The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-10-28
HOME FOR AGED WOMEN.
The Annual Reports and Election Of
Officers.

The annual meeting of the managers of the
Home for Aged Women was held yesterday
afternoon. The managers made the follow
ing report:
MANAGERS REPORT.
The good word in this, the thirty-frst wear of
the Home for Aged Women, is still the old watch
word, "Alls we'll" The health of the inmates is
unusually good, and the house comfortable and
well ordered under the most faithful of matrons.
The number of residents is %, the utmost that
the building will hold. Three have died during
the year. OF these, two were so shattered in body
and mind that their friends could be impressed
only by the Kindness of the Hand that gave them
complete relief. The third, active and helpful,
was taken away by brief illness, in singular ac-
cordance with wish of her own that at the last
she might go quickly. Their places were filled
more speedily than respect demanded, but less,
far less, than compassion required And it is
hard to report as mere statistic, that twenty
worthy applicants are still waiting for admission.
Each one, by the rules of the Home must have
resided for at least ten M f years G IN Port
ed families with every claim on the care of our
citizens. They wait patiently but their very 81
means and after sufficient.income is secured
for the Home as it now stands, help us to enlarge
its limits; Other cities nave tneir scores OF un-
score be disproportionate to theresources of Port
land? Here. in New England where family love
and pride will always, when possible, find place
by the hearthstone for needy relative must these
motives fail when larger outlook is presented?
One is unwilling to DelleVe the wealth. Within our
CITY a barrier, and yet one shrlnks from the
charge
aWith gates of silver, and bars of gold,
Ye have fenced my sheep from their fathers
fold"
The managers turn from a want like that of
funds, which they earnestly hope may be met, to a
loss in their own number that no earthly power
can supply-that of the clear head and wise
counsel of Mrs Rea. She was the last of the
original corporators of the Home, and was taken
away suddenly few months ago, after an Illness
of only week. The records show her services
for twenty-eight years on an important committee
that of admissions to the institution but the pri-
waite and unwritten annals OF both inmates and
managers alone can tell of her value on that COM
mittee; OF her sound judgment; her Sagacty in
approaching real merit; and her wonderful mem
ory of persons and events. This last gift was a
most important aid in the special duties which it
was her unfaiing pleasure to perform The board
desires to pay loving tribute to the courage that
would never Shrink from plain assertion of the
truth, however diStaSteful that statement might
| be- and to the discretion which would withhold
any such utterance until really needed.
In conclusion the cordial thanks OF the mana
| gers are here rendered to the kind friends who
| have remembered the Home during the past year.
| To the physicians, lawyers and clergymen whose
services have been both able and willing; to the
generous donors of fruit, flowers. vegetables meat;
milk, ice, and dainties fol-. Thanksgiving and
Christmas to the directors of the horse railroad,
and to the editors Of the daily and weekly papers.
| On behalf Of the managers,
HARRIET S. McCoBB,
Secretary.