The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-05-10
Temporary Home for Women and Chill
dren


ing in charge the temporary home for women
and children, was held yesterday. On May 0,
1883, there were at the home women and 8
children. The total number of women cared
for during the year was 20; aud children "a,
making the whole number OF inmates AZ. Five
children were born in the home The largest
number of inmates at any one time was 10, and
the smallest number 8. or the women ID were
sent to places 2 left to go TO friends; 2 left
without permission. or the children were
sent away with their mothers; taken away by
their mothers,7 boarded by their mothersat the
home; ! sent to another institution; 2 adopted
from the home; and died. The report OF the
Treasurer, Miss M. T. Jersey, shows that the
gross receipts for the year from all sources
were $lS52.73 and the expenditures $l2S6,
leaving balance Of $566.73. Ths principal
receipts were; From annual subscriptions $9Ol.-
10; donations $17316; board OF women $l4s;
board Of children $197; charity balls Sl64.7S.
The principal expenditures were for home ex-
penses $3.50; salaries and wages $347; fuel
$120.19; provisions and groceries ss542.S2 OF
the donations $6i were received from Saco and
Biddeford; $49 from Bangor; $50 from Thorn
aston; $35 from Gorham; $1765 from Water
ville "a from Calais; 81 from Deer Isle, and
81 from East Brownfed.
Miss Maria ID. Could the Secretary, In her
report relates the history of the establishment
of the home and sets forth It's purposes. On
May IL, 1882, the house now occupied was
taken possession of and has been used since 1t
has not proved satisfactory and the need of a
different house is felt. Ii Is impossible with
the present accommodations to give the individ-
ual training which many of the women need
and which is necessary to make them self-sup-
porting. work room Is needed. but TO supply ID
more money Is needed. III has been the policy
OF the society to enlarge the work no faster
than could be done without mourning debt, but
seeing the Importance OF teaching those
under the socety's care how 10 earn their own
living, the society cannot forbear to appeal to
the charitable for aid. The institution Ia not
merely local but embraces In its scope the
whole state and therefore appeals to the
charitable throughout the whole common
wealth. Concerning the work OF the past year
the report thus speaks:
Since our organization we have had as in
mates Is women and II children. Among the
women there have been nearly all types. Mar
ried women, who have fled from brutal hug-
bands, ana sought refuge while looking for
Tthpcttaulo WORK. WpIuen OF ufluklDg habits.
who have welcomed a place where they could
be kept for q while from temptations Migrants,
strangers In the city, not knowing where to
turn, and sent 60 us TO be cared for until per.
manent place could be found for them; igno-
rant young mothers, turoed out Of their homes
on account OF their wrong doing; young girls,
rescued from improper surroundings; and
women who have served more than one sem
tence in Jail and houses of correction.
One friendless womsn, on her discharge
from jail having expressed desire to lead a
different life was taken to the house by the
station committee. Soon after place was
found for her, but the work proving too hard,
came back TO us, as one would 20 to her own
home, and remained until another place coald
be found, giving all her earnings in charge to
the matron instead OF spending them as on for
mer similar occasions, in drink.
No one has been received by us who has not
manifested some desire, however slight, for
reformation, and in many cases. under the
kind treatment OF the matrnn, this desire has
seemed to steadily increase. Prominent among
the influences for good should be mentioned
the visits OF the ladies OF the executive com
mittea, who have had frequent opportunities TO
speak kind and encouraging words to the in
mates of the Home.
OF the children, the greater number have
been brought by their mothers, although there
have been several cases where children have
been rescued from bad homes, and kept by us
tons or in homes where the influences would
be good. Il few cases may be referred 10 here
as showing the sort OF work we are trying to
do. Some months ago woman was arrested
for vagrancy and sent 10 the House OF Correc-
ton. Her little boy of three years was left in
place OF which complaint was made 10 the
town in which be was born. The town au-
thorities removed him and ssut him to the
Home, paying as a moderate price for his
board. A blind child OF about thirteen years,
who was improperly cared for by drunken
father, was taken by US, sent to school for
some weeks in Deering, and finally placed in
suitable asy lum. Another, Of about the same
age, WHO was left by her father In disreputa-
bic house was cared for by US for a time and
at length taken by kind woman in the conu.
try who will keep her until her majority, and
teach her all kinds OF useful work. Neither
OF these girls could have been sent to the
Portland Orphan Asylum, as Il was not posi-
Bile Tor some time TO obtain from their fathers
the necessary papers, eyen had they been ell
gibie In other respects.
Poor mothers are allowed to board their
children at the Home, at a price which leaves
them at least 81 week OF their wages for
clothing themselves and their child. We re-
ceiye free OF charge those who have no home
and no claim upon any one.
As fast as Is practicable the inmates ara
sent 10 situations in the country or elsewhere,
O committee OF two ladies making II their spec
iai care TO mad suitable places. Thirteen OF
the twenty-five women who have been with
as have been provided for In this way, and as
rale have done well, under the care OF those
who have taken them. The children are sent
with their mothers whenever It Ia possible, as
the constant presence and care Of child will
often 90 for its mother what all else fails to
do. In sending those away who have been
under our charge, We do not by any means lose
sight Of them. They are still considered to
bave claim upon us, and should they grow
restless or, for any reason, wish 10 leave the
place provided help is extended to them In Sc
curing another, aud In case OF failure for a
time the Home again receives them to its
shelter.
One woman who was sent into the country
with her child, writes: II shall always be
thankful for the kindness shown TO me in the
Home. was always contented there. / hope
those who are there appreciate what 1t is TO
have such home aud those interested to find
them such good place as now have"
The society elected the following board of
Managers: Mrs. Bion Bradbury, Mrs. A. w.
LoBgfellow, Mrs. p. III. Brown, Mrs. q. w.
Goddard. Mrs. +. III. Gerrish. Mrs. L. NJ. n
Stevens, Mrs. Margaret Merrill, Mrs. Alfred
Woodman, Mrs. j. w. ID. Carter, Mrs J, K.
Blabol, Mrs. Geo. Walker, Miss NJ. I. Hersey.
Miss Celia Patten, Miss 0ctavia Beckett, Miss
Harriet t. Fox, Mrs. Thos. Quimby. Miss EN-
lily Spring, Miss III. 7. McCobb, Mrs. Robert
Douglass Mrs Geo. Kimball, Mics Caroline
Barker, Miss M. ID. Gould, Mrs. I. G. Wood.
bury, W. T. King.