Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-09-23
TO the Poor House.

I'D paper ABOUT county poor mouse,
how some man has gone to a poor
house, or some one has died there, or
another has committed suicide rather
than 90 to 4 poor house, and ii has oc-
cured to US that we make mistake,
and are cruel in calling the place where
the aged and destitute are sent to be
cared for, " Poor House" There is
something in the name of " Poor
House" that CRATES harshly on the
ears OF those who never expect to so
there, and much more harshly on the
ears and hearts Of people who are com
PEELED to so there. Why is il not just
as well to call the poor house a
8" Home, and make it attractive, SO
people will not feel that they are go
ing to exile and death, when they are
compelled to so there. There is no
tax that IS more cheerfully paid by men
who have hearts in them, than tax that
goes to support the poor, and there is
no sense in treating them like cattle,
as is done in many places, aud the
placing Of men with brutal instincts in
charge of poor houses is a great wrong
Every city and county that is poPula-
ted by people with hearts, should have
a comfortable " Home for those who
become destitute, where they can go
and live as happy as possible, and die
in peace, when they have TO die. If
such I" Home could take the place
of every poor-house, and charitable
people would occasionally visit the
house and see that it is made pleasant,
and talk to the unfortunate inmates
and cheer them, and take drives, with
their families 10 the home, and make
tie poor creatures feel that they were
not forgotten 10y the world, much more
happiness would he known, both by
The unfortunate people and the people
who 10 the visiting. As il is now in
most places, the poor-house is spoken
OF as We woaid speak OF a jail or pest
house, aud many persons who ought to
haze many years OF happy life in store
fol thtm. though destitute Of means
wi! comm. suicide before they win
apply III admission They are dcspis-
Cd IS "paupcrs - which is another
csael word and they feel as though
they had not q friend on Gods great
big earth, especially if the man who
runs the POOR house is brute, who de
Ponds upon his salary and what he can
steal 10 keep hiA out Of the poor
house. We presume if half the bust
ness men ot the country would give the
matter thought, and knew how lie
poor in many poor houses were treat
ed, and now heavy their hearts are,
and how hope'l4- they look al the fu-
turc, they would feel like taking 4 shot
gun and Blowing the alleged heart out
OF The keepers, aad take the manage
mcnt cf The poor-house into their own
hands l. is not crime 10 be without
a dollar, ara those VINO are 50 circum-
staaced, iTom no fault Of theirs, should
be looked upon rather as the guests Of
hose who are well to do, than as
criminals. We would not advocate
the making Of poor houses summer re-
sorts, for people to so to who were too
lazy 70 work, or camp meeting fol
q" cranks, " but the honest man or hon
est woman who is destitute, should
have home where they can live and
die in decent style, honored and re
spected, and those who are above want
should pay the expense, and they
would DO So checrfuly. Make ;
" Home . for them, appoint a superin-
tendent who would call an old person
"Unc!e" or "Auntie," and who would
speak pleasantly 10 them and whip any
undeFstrapper who should speak or act
otherwise, and make it religious duty
for citizens TO visit the Home and
strcw smiles and flowers in the pathwa,
toward The tomb of the destitute PEG
pie and give everything to them freely,
instead Of throwing things TO them d:
you would dog, hoping it will Kill
him, and everybody will be happier,
and il will not cost much more money
And then we shall not any of US be
ashamed when we get to heaven and
see some of those poor-housc inmates
occupying good seats at the right hand
of the Great Ruler, who has said-well,
we have forgot what He said, but it
was something about being kind TO the
poor, anyway.