Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-10

the editor elected by the board. The Open
Windeu is furnished to invalids at 80 cents
| and to associate members at 81 year.
Although the members assert emphatically
that the society is not charitable organiza-
tion, aud they are not allowed to ask
pecuniary aid from one another or from
associates, the Oosn Windo,c is sent free to
any members who are unable to pay even
80 cents q year. The title page of the little
magazine illustrates its name and object by
. picture Of q window opened to the sun
and revealing bit of pretty landscape.
Underneath are flowers and the legend,
''The windows of my soul I throw wide
open to the SUM-" Over the window is the
text: ''There shall be nomore pain"
II would hardly be expected that, among
class of people needing so much to make
their own lives endurable, q missionary
spirit would be largely developed. It may
be, however, that on account of their ap-
probation Of sympathy tie woes of others
appeal to them the more strongly. Be that
as it may, certain it is that the desire to
help others, which manifests itself so
plainly in all the work of the Shut-in Soci-
ETY., is not limited bv territorial lines. Con-
neeted with the society is the 'Tnvalids'
Auxiliary" which is supporting native
nurse in the Margaret Williamson Hospital
at Shanghai, China, and is also raising
fund to endow bed in the same hospital,
to be known as the .'Shut-in Society's bed"
Anonymous Letters to Prisoners.
Another sort of missionary work under
taken by the society is the writing of let
ters to prisoners. About ], 700 letters have
been sent BY members to convicts in Sing
Sing prison. These letters are sent to the
chaplain without superscription and by
o1d To fha nj
The writer's name and place of residence
are not allowed to come to the knowledge
of the recipient. The chaplain at Sing
Sing testi6es that the letters have been of
great benefit to the prisoners.
BY means of interchange of letters be-
tween members of the Shut-in Society many
invalids who have never seen each others
faces have become not only intimate ac-
quaintances but warm personal friends, and
the term "letter friend" has become part
Of the vernacular of the society. A signal
proof OF the interest taken in this corre-
spondence is found in the fact that many of
the letters ara written by persons who are
unable to assume q sitting position, but
write while lying upon their backs. Through
these letters has been developed the fact of
the existence of surprising number OF in
valids who have been confined to their
rooms for long term of years. It is not
very unusual to learn of those who have
been thus ''shut in" for % or 80 years
Cases of Patient Suffering.
Miss Elizabeth Parker, of Manlius, N Y,
has lived for 60 years without being able to
walk. This fearful afflictlon is the result of
her having been given too much calomel
while ill with scarlet fever when six years
old. Mrs. Phoebe Youngs, of Fayette, N.
Y, who died few months ago, had been an
invalid of continuous suffering for 40 years.
She was member of the Midnight Prayer
Circle" band formed among those who
are unable to sleep at night to pray for one
another, and for the suffering generally, at
The midnight hour. Mrs. NJ. A. Metcalf, of
oberlin, O., who died in February last, had
been q cripple, suffering from inaamma-
,ory rheumatism, for over 80 years, much
IF tho time entirely helpless Jacob
Runyon, of Unionville, N. j., died last
January. He fell from hay NOW 26 years
sgo, was paralyzed from his breast down and
never walked afterward. He, like many
others, had but limited education when
irst confined to his bed, but was great |
.eader and became well educated before he
lied. He learned to do sewing and to make
paper flowers while lying in his bed, and |
rom the sale of his work derived a small |
ncome Miss Sarah P. Havens, of Shelter |
Island, Suffolk county, N. Y, who is now
p years of age, was SO severely injured by |
IN accident A years ago that she has never |
,een able to walk since, and for 33 years |
past she has sat in reclining chair day and |
right. One member of the society who died |
'arly in 1891 had been confined to her Led |
or 60 yeara
Bright Letters From Oar kened Souls
The letters of the shut-in members are so
r,I hv;1 nd fa ho
eally pathetic when one thinks of the cir
umstances under which many of them are
rritten. The following letter from an in
aid living at Canton, Ill, is certainly cal
ulated to quiet the complaints of the ordi-
ary mortal:
Six years ago my jaws became locked and
ave never unlocked. 1 have not taken u
tep, stood alone. or sat up since that time.
alking by writing. 1 suffer much all the
line, still have much to be thankful for.
low much worse is the condition of many
thers!
One of the most prominent members of
be Shnt-in Society is Miss Jennie Casseday,
Louisville, KY. Although she has been
onfned to her room for more than 25 years
Iiss Casseday has acquired national repu
,tion through her connection with the
lower Mission of which she is the founder
nd national president. Passionately fond
f flowers herself, she conceived the idea of
ne mission. As the idea took shape Miss
asseday developed rare talent as an Or
anizer, and women went out from her bed
de Systematically distributing flowers in
,e hospitals, jails and sickrooms of Louis
lille. The good work soon spread through
1T Kentucky and then assumed national
roportions with Miss Casseday still at its
.ad. A nurses training school is one of
lis energetic and noble invalid's latest un-
,rtskings, and it as successful as the
hers AILEE MACK.