St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-10-05
THAT OLD REFRAIN,
"Over the Hills to the Poor
house," as Sung by the
Board Of Control.
A Select Party Visits That
Impressive, if Not His
toric Spot.
everything in Apple-Pie Or
DER Around This Ward
House Of the City.
Some.of the Queer Characters
Found About the Insti-
tuition.

yesterday was great day at the city
and county almShouSe. 1t was the an
nual inspection of the board of control,
county commissioners and the great
mayor and common council of st. Paul.
Tor very great these people were in the
imaglnati0ns OF the inmates. The dis
tlhgulshed party left at D. m. on Wis
c0nSln Central train and devoted the
afternoon to looking about the place.
The board of control takes great pride
In It's management of the charitable in
stltutlonS under its charge. During the
past year some important improve
mentS nave been made at the aims
house. A new electric light plant, laun-
dry,neW engines and a lot of new plumb
ing nave been put in, the total expense
being S4.700. The house is now re-
garded as model of convenience. COM
tort and economy, and it certainly very
neat in appearance. Mayor Wright had
never visited the place, aid expressed
MS surprise and admiration in terms
which made the hearts of the board of
control jump into their Threats. Aid.
Hickman had seen the amshouse which
stood where the state fair grounds are
now, but he had not seen the new one.
lie was also surprised and delighted.
Many other members of the common
council and other visitors gave express
slons OF commentator. Every
thing was in ship shape, thanks to
the superintendent, j. l.. Hendry.
and why should not the visitors
be surprised and delighted? was the
question which President Kerwin, of
the board Of control, seemed to ask
himself every little while. The aims
house stands off OH the prairie like a
mansion, and can be seen for miles
away. 1t will also bear
A Closer Inspection.
and looks so inviting outside. and in
that one almost wonders if the inmates
don't thank their stars that they are
pauperS. 1t is three-story brick, $50
by 100 feet, ground dimensions. 1t was
built in 1885, the year the old farm and
house were abandoned, at a cost of
$4,000. The cost of the new farm was
$50 per acre. The house has capacity
to accommodate comfortably 125 in
mates, and has now 81 occupants.
But, grand and inviting as is this
mansion which is dedicated to the pau
pers. and much as the visitors admired
1T, it was not whit more interesting to
all than were the occupants. There was
the unpleasant, the sad and the humor-
Gus side to the subjects who stood about
in neat ginghamS and blue drillings,
looking at the distinguished guests
with mouths open. WHO are these, and
how did they come to be here?" was the
question every guest was asking to him
self.
Granny, how long have you been
here?' asked one of the visitors of a
very aged woman who was squirting
and blinking in her efforts to see them,
and munching with her toothleSS Jaws
at something. The old woman was
ed in loud tone. Il dunno,' Srid She
Il ben year so long l forgit wen l
wusn't here"
This was Mrs. Nixon, well known to
all the early-day settlers in this region.
She was placed in the almShOuSe in
1870, and has been there continuously
since then. She is ninety-twO years old,
and the mother of wealthy sons, who
are aLundantly able to support her; at
least that is what the members of the
board say. She was a victim of drink,
and her children tried very hard to III
duce her to reform, but reform she
would not, and at last they abandoned
her to become public charge.
In another room, upon the floor, was
the prettieSt little girl of two years
playing with snow white kitten. The
scene was touching, and one of the Wis
ltors took the child and kitten up into
his arms. The little one could Just tell
her name and say few cute things. 1t
was the child Of Katie Coleman, who
created a sensation in st. Paul three
years ago by attempting to jump from
the Carpenter lookout, with intent to
end her existence and conceal her dis
grace.
Queer Inmates.
There were Aunt Betsy and Uncle
Pete, a fuSSy old couple of vagabonds,
who seemed to be so much more fussy
than usual when liz each others pres
enee that one might suspect they were
in love.
There were Aunt Nancy andsUncIe
when in each others presence. They
looked too old to entertain thought of
love, but when does mankind become
too old to entertain cupid?
There was Aunt Betsy, who seemed
to be without a lover. She was con-
tinually flurrying around, as though the
care Of the whole household was resting
upon her; and she really seems to think
that she is the mainstay ip the manage
ment of the affairs. She is numored in
her delusiOn, even though most of time |
she is in the way. She is so industrious
in tendency that Que cannot resist the |
desire to inquire how she became an in !
mate. In her case it was a drunken |
husband.
Nine-tenths of the inmates owe their |
fate directly or indirectly to drunken |
ness.
10 support these paupers it costs So a |
head per week. The farm is not yet |
'elf-supporting, but the board hopes the |
lay is not far distant when it will be. |
The male paupels do about all the work |
Oh the farm; but in the house the female |
paupers are of little use, and most of |
the work is done with hired help.
In former times trampS were accepted |