The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-05
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
Hamilton County Orphans. Home

nafutttOu COunfy OrpHans' hofnes
To the Editor Of the indianapolis Journal
Having recently visited the above named insh-
tuition, located at Westfeld, Hamilton county,
Indiana, take great pleasure in heartily COM
mend;ng the successful management OF the
same The home is under the direction Of Mrs.
E. E. Ellis, lady formerly employed at the
Soldiers Orphans Home at Knightstown, Ind
Westfeld is pleasant village situated in fine
agricultural region, and has every indication of
being beautiful location, with population of
enterprising and intelligent citizens. The home
has beautiful location, with nice sloping lawn
surrounding it The buildings. while not the
most convenient in arrangement, are quite COM
Portable, and. with SOM needed addition will
make desirable home for the children who are
to be cared for by the wise provision of the law
establishing county homes. If the citizens Of
the various counties in Indiana will only look
into this matter and observe the working of such
homes as those of Hamilton, Henry, Rush and
Decatur counties we venture the prediction that
it will not be long until there will be such an in
stitution in every county in the the State. Mrs.
Ellis, the efficient matron of the home at West
field, is succeeding admirably in the manage
ment of the institution. In addition to superior
natural qualification for the work assigned her,
she has had much experience in managing chill
dren. She was for considerable length of
time employed at the Soldiers Orphans Home
at KniEhtstown, where her services were highly
appreciated and were very satisfactory to the
board of trustees and the superintendent.
The children are kept in excellent condition,
and seemed to be healthy, cheerful and really
happy They receive instruction in the home IN
both useful and ornamental branches. and on
the Sabbath they attend the services of church
and Sabbath-school. The number cared for by
Mrs. Ellis is about forty.
Some complaint has been made in regard to
the expense of caring for these children, and we
understand that the Noblesville Republican
Ledger and some other papers in other counties
have denounced the management of these homes
as extravaganza Mrs Ellis receives 80 cents
per day from the Commissioners, and with this
she provides food and clothing, pays salaries of
help required in the work and furnishes all
school books and SUPPLIES. She also, according
to the report of the visiting committee, furnishes
the entire house, with the exception of three
stoves, and all incidental expenses and repairs
Surely to do this we'll at a cost of 30 cents per
day, or So. 10 Der week, is not extravagant man
agement.
Comparisons have been instituted between
this home and the Soldiers Orphans Home,
and 1t has been asserted that the home at West
field is the more expensive But by consulting
the last report of the Knightstown institution
it will be seen that the appropriation averages
considerably more for each inmate there than at
Westfeld In view of the Importance of this
work the Commissioners of Hamilton county
viii certainly be sustained by her citizens in
continuing the present allowance for maintain
ing it. And it is certainly to be hoped that no
change will be made in the management of the
home. VISITOR
KNIGHTSTOWN Ind Aug 3.