The Portland daily press., 1882-05-04
The Home for Women and Children.

This is comparatively new institutlon. In
appealing to the public for sympathy and sup
port its objects have only to be made known to
command both. The field is broad one, but
only summary of the salient points, embraced
within it will be given in this paper for pur-
poses of general information.
First-It is State institution. Its benefits
are intended for no single locality, though in
the nature of things they will reach largest
numbers where the unfortunate victims of vice
and the waits of society are most numerous
Accordingly it has been located in Portland.
To the benevolence and active cooperation of
its citizens, therefore, it makes a special ap-
peal.
Second-The benefciaries for whom it is in
tended are women discharged from prisons or
pursuing life Of vice, who need temporary
home surrounded by kindly and reformatory
Influences and children destitute of suitable
homes or parentage exposed to temptation and
vicious training and who for themselves and
society need help and direction into the paths
of industry and virtue.
Third-Its necessity arises from the fact that
no other institution or charity meets the situa-
ton nor can supply what is essential. Women
discharged from imprisonment are thrown up
on the world homeless and frlendless In
most cases the old home, il desirable, bars re-
turn to victims of vice. or is closed equally
effectually by the dishonor and shame entaiied
by their conduct and associations Immediate
employment for them in virtuous families is
hardly possible through fear of contamination
or prejudice. Consequently, no other resort is
open-but haunts Of vice, often enforced by
grim necessity for sustaining even life of
shiftlessness and wretchedness. Hence the
necessity of temporary and refornatory homo
designed to meet such cases, and adapted to
inspire hope, encourage virtue and open path
way to responsibility and independence.
Its necessity for children contemplated to be
benefited exists in the fact that illegitimacy,
ond neglect and cruelty Of parents, even in
civilized communities, are SO common as to de-
mand intcrposition of the heart and hand of
charity, and no orphan asylum or reform
school, though doing noble work in their
limited spheres, is adequate to meet q pressing
exigency individually and socially.
The two classes, however, OF women and
children, are not designed to be commingled in
this institution, tbut are to be cared for under
single management so as to avoid the expense
of two institutions and duplication of
matrons, attendants and officers.
Fourth-The pressure for such an institu-
ton, as respects numbers, is far greater than
the best informed are aware. Statistics of
crime in the ranks OF womanhood in Portland
and other populous localities would if publish
ed be as surprising as shocking The number
of waifless and victimized children also need
ing to be befriended is very much larger tn
issupposed. Such statistics and painful OK
billions arc withheld from publication for
sons that will be obvious to all.
Fifth The institution is now under the
charge of Mrs. DR.. Devoll, whose, skill, activity
and devotedness to its work are vouchsd FOR by
good and noble persons of both sexes, and in
its executive management she is surrounded
by those who largely enjoy public confidence
and whose motives are best attested by their
active cooperation.
Sixth-The basis for support OF the in
stitution is two-fold:, First the principal OF
self support is a cardinal one, and its inmates
are placed on the plane of the theory that
''God helps those who help themselves" But
secondly, starting without funds and beginning
at the bottom, work is necessarily dependent
largely on contributions from friends of the
downcast and helpless, whose offerings will be
looked after with fidelity and utilized for the
amelioration of those for whom they are be-
slowed.
Seventh-The institution is chartered under
| the general law of the State, and is therefore
| in condition to receive legacies or requests,
and which are specially desirable for placing it
| on permanent foundation and promoting en-
| enlarged usefulness.
Eighth order to give the public further
means of information reference may be had to
either of the officers or managers, a list of
which is appended as follows:-
President-Mrs. Bion Bradbury.
Vice President-Mrs. L. D. M Sweat.
Treasurer-Miss Marie Hersey
| Secretary-Miss e. M. Cram.
Physician-Dr. Sarah w. Devoll.
Board of Managers-Mrs. P. I'll. Brown, Miss
Octavia Beckett, Mrs. Henry Coolidge, Mrs.
Frank Clark, Mrs. Woodbury. s. Dana, Mrs.
John Dewitt, Mrs. w. G. Davis, Mrs. G. w.
Goddard, Mrs. #. FL. sGerrish, Mrs. Clarence
Hale Mrs. Alex. Longfellow, Mrs. E. Merrill,
| Miss Celia Patten, Mrs. Ell. /. Robinson, Mrs.
| Thomas Shaw. Mrs. L. M. N. Stevens.
| Local Advisory Board-Hon. L. Washburn,
Hon. f. Fessenden, George f. Emery, Geo. s..
Hunt S. W. Thaxter, Theodore Woodbury..
The list of the auxiliary board of women
and the remainder of the advisory board of
men will be announced hereafter. e.