Morning journal and courier., 1881-11-04
Our C1ty's Modest Charity.

Our C1ty's Modest Charity. The Annual Donation Day Exercises
 Postponed Till To-Dny-The Wagons
 and the Committee Work To-Day-In-
 terest1ng Scene at the Asylum-The
 Prospects to Che Donations.
 The annual donation visit was postponed yesterday owing to the weather. In an in- terview with Mir. Bunnell, chairman of the committee, that gentleman reported progress and said, To-day (Thursday) being in- element it was not thought best to go around with the teams to collect provisions. In sev- eral cases members of the committee circu- lated around and collected donations, which are liberal and up to those from correspond ing sections last year. Tomorrow (Friday), if pleasant, the wagons will circulate and col lect the merchandise for the orphans, and at 3 o'clock the committee will start for the asylum"
 On the subject of the amount of the collec- tions MT. Bunnell further said he had no doubt that they would, when the returns were all in, amount to as much as those of last year, which were in excess of any pre- vious year. As to the employees contribu- tions from the different factories, Mr. Bun nell said they had responded nobly The outer office at Bunnell X Scranton's we found besieged with contributions in variety hams, shoulders, popcorn, a barrel of butternuts, cases of rubber boots, codfsh, pumpkins, barrels of apples, bedquilts soap barrels of potatoes and barrels of flour, combs, boxes of matches, shoe backing, stove polish. stockings, ct cetera, ct cetera.
 At the asylum yesterday afternoon there was the usual jam of ladies on donation day, and family carriages and coaches were con stantly arriving or departing, and people
 were coming in from all directions to see the wagons come in. The lowery sky, however, kept many away. The managers were out in force and very busy with many duties Exercises were had in the school rooms, wit messed with interest and pleasure by many of the visitors, the programmes being varied this year with the addition of exercises in geography, spelling and reading vocal music at sight The little tots" in the nursery depart ment were wide-awake, bright and smiling, and seeming fully alive and sensible of their i'm portance to the important occasion. After the school exercises were finished, the chil- dren proving equal to the occasion and ac. quitting themselves most creditably, there was summons to them to marshal them selves in battle array and attack refresh ments, a summons executed with reasonable alacrity. The children's eyes had lighted up finely at the sight of such an unusual array of elegantly dressed. ladies with gracious faces in the school room, and they took on brightness anew at the sight of the frosted cakes and other cakes and other goodies on the tables awaiting their professional judg- ment A host of visitors looked on to see the pleasant scene, and the children managed to stow away the spread despite the public nature of their performance. The good cheer disappeared and kept disappearing, ,and the cheerful and vivifying Identification of donation day gave the children brightness which could not be dispelled even by the fact that for nearly a week the sun had stubbornly kept shady and had maintained it on donation day The ladies of the management stated that the donations in money received at the asylum yesterday were small on account of the weather; and that the lady managers will be at the asylum through the afternoon today to receive such sums as may be brought. Even the smallest is earnestly solicited. They give notice also that the omnibus will commence calling for the managers at o'clock.
 The children at the New Haven Orphan Asylum all belong in the town of New Haven, as the institution is @ local one, maintained by the benevolence of the city. None are received from outside the town of New Ha- ven and village of West Haven. None are ever refused admittance and kind treatment on account of nationality, color or religion
 The number of children aided during the last asylum year is 1SO. Needy Protestant children usually come directly to the asylum without going to the almshouse, but there are now in the institution thirty six children who either came directly from the almshouse, or whose parent or parents are often in eith CT the almshouse or the jail. The yearly town appropriation ($1 ,0O0), if divided among these, gives nearly fifty -four cents week for each child's board and clothing.
 Many poor children are taken into the asylum for merely nominal board, twenty five or fifty cents week. The parent or friend paying this retains control of and in- terest in the child, and 1t is saved from con- ing upon the town, as it would do if full board were insisted upon. Even such small dues are frequently unpaid
 Much care and pains are spent in finding good country homes for the children as they grow older, and Tn Keeping track Of them af- ter they are placed out until they are eight cen. They like to come ''home to the asy- lum" for little visits, and letters and visits are often received from prosperous men and women, who owe their start in life to this institution.
 A word of praise is due to the committee of gentlemen who neglect their business and tray ell around in mud and rain soliciting for this noble cause. Their Iabors will surely re- ceive their reward. This year their labors are increased owing to the postponement. The following are the committee engaged in this good work. They will call upon our cit izens today: