, 1880-10-10
THE OLD PEOPLES HOME.


es!!e!e&: = g 9: e
THE OLD PEOPLES HOME.
To the Editor Of Tie Chicago 1stbuns-
CHICAGO, Oct 0.--Without fear OF contradfc-
ton. we have established By our three previous
articles the burning insults and shameful impo-
etious inflicted by some Of the officers Of the
Home upon the aged inmates We have seen
that by the charter OF tie institution the In
mates are not puupers and cannot lawfully be
treated ns such. Yet VIC have seen these Off
GERS, Immediately upon coming into possession
OF the household goods Of these old people and
their entry fee Of $500, require them to sign
cut-throat Contract uho like of which has bcen
declared void more than once by our Supreme
Court on the grounds Ut public policy, but by
the terms of which every dollar eau be confs-
Gated ar the will OF the officers. and the inmates
themselves thrust unccremonioasiy into
tue streets By force and without proc
ess OF Inv. I'VE have seen these vener-
able inmates marched to their meals
Hike convicts in penitentiary at the unlocking
Of Il door, and dcn.ed u uarsel at food at such
other hou rs us would be compatible with their
weak and uncertain nppetites. We huve seen
them slandered and traducei by these" same
officers and represented to The world not rs
company Of Cnrtstian women. well deserving
the love and sympathy of charitable public,
but repulsve body of ptlfercrs and malefact-
u n,arron. but an ovcrseer. We have seen their
right tu determine who may have access to their
private apartments denied, aud The sAnctity Of
their footsteps doggcd by spies ind lhe,r private
rnons intestrd win infor.ners 10 satisfy the
nornid snriosty Of fashionable wa;men, who
out listening to the most private coz
yc:sauons-without knowing the very dreams
Of the mind in the sill hours OF night We have
seen there fashionable women Assume to sit MS
criminal court end ape the Judicial Office. HIVE
IF
charges. deny Them tho benefit of counsel, re-
fuse To hnvu tho testimony preserved, entertain
der Judgments which were unsus,uined BY the
evidence. and slialn1ons the offender to tFial on
the S;lbbalh-day. Let us now consider the priv
Of tue institution. Ono wrnld suppose TIM, Kind
and humane officers would not only permit but
eEcour,,xe all kindnsssos Ind ana privileges which x
they are .!ad tn receive money 0r donauons-any-
thing that passes through their bands. fit is not
But let the favnr be extended directly to the in
mite and it seems to maize the officers sick ut
heart.-hns the subdutng effect that pennyrpyal
wcyc invited out to tea. tn vary almost any
munotony Is sometimes 4, relief. Aud then the
quite US full US it Is atrtne Palmer House or the
Grand Pacific. In fMct thes seldom have printed
bills cf fare at the Home. although il they hada
day herself and still have plenty OF time to buy
LOCKS aud bolts md conduct family prayers.
cers found @ adj Il % out How they = found M % ant t What
a1e rejected upoa the institution Sy rais-
left tin hungry condition. Or how they learned
what they sasd at the table, and whom they
talked about are questions which cannot dsh-
nifty settle. IT these fasu1onAble, humane ladies
had attempted to get this iufnrmaupD by going
quietly into the backyard and approaching the
bio and humane limbs might have been terribly
mut!lated By an unfashionabie and inhumMne
quatruped commonly called q dog. Ny theory
10 that they descended from their carriages and
tonk up their position boldly but noiselesly in
frontnf the house. This would be mure In accord
anGe ta i1h ,hr dRn and poson IN sosefy
does things. OF course they could not hear
word hut they could observe every moyement
hly hud the assistance of opera glasses, as they
usually carty them. The meaning Of person |
cnn sometimes &c understood by the motion of |
the lips 1t is said the deaf acquire much skill ]
In this art 1t Is not improbable that they had |
been to an asylum and secured the services of /
imagtnauon to appreciate thu iudicrousncss Of |
the scene hero presented. Ladies Of wcall1h. |
rank. and influence. as the world goes. tewelcd, |
basement window with a supcrcilious smile Of |
contempt upon few old ladies, slipping their ]
clovcr oin,ment and yeiiow-doeK sirnp ior a
pain In the back. Either mtsIed By this deaf /
artist, or deceived by their opera gtasscs, for
some other reason. these officers have been
pleased To charge. try. convict and condemn these
Old ladies far " attending an Indignation meet
ing" We cannot refrain from saving that this
female court which ct,n.encs On the corner OF
Indiana avenue nnd Thirty ninth street when
ever they hear Of anything is the most re-
mnckablc tribunal TINT has ever been organ-
ized since tho days Of Pickwick. shall pursue
the subject of outside privileges still farther in
my next Mime. Roland It was who exclaimed
while passing through the streets OF Paris. 20 |
Liberty: Liberty how n'xny crimes are commit
ed in t1y name" Had she lived in our day and
f'ccn familiar with modern methods she might !
havc exclaimed. 20 Charity! Charity! how
r,nny outrnres ure pcrpetrated fn thy name."
aIcn are sometimes base towards ono another. t
But MAN. 3nhumanlty to man is a bright and
shining star Of virtue compared with woman's |
inhunanity TO woman. When one woman hates
another. she hates with all the fncxhaustfbie |
resources of her instincts. passions, and nature. !
AS her 1--we is unreasonable SO Is her hatred un-
1athnuabie. She can always wow, in the words
OF D3Ton-
II do but witch the hour /
II II mot then In human power
To cyndc. II unfOr.tycn.
The patient search und vigil long
or her vino treasures up 4 wrong.
Thus u1ny we hope that after the uunumbered |
abuseB. insults and WRONGS which at present |
Disgrace the Old Peoples Home, the inmates
L.+AE L-$.-