The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-06
THE CITY ORPHAN ASYLUM.
Annual Report of the President and
Board of Managers for the Year.
A Charity that Strongly Appeals to the Ben
evolent-Work Done, and Some
Incidents of Results.


We have not deemed it advisable to hold a
public anniversary this year. but we cordially
invite ali friends and we'll wshers to visit US on
the afternoon and evening of June u, at the
Asylum which will be open for your inspection
The lady managers will be present to welcome
you.
Number OF children provided for since May
1881 ............-...-.2 55
Number placed in homes taken by parents
Number sent to Reformatory for Girls
Number ran away. L
Number of deaths all infants from to seven -
months old ~
Number left in the Asylum, May /, 1850 100
No charity can make stronger or more i'm
pressive appeal 20 the heart than helpless
orphans or abandoned children. ORPHANS come
from hunger, from cold, from nakedness, from
abuse and neglect, for which they must not be
held responsible; and thankful are we to have
been enabled, through Providence, to care for
and provide for these, Gods poor. Our Savior
has said, "Inasmuch as We have done 1t unto one
of the least of these, We have done it unto me-"
AS we look back upon the past year the work
has been growing and prosperous. Our custom
has been not only to give attention to those al
ready in the asylum, but to those placed IN
homes, This we can do by letters, postals, or
inquiries of those living in the vicinity Of these
homes. Sometimes we think it best to
make changes, and in some cases have
had the children returned to the asylum. The
selections of homes is, in our judgment. the most
are made for children, references are required as
to their character and fitness in caring for or
phans. We ask the names of three good and re-
sponsible citizens as recommendations. Ihese
are often signed by persons that we do not know,
or what to us is inexcusable, are signed without
giving one thought to the orphan-done, per-
haps through personal friendship, or were
clients, customers or patients whom they could
not offend. This has been the cause OF much
trouble, as we frequently have had to undo work
that had been done which little care would
have prevented Our duty is to visit the homes,
If possible, be governed by. surroundings,
best We have received some pleas
ant letters from the children; also from
ladies and gentlemen into whose families these
children have been placed. One gentleman
writes: II often wonder how such child as our
little Maude ever drifted into an orphan asylum.
She is certainly above the average very bright
for ore of only five years of age she helps set
the table, begs to assist in washing the dishes,
and is exceeding neat and cleanly In her habits;
indeed afraid that she is little vain OF her
new clothing While en- route to town the other
day she remarked that the horses looked so nice
with their bangs We love Maudie and shall
more than fill our contract with the indianapolis
Orphans Asylum. She shall take the place Of
my own daughter whc died a short time ago.
just before leaving the asylum, Maude ran to
her little playmate (who was crying bitterly
at the separation). threw her arms around her
neck and said "Good- by, Katie, maybe / won't
see you any more until we get to heaven" Our
ambition is to get homes in Christian families,
where the children will have religious as well as
moral training; also be taught to work, so that
they may become useful men and women. Our
door is open to destitute children. and welcome
is extended to all who enter. The children who
come to us are generally from the lower strata
There are but few of these, however, that we
cannot recommend for some good traits. and
when they are placed under the elevating infiu-
ences of Christianity and education. they learn
Slowly perhaps), but gratefully to appreciate
their higher privileges 4S oov WE thank
tenSed tx Sv M jones'
superintendent of the public schools. A
teacher has been furnished, and the most of our
children are taught in the asylum; few of them
60 to the public school, and we are Informed that
fhey stand side by side with children of their
own age who have been blessed with far greater
advantages Mr.. George T. Sullivan, who has
had charge of the Sabbath school for the past
eighteen months, says it is remarkable the avid
ity with which they grasp the Scriptural lessons.
In the past year they have committed to mem
DRY and can recite over three hundred verses.
Mr.. Sullivan also conducts a Wednesday even
ing prayer-meeting at the asylum from which
we have seen excellent results. We are thank
full to him for his kindly interest in the work
We cannot speak too highly of our noble and
worthy matron, Mrs Lucinda Wishard. She
has been most faithful in season and out bring
ing smiles and sunshine to the hearts of the
homesick boy or girl, sympathizing with those
i'll with bodily ailments, and when the babies are
very SICK taking them into her own room at
night, the more carefully to watch and attend
them When death claims them, she. in the
most loving and tender manner, prepares their
bodies for the grave. Mrs. Wishard's response
bilities are great, but she is always cheerful her
duties are never neglected. The reserve force
must be large that enables her to meet every case
with such promptness.
Miss Thomas, ou- assistant matron, is very
efficient. She has supervision over the forty
little ones, from two to six years of age, who are
too young to be in school, but must be amused.
Our infant department is one about which we
are most solicitous. Mrs. left, an excellent
nurse has been in charge fer two years, giving
her undivided attention, following the doctors
instructions to the letter. But many of these
waits, before they are brought to u.s. have been
exposed to the cold and are badly frozen, or
have been drugged, or perhaps inherit most
loathsome diseases under such conditions the
united efforts of nurse and doctors cannot save
them.
We are very anxious for the completion of the
workhouse One of the commissioners assures
US that the class of women whose infants we get
will be compelled to 90 there with them, for one
year at least With this to encourage US, we
will continue this branch of our work until the
opening of the work house. These children are
brought to us at all hours of the day or night
Last October we were aroused at l o'clock at
night by violent knocking and ringing of the
bell. When asked what was wanted were told
by the colored driver that a gentleman
and lady wished to see the president of the Or
phan Asylum. AS soon as it was possible
we opened the door, and were confronted
in her arms She said that she had brought
friend to our asylum. The friend was one day
and a few hours old. They came from the east
ern part of the State; its mother had died the
day before She had made will leaving her
boy to the Indianapolis Orphan Asylum, because
she knew how well our children were cared for
We declined tie gift, our asylum being county
institution; the child was nonresident. One
bitter night last winter, at 11:30 o'clock, the
snow was falling fast and furious. sleigh
stopped at the door woman came in with the
inevitable bundle in her arms, and wanted
permit to place the little girl baby in the asylum;
the mother had abandoned her. One poor
of age was brought in in such an intox-
icatcd condition that al! he could or
would say for three days, was beer, beer. We