The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-03-27
TIE RESCUE HOME.
A Visit to an Institution In Which
Erring Girls Are Reclaimed.
The Good Work in Which Christian People
Have Been Engaged Over 100 Un-
fortunates Have Been Saved.

asked Mrs. Florence Percy Matheson. a
well-known writer of this city, Of repre-
sentative Of THE CALL yesterday.
The representative expressed inability to
guess, as there are SO many places to which
one may go. SO the lady added: Well, I've
been out investigating the Pacific Rescue
Home. There were five of us-counting
Ipse, who don't count for much generally.
-Four OF Us knew very little OF the insti-
tuition upon which we were about to de-
scend ''like a wolf"-or. rather, like five
wolves-"on the fold" except it was on the
plan of c. n. Crittenton's Florence Mis-
sion" of New York. and that it ought. to be
doing good work. Whether it was or not
was what we intended, if possible. to find
out.
The ride out to Twenty-fourth street was
long one, and Ipse began to look little
tired and dubious before we reached the
end of our journey. Il almost wish that /
hadn't comet" she said to her next neigh
Dor. Il suppose it's horrid. stuffy place.
and besides. may be they wont like to have
us come. We didn't send them any word,
you know"
'People are not supposed to send word
when they are going TO investigate things"
with a sudden relenting. 81 believe they
have been known to do so. "We, however
are not on a whitewasbing trip-Quite the
contary; and-but here we are" And the
car came TO stop and deposited the five of
US by the wayside.
Half a block down the street our leader
who had been there before, turned into a
neat front yard, then opened side gate
and we found ourselves In a carefully kept
garden surrounded by high solid board
fence, while before us was home.ike look
ing house at the door OF which our leader
ringing a m I'M ai
A pleaSant-faced, nnOtherly appearing
woman opened the door and smiled-act
ually smiled Ia cordial welcome when our
errand was made known TO her. Ipse
heayed sigh Of relief.
IN THE HOME.
'lf there was anything horrid inside she
couldn't smile like that she whispered, in
tone OF conviction, to the self-pOssessed
young woman beside her, and then we went
into the trim little parlor and waited
moment TO regain our several breathS, after
our windy walk down the street. before fol-
lowing the matron into the next room.
where half dozen girls with downcast
faces sat sewing or engaged In other light
employment and pale little baby lay In a
cradle near cheerful open fire. The way In
which the matrOn put her hand on that
baby as she passed by it was convincing
proof of her fitness for the position which
she occupied, aud the pale young mother
sitting near looked up with wan smile
into her face smile that said more in her
faver than any words could have done.
Hes feeling a good deal better to-day.
Jennie, said tue kind woman cheerfuily,
and then We passed on to the dormitory, a
long room as neat and clean as hands could
make 1t, where there were three or four
other 2trls-one with thin, patient face ly-
ing in bed reading Bible aud never rails
ing her heavy lids as we passed by
Out into the dining-room then we went.
and through that to the kitchen, and then
upstairs TO look through the bedrooms. No
where did we find dirt, disorder OF "stuffi-
ness. but everywhere -almost-did we ind
babies.
From the maternity ward at the top OF
the house, where trim aud smiling trained
nurse proudly introduced US TO d tiny pur-
pie specimen of humanity whose age was
reckOued by hours, to the nursery where in
fants OF the advanced age of thee months
and even more lay on their backs and
kicked aud ''gOo-ed" and "gaa. ed" as
happily as though their little lives had not
begun under a cloud which would shadow
them all through the world. babies were
everywhere. And such jolly babies as most
OF them were. too. Even lpse-who effects
utter indifference in regard to nfantjle
charms as a general thing-yielded TO the
destinations Of ore particularly bright and
sociable youngster, ana, being missed by
her companions, was discovered 'cuddling'
the small enslaver in real mother fashion,
and using language TO him which would
have earned Tor her the open contempt
of grabbed DR.. Johnson, but which the de-
lighted baby seemed to understand and
enjoy thoroughly.
EXPLORING EVERY hole AND CORNER.
All over that hOuse-0r, rather, those two
no uses, since the home is two houses
connected-we went, exploring every hole
and corner, petting babies aud questioning
the inmates, and when we came back to the
parlor again we compared notes. and discov-
cred that we were ali well satisfied with the
result OF our amateur "investigation" We
had found the hume sweet and clean and
airy from bottom to top, the babies thor
oughly well cared for aud the inmates or
derby, tidy. quiet. and showing by word and
deed the effects of the Christian influence
which surrounds them from the time of
their hrst entrance.
Not one face among the % Unfortunate
now sheltered there wore hard or brazen
expression. There were sad faces there.
many OF them, but not one bold or wicked
one, aud we could not but feel with tina
matIon that II is blessed work In which
She Is engaged
Just think of III Fer the past year there
have been sheltered in this Rescue Home
nearly hundred erring girls and of these
nearly all have been either restored to home
ana friends, or had employment found for
them among respectable people. How many
OF these, had 1t not been for a helping hand
ard Elnd Christian counsel 10 time Of need
When al the world seemed against them
and they. deserted and disgraced, stood ON
the brink Of that horrible pit which eugrIfs
so many OF our girls, would have gone back
out OF the shadow of death" and tried to
wln BACK. as far as may be, place among
respectable people?
How many souls which, In their agony of
despair might have been blackenad with
the crime If infanticide, have been led by
the wise and gentle teachings in this shell
ering home to take up the burden of life