The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-28
THE KNIGHTSTOWN HOME.
Mrs. Pittman Relates Some Experiences
OF Her Late Visit.
The Home q Bsnqueting Hall for the
Empioyes-Some Astonishing Diff
ferences In Bills OF Fare.

Board OF Trustees of the KnightstoWn Home,
in the Governors office, and there renewed
an acquaintance which was formed many
years ago, when Mrs Pittmsn, then the bride
of DR.. Thomas Williamson, visited Danville,
KY, where her husbands relatives resided.
The meeting revived in the mind of the re-
porter some recollecti0ns OF the bridal visit,
ard how the vivacity, gentle manners and
marked intelligence of the bride won the
esteem and love of her newly.found rels.
tives, who, prior TO her visit, were not &C
customed 10 look upon 'Heosisr'' with
particular favor Or in fact, upon any one
who hailed, IN those dsys of prejudice, from
what was called the Free States" Con-
trssted with the picture that the reporter
recalled, Mrs. Pittmsn had undergone
marked changes in the quarter OF century
since their fret meeting. Her face still
presented traces of the girl Tifes
beauty, Dut the intelligence of
expression. which can not escape
notice, was deepened ard intensi-
find, showing that thought and study had
rot been strangers 10 her life, but had
cbsDged The light hearted glrlhOod of twenty
five yenTs ago into the thoughtful, palnstsk-
ing Won anhCod OF to day, womsnhood
sanoiifed by noble ambition TO render easy
the yoke and light the burden OF suffering
humanity.
After referring to the events that have
tauspireo since the f0rma ion of this &C.
ausiotance, aud especially the death OF DIR.
Williamson, her first husband, who was
surgeon ID the army ard who died at his
post OF duty, the conversation naturally
turned upon the Official position that Mrs.
Pittman now holds, and it vas plain 10 see
that she is grestly interested in her work.
She referred TO the condition OF the children
Of the Home, and manifested measure of
Interes st in their welfare that is certainly very
cTeoitable to her Tomanly nature aud proves
conclusively that in her the children have q
friend who will guard their interest with
| Jealous care. From generalities shs turned
| TO particular events and related several
| incidents ss illustrative of the treatment
| which the little orphans received. Some of
them are by no means pleasant pictures TO
| look at, but the reporter prevailed upon Mrs.
! PittmaD TO allow him 20 publish, IN her own
| words, one or two incidents which she re-
| lated. After soms hesitation she consented
| 10 be interviewed and the following story IS
| reproduced substantially % given 10 the re-
| porter:
Some two weeks ago Mrs. Pittman went
! over to the Home anu rom that visit she vas
return ing to her home in bloomington when
i TIE reporter met her yesterday. ODe one &C.
cssioD during her visit che went into the
| room where the children were taking shelr
supper, being directed there by one OF the
employees who told her that she "Tonld fad
| in the room something that she ought 10
see" When she entered the room there
were foriy-six little children ranged
kin on its lap. When Mrs. Pitt
msn entered she noticed that the lady
in charge appeared confused, and, as the 81
quel shows, there was Just cause for CON
fusion. Presently servant entered hearing
dishpan that looted as il il might hays
been one of the pair preserved in the ark,
and from this shs took slices oil bread and
placed enc upon the lap OF each child.
After the children had eaten the bread toe
lady said: Now. let those who want any
l more hold up their hands" Several little
hands went up in half hesitstiBg kind of
way, and the servant in charge OF the dish.
ran counted the hands and brought tho
owner each another piece OF bread. Don't
pot any butter or my bread ssid one little
innocent IS the servant passed out. This re-.
quest attracted Mrs. PIttman's attention,
| and she made an examination of the butter
and found il unfit for use. This was the
Chi dTen's supper on that Saturday night
and it may be regarded as certain that their
d ge6tive Organs were not overworked before
morning. But how Jared the Superin-
tendent at his table? That night his table
contained the following palaiaple bill of
stewed prunes, maple syrup. peaches and
rich cream, cocosnut cake, and tea and cof-
fee. IL the contrast between these two sup
pers fails TO strike any one as not remsrka-
bic the explanation will doubtless lie in the
fact that he was never & child and never
went to bed hungry.
little scene occurred between Mrs Pitt.
man and superintendent p White on san
day night, which elbows the genuine grit.
of The female member OF the Knights,own
Board. For several dsvs during her visit her
attention was directed TO q little girl called
Josie" who has been sick for some time
and who is evidently rapidly sinking with
consumption, having bad two hemorrhages
recently. On two occasions Mrs. Pittmsn
took the little orphan to the Superiatend-
ent's table, and she says that she
noticed. or thought she noticed,
cordially received. Sunday night she took
little Josie to the table again. and Ia half.
apologetic way said: Josie seems to be
very sick, and / ssked her TO come to supper
with me, thinking she might find something
| that she would relish" DR.. White mada
some remark about tbs child being as we'll
as any of the others. and Mrs White said :
she is not sick, and could have taken sup.
per with the other children. Hereafter she
must take her meals with them" This was
too much for Mrs. Pittman, and, taking oslo
by the hand, she led her out OF the dining
room. After while DR.. White called al her
room and offered her en- apology. Shs de-
claTed that she would not recsive one aud
while he was talking Mrs White and the
Metrop entered. Mrs. Pittman received
them coldly, and In answer TO their COM
bined apologies said: You are mistaken in
the purpoee for which this house is built.
1t is intended az home for the
children, ard We are the servants.
hired to make home, and not
TO make il a baDoReung hsH for the en-.
ployes." If Gabrieps trump had sounded ID
the ears OF the company just at teat line
they could not have appeared more aston.
iShed. The doctrine was entirely nav: they
bad never heard anything like it before.
That night the children had for supper