regret therefore, that confess to utter disap-
pointment. Regarding my allegations he says
nothing. He chooses to discover that l
"insinuate something against the people
OF warrensburg for their "ontire lack
of sympathy in the spiritual restitution of the
paupers." insinuated nothing of the sort. aud I
may well say right here that decline to deal with
the worthy rector of the Church of the Holy Cross
On any other than strictly clerical basis. lay no
claims TO philanthropy. and did not travel on my
but at tho expense the proprietor of
the HERALD. In such capacity described what
saw, repeated what heard. and. il the absence of
one single specific contradiction in the reverend
gentlenan's letter be test, my impressions" are
OF quite us much value his "facs. My
well-neaning critic has defended the keeper
from ailesatlons or his own making not mine;
he has thrown the mantle OF the Church over the
purely secular business OF paying out the county =
money for the care of the countys poor. saying in
effect that to biunder and tail human II this is
his argument grant him all he says. No better
ample OF human failure can be found short Of the
neighboring county OF Essex.
In brief the rector does not deny anything.
There Is no reason for this il have been either
sensational or inaccurate Does he deny that the
twenty years in garnet over woodshed where the
old women now languishl. although it is hardly
possible to stand upright Does he deny that a
name, is kept in this foul smelling attic on q
filthy board loungef Does he deny that there were
young children in this garnet, reeking. it was,
with every kind of nastiness and vulsarlty? Does
he deny that the accommodations for the idotic boy
back OF the woodshed utterly inadequate-as bad
as would be provided for swine? Does he deny that
number of old women compelled to sleep on
the kitchen floor every night? All these allegations
and many more were made He denies none of these
statements. He also grants oil .'insinuate regard
ing the neglect of the people of the county to adopt
the little children, and says that 1.-THE adoption of
child some two years ago exposed the good lady who
attempted it to good deal of criticism. In fact.
throughout tho letter there is too much of the
trust in Jesus" argument and too little Of
the more practical suggestions for the reform Of
that worldly heartlessness from which the poor
suffer most have no desire to prolong this dis
cussion Tor rather correspondence for there is no
ground for argument or question OF veracity raised
and will conclude by giving two extracts from tho
1879 tpage 1881 in which the following official state
ment regarding the Warren county institution is
fOund:--
The upper story Of tho extension rear Of
the stone building is used for female inmates. y =
They seemed to be left in this distant of the house
mind themselves. One old comp. aimed of harsh
treatment from another of tho party. though tho
keeper made light of her complaints and said
there was nothing in thcm. In small room,
Immediately adjoining that last described. were two
bedrdden old women On the ground floor of this
Immediately adjoining the stone building. is the wood
house. In the of this Is occupied by moi
This to be the receptacle for the
cases In the house. The In untdy Gen.
IT, II was stated that the inmates bated
week. but their personal appearance evidence
such practice The defects in the
ments and management OF this poorhouse
ary stated in the this Board In 1862
hold good against II at this time below My
inspection on this occasion failed to furnish single point
which could bestow word of commeu dntion
EDWARD W. FOSTER. Commissioner.
The Warren County Poorhousc is story build
ing erected In 1852. situated Warrensburg
mperfecy ventilated and bathing con ve
nences Tho various classes minge
the day. All filthy aud untdy in their persons
the stencil In the room NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF the
State Board Of Charities for 1885, reprinted in report
1879, pageS7
From these extracts it will be seen that was not
actuated by desire to be sational, by malice
or by love of falsehood. Indeed. fear that my
worthy critic may have jumped at a conclusion and
correspond with the text at hand. am. sir.
YOUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.
NEW YonK. Oct. 81. 1879.