The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-09-25
A WORTHY CHARITY.
Reception at the Little Sisters
Infant Shelter.
Origin of the Home-Irs Aims and Purposes
and Lady Managers-Neatness and Com
fort of the Children.

IoIL Oh Tue NulQreus
The Lady Directors Of the Little Sisters
Infant Shelter gave a reception yesterday
in their asylum, 512 Minna street, for the
purpose of drawing the attention OF the
charitably inclined to their work, From 2
to o'clock in the afternoon the interesting
event acted as a magnet in drawing the
fashionable world out of its customary pre-
cincts.
Around the entrance to the shelter during
the greater Part Of the reception hour all
was buste with the coming of fresh visitors
and the parting of earlier arrivals. Within
doors the officers of the institution, from
President down, extended cordial well
come to all, and with small parties of guests
led the way through every portion of the
building, answering, as they went. the thou
sand and one questions put by inquiring Wis
itOrs.
Every one, of course. was anxious to see
the wards of the society. and accordingly
the babies play-room was first pointed out
with lis score of pink checked infants, play
ing. sleeping or toddliDg around the light
ard airy room in spotless white dresses,
under the watchful eyes of two attentive
nurses. These are the youngest charges of
the shelter. whose ages are counted only by
months.
PLAY-EooM AND KINDERGARTEN
The play-room is simply furnished, but
every thing in il bet0kens tie strlcteSt atten-
ton 10 cleanliness. just beyond ale the TWO
dormtorieS filed with Tiny cots, in which
the most complete provision is made Tor the
little ones in the way of soft and yielding
mattresses and an abundance OF comfortable
bed clothing.
On tile floor above q kindergarten is es-
tablShed, at which there is a daily attend
ance Of from forty 20 fifty children. Here
are to be found tots of 21a 10 years of age,
bright as new dollars aud proud of the ac-
quirements which their teacher, Miss Fan
ME Temple, has ms lied into their little
minds. All of the Kindergarten work was
exempified by them yesterday, and quite an
interesting exhibition was made Of doll
baskets, chairs, bOOkmaEkS, etc, manufac-
tured by tiny fingers out OF colored slips OF
paper. Part of the instruction consists OF
games and songs, aud tue curriculum also
includes reading, writing, spelling and
counting, at which many OIL the elder chill
dren are quite proficient.
After making the rounds of the establish
ment yesterdays guests were escorted TO
the parlors on the ground-iioor, where the
good of the shelter was discussed over an
appetizing lunch. OF the 80 visitors who
thrOnged the doors many for the first time
learned the scope OF the organization, and
these, alter satisfying themselves OF the
worthiuesS of the cause, became willing re-
cruits to the ranks of contributors, whose
monthly donations help to sustain the laud-
able undertaking. The receipts from the
charity-box amounted to about $50 during
the afternoon and this fact, coupled with
the additions to the list of contributors,
made the lady managers feel last evening
that their reception HAD accomplished splen-
did results.
ORIGIN OF THE SHELTER.
The Little Sisters Infant Shelter of to-day
is the outgrowih of a childish notion in the
mind OF little Daisy Spear close upon twenty
years ago The child about that time
learned a fact which had just shocked the
entire communicative burning OF two babies
at their home While their mother was at
work, endeavoring to earn money for tn cir
support. The dreadful occurrence made
such an impression on tile little girl that she
appealed to her mother the late Mrs. Joseph
5. Spear Tor permission 10 form s0cle,y OF
her little playmates for the purpose OF taking
care OF the Chi ldren OF the poor.
The good mother at once approved of her
child's idea and was the backbone OF the
society from that moment to the day OF her
demise. Little Daisy, thus encouraged, APP
pealed 10 her young friends. and III little
while twelve apostles Of charity, by dint OF
saving their spending money and selling
their handlw0rk to admlTlng friends, were
enabled to put their ideas into shape and see
them in practical operation. The little band
consisted OF Daisy Spear NOW Mrs. ). Il.
HalD, Fanny Sampson Mrs. L. l.. Sar-
geant), Edith and Ella Buckingham, the
Misses Brown now of Oakland), ALA Tyler
(Mrs. MaStick), Alice Ballard (MrS. McDon-
add, Jennie Mayors (Mrs. Robinson), Natalie
Carnes (Mrs. JORDAN and Hattie Ciapp.
The first shelter taken possession of by
the young folks consisted OF few hired
rooms ON Bush street, near Mason, where
nurse was put in charge, and eight mothers
ntrusted their children 10 her care. Within
few weeks, however, 1t was discovered
that the location was too far from the work.
ing CENTER ana the mothers found 1t imposSl-
bic to bring their children. Accordingly, the
society accommodated Itself to the wants of
those who needed its help, and the institu-
ton was removed to Mission street, between
Fourth and Filth
In the new location the good work was
thoroughly appreciated by the poor, and it
also became Il favorite charity among the
Young friends of The founders In 1874 the
society was inc0rp rated, ami few years
later it removed into its present quarters or
Minna street, purchased from the donations
and subscriptions which had accumulated
during its first five years existence.
WHAT Is DONE FOR THE CHILDREN.
The rules provide for the admission only
of such children as have been vaccinated
and are free from contagious diseases.
Mothers bring their infants between the
hours of and o'clock, and leave them
until the close of working hours. During
this time careful nurses take them In hand,
battle, dress and feed them, and, if ola
enough, give them such instruction as they
are able to receive. To relieve sensitive
mothers from feeling that charity Is being
done them, the moderate charge Is made OF
5 cents per day for each child. Thus, for
merely nominal sum, they are assured of
the safety of their babes and can the better
labor for their support later on.
The oldest of the society's charges is an
eleven year-old boy of whom the lady man
ayers are quite proud. He is half-orphan,
who lost his mother at sea when years old.
For several years his father paid the mod
crate charges asked at the shelter for his
support but Of late he has been lost sight of
and the little fellow is tn all intents and pur-
poses full orphan. What to do with him
is now agitating the minds of the Directors.
They feel their responsibility for his future
and are discussing many plans for his benefit.
One of those, and the one which may pos
siby be carried out, is to give him Thor
ough education. and when old enough place
him in charge of the shelter, which, they
say, will in few years need mans care
in The management, and what is more natu-
raj than that their first male manager shall
be Child of the shelter? The boy is quite
a manly little fellow and thoroughly devoted
to the ladies who have proved such kind
mothers 10 him in his need.
The ladies under whose management the
institution is conducted are: President,
Mrs. j. d. Stetson; Vice-PresiIent, Mrs. }.
NJ. Pierce; Secretary, Mrs. George w. Ty-
Ter; Treasurer Mrs. Z. l.. Sergeant; Direc-
tors-Mrs. G. W. Tyler, Mrs. J. d. Stetson,
Mrs. 4. l.. Sergeant, Mrs. j. Ii. Jennings,
Miss Grace Trevor, Mrs. }. a. Sampson,
Mrs. j. NJ. Pierce, Miss Emma Hale, Mrs.
c. w. Crocker; kindergarten teacher, Miss
Fannie Temple; matron. Mrs. Jane Temple.