Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-01-24
CHICAGO MISSION WORKERS,
sbri.,mss mud New Yenr's Doing@---
Opening Of VIZ. Moody'- Bible ius''.
tnte---Visits Among the LowlJ aud
Forsakcn.


ForsRken.
From our stan Correspondent
CmcAGo. Jan. Il, 1890.
La grippe having slackencd his hold up
on me. hosten 10 announce the fact and
also to congratulate The Phunix on its APP
parent exemption from this wide spread
epidemic Judging from the promptness
with which the paper makes its appearance
and the amount and quality Of its contents,
conclude its working force has not yet
felt the prostrating effects Of the grip.
The same sort Of a smile is apt 10 accompa-
ny the question, "Ilave you had the gripf
that is used in referring 10 seasickuess, but
am able to say from sad experience that
it is mo laughing natter. Fully half the
students in both departments have been dis
abled during the past two weeks, and our
lecturer, Prof Weidner, did not escape,
though by prompt and liberal use Of qui-
nine he managed TO give his lectures every
day. We now have considerable writing
to do in connection wiz the lectures, so
you may not hear from me again very
soon.
Christmas passed much like other Christ
]
the weather was very mild and spring like.
The Clybourn avenue mission, by the kind
ness Of friends was enabled ~ send out
over 80 baskets 10 families whose needs
| had previously been investigated by compe-
tent persons. Each basket contained tur-
key varying in weight from six TO %
pounds, according to the size Of family,
p pounds Of flour, potatoes, apples onions,
coffee, tea. sugar, a pound Of candy and
some ei ceferaS One basket went to fam.
lily consisting Of father mother and five
children. The man had been out Of work
for some weeks. and the home, though
very neat was almost bare Of furniture.
just the basket arrived, the mother came
in from making her purchase for the Christ
mas dinner it consisted of-two loaves Of
bread She was overcome when she saw
basket could not speak a word, but burst
into flood Of tears In another place a
woman Of - was found, whose only means
Of support was the work of her feeble old
hands. The ueighbors said she had been
| living q for some time on about slice of
bread a day. At sight of her basket she
exclaimed "Why, there's enough TO keep
me for weeks dad girr some 10 my neigh
| bprs ' An elderly couple were also among
the favored 80. the man almost helplessly
crippled and the woman IA confirmed inva-
] llli ucpthhtut upon lne SlenueT earnings Oh
a middle aged daughter for their shelter,
| food aud clothing Perhaps you can imag.
inc the welcome the basket received here
! wish | could tell you about the Christmas
entertainment of our mission Sunday school,
with its magic lantern pictures. Santa
| Claus aud Christmas trees but Webster's
unabridged would hardly furnish detectives
enough 10 describe the enthusiasm and an
tics Of the children
On New Years eve most If us attended
watch meeting at the Chicago avenue
church. The audience numbered about
JOO. and the meeting lasted from . until II.
At precisely the stroke Of -, there arose
such din outside that | was rather startled
at first, being ignorant Of Chicag, customs
in this respect Church bells rang, steam
whistle, shrieked, and the streets we're full
Of men aud boys with tin horns. DEVILS it'd.
dies and cannon tire crackers It was like |
a Brattleburo Fourth of July morning. only |
more 500 lineage being a somewhat
larger town The noise lasted for lust one
hour; then all was as quiet As usual
The great event Of this week in the re
ligiuus and social circles Of the city was the /
formal opening Of the mems department Of 4
the Bible institute. which occurred yester.
day. say in social" circles. because the /
board Of trustees and the board Of lady /
managers # the institute include such |
prominent people as the McCornicks Ar /
mours Farwells, Blatrhfords etc. and the /
3un invitations sent out necessarily in 1
cluded the Ht' Of Chicago society. As well |
as the clergy and people Of note in relg- |
lous and educational circles. Reception .
and tea were the order between the hours .
- 4 and p. NJ. and from : Ccock until /
9:3O there was music and addresses Mr.
Moody spoke upon The Chicago Evangel
iIation society: it, aims and methods
The Bible as a textbook - was the topic
treated 10y Prof H NJ Scott: The need of
trained Bible workers as pastors assistants
in large cities, by Rev. J ;. Mcpherson.
and Prof. Weidner told something of the
present condition Of the institute as he had
seen II during tho past month Dr. Bar
rows. DR.. Lawrence and Rev Robt McIn
tyre had prepared addresses, but la grippe
vetoed their delivery OF course not near
ly all OF the 1000 invitations we're accepted
but at least half Of them must have been
as the caterer said that the tea tables were
patronized by 700 persons. aud not nearly
all who we're present took tea The new
building Is very handsome and substantial
IN appearance, aud convenient in arrange
ment The main hall. reception room, mu-
sic room aud offices are finished in oak
beautifully polished. aud contain open fire
places. in which fires were lighted for yes
teriay's festivities
In closing must give one or two Incl
dents showing the practical side of our
work. In one home two Of the young
women found woman very ILL., with no
one 10 do anything for her but girl of
seven. She had high fever and evident
ly serious lung disease. She was made
As comfortable a. possible aud nurse Sc
cured Tor her In another place woman
was found lying on the bed in a stupid con
ditlon from drink, while her children
twins, aged three-were without food or ]
ure. Inc young women at once proceeded /
To battle the little ones. tidy up the room
aud get something to eat. Not finding any
thing edible in the house. one Of them in.
CURED OF a neighbor where the woman got
her beer and on being informed. called
upon the saloon keeper, told him what she
thought about him and his business and
SAID she thought under the circumstances
ne ought TO furnish that family with some
tood Her arguments appear to have been
convincing. he handed out material for
good supper, which she carried back and
cooked Tor the mother and children |
doht Know what was said to the woman
When she was in a condition to listen. but
40 know that when the Young women
called there few days later, they found
her clothed and in her right mind " look
ing after her children and her house The
neighbors said that her husband had been a
right nice man, temperate and indus
trlous' hut after his death, a few months
since, she had become disheartened and hal
taken 10 drink TO drown her troubles. Now
mat she has found friends who will look
AFTER her and encourage her. it is very prob
able that she will he willing to let liouor
alone. i1''
We find many families where child is
ia charge, the mother being dead or dis
aoled' and the father too poor to hire any
one 70 look after his children In one fam
lly Of four, boy of - does all the work
the mother being bedridden in another
FAMILY consisting Of father, grandfather
anu three children, a girl of seven does all
the work that is done. looking after the
younger children aud waiting on grand.
pa. who is feeble. Probably tbey Inv
most of their food ready cooked tell
you 1t makes us wish we mad the purse of
tortunatus when we visit some of these
families; but kindly interest seems to he
appreciated if We have nothing else In
give.
ADVERTISED LETTERS.
Following Is the list of letters remainine,
IN the post office Jan p: