Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-03-03
ALEXANDRIA INFIRMARY.
ANNUAL REPORT.

increased public interest, The loss is OF one,
who was as it were the life Of the Institution
which she founded and Of which she had
been for years the chief support.
With falling life and strength Miss johns
realized that It could no longer depend on
her personal effort as heretofore, and in her
weakness appealed to the community Tor
whose benefit it was designed and main
tanned at comparatively small cost to them
selves. The appeal met with quick and
generous re spouse, and a year ago the Work
PASSED from her own failing grasp into the
strong, sure one Of public philanthropy,
and the years of unwearied, ceaseiess effort
were crowned with result for which she
had patiently and confidently waited.
Our sources of supply have hitherto been
many and varied; we have in our midst
and on the Seminary Hill q few reguarand
generous contributors who are as tower
Hf strength 10 US, but these annual pledges
are few and our collections on hospital Sun
DAVIS are small, and yet on these only can
We depend with any degree of security for
the future we'll being and permanency of
the institution. We trust that the increased
general interest will result in a proportionate
increase of such pledges, each giving after
their ability, even if the sum be very small.
Intermittent voluntary effort, whether re
sulting in festivals, concerts or in offerings
| Of any kind have helped us in many time
of emergency; they were from warm, loving
hearts, blessing those who give even more
than those who receive.
Our contributions from abroad have been
gained through the widespread influence of
Miss Johns; they will be continued, we
hope, in loving remembrance of her and in
I h.; xx-1,i p1, oh,
loved so well.
Our boarding department has always been
an irregular supply, as our rooms are only
filed at intervals. From the first, it was
intended that the Infirmary should, in
degree, be selfsupporting, and for while
we were enabled 10 be go in great degree
as the Government allowed US to receive
the sick sailors, until Providence Hospital
in Washington superseded u.s. We now
take another class Of patients as boarders,
ard the amount cleared goes TO the support
of the free wards.
Donation Day." proposed by friend of
the InGrmary, proved so great success,
we hope it will become one of our regular
sources of supply. Space will not allow us
to enumerate the names of the donors, nor
to tell of the gifts which came from morn
ing to evening, from young and old even
little children planned for the sick and
brought them their own offerings to cheer
them. Almost without exception, we were
remembered by the merchants of Alexandria,
and when with gifts of furniture, of house
linen, china, &c., we found ourselves so
rich, we wondered how we could have borne
our former poverty, so strkingly in con-
trast donation Day" was also that OF
opening our new Infrmary, and not little
i oh hoo nj al
ovated building, so adapted to its present
use as to call forth the appreciation of all,
especially for it's admirable ventilation.
Many of the clergy, physicians and other
gentlemen honored US with their presence
Two were there, whose presence ever bright.
ened and strengthened those among whom
they moved-our late President and our kind
consulting physician, DR.. Lewis, one who
was ever ready for friendly as well as medi
cal consultation, and though not in regular
attendance, cheerfully gave his services
whenever called upon.
To our attending physicians we offer our
grateful thanks, ever remembering that all
the gifts would be flittle avail without their
medical services.
We deeply regret the removal from Alex
andra of Mrs. Price, who as Miss Emerson.
was for 80 long Miss Johns right arm in
carrying on the work from which, at times
she was necessarily absent. The sick ones
of the 1ntirmary were remembered by her.
and the outside work was never neglected
at whatever cost it might have been as to
time or health.
Early in the year of 1883 Union Festival
was proposed and carried out, resulting in a
building fund of 81 ,61605 which was placed
at Miss johns disposal for the purpose of
purchasing building for the permanent use
of the sick, and just then by an apparently
wonderful Providence as we thought, the
trustees Of the Orphan Asylum placed at
her disposal the buildings of that institution
which had been closed for some time and
were much out repair; a nominal rent was
charged for year with the assumption of
some liabilities Of the former institution,
with the assurance that as soon as the Legis.
lature should meet, they would resign their
trust for our benefit and as far as was in
their power to effect legal transfer of the
property from themselves to the trus-
tees of the Alexandria Iufirmary. This |
offer was so strongly endorsed by public |
sentiment that Miss Johns felt compelled |
most reluctantly to yield her own wishes |
and those of the other officers Of the insti-
tuition as to the purchase ofanother building.
Bnd expended about 81 900 in repairing and |
making needful alterations in the Orphan
Asylum building and also in repairs and al
terations in the Widows Home for the ben
eft OF the Union Relief, as thus only could
a change be effected which would give us
the whole building of the Orphan Asylum for
the Infrmary.
We found ourselves hedged in with diff.
culties, our progress retarded st almost eve.
ry step, but the difficulties were bravely
surmounted in the glad hope for the future,
the reward of full legal possession in the
coming year.
Miss Johns removal from our midst has
caused no crisis in our affairs; with admira-
BILE foresight she provided that that should
be met year before her death. Our tran
sitonal state was then and took place I'm.
der her own eye, and was passing from a
day of small things to one Of brighter prom
Use; aud in etfeeting all this she did more for
her loved Iufirmary in her weakness than
she had done in her strength. There was
$50 e TIC