Los Angeles herald., 1892-10-31
HOMES FOR HOMELESS BOYS,
Annual Report Of the Homes
Recording Secretary.
An Account Of Work Which De.
serves High C0mmendati0n.
A Good Showing Made by Earnest Work
ers for the Past Year-Its Struggles
and Its Steady Growth Into
aPermanent Institution.

The annual report Of Frances E. Ben
nett, recording secretary of the Los An
geles News and Working Boys home,
for the year ending November /, 1892,
lies on our table, and while the docu-
ment is trifle too lengthy for publica-
tion entire, it contains such fund OF
information that the HERALD condenses
1t with some reluctance.
The most important event OF the year,
80 far as this society is concerned, was
the removal of the home from its old
quarters to the larger and more elegant
Ducommun mansion on Ducommun
street, which occurred in June last,
thereby giving the boys much nicer
quarters than they had before, as well
Is more room. The grounds are beauti-
fully laid out, the house large, we'll
lighted and airy, and there is no one
who sees the lads in their new quarters
who will not pronounce it change for
the better. Such a home really should
have permanent endowment, with a
manual training school and such other
accessories as 60 to make up an institu-
tion in which homeless and otherwise
friendless boys can be trained up to a
useful manhood.
Not long since pleasant little episode
occurred at the home. A former inmate,
who had been brought there sick, and
who was long time in obtaining en-
ployment, called at the home one day
and took all the boys out to treat them
to ice cream. Observing, while there,
that one of the rooms needed a new coat
OF mating, he purchased the same from
his own scanty earnings and made it q
present to the home. Who will say this
was not case of "bread cast upon the
waters 2"
The letters received from various
sources from the parents and relatives
of boys that have been redeemed from
lives OF dishonesty and vagrancy by the
good influences of the home, have been
many and close together. Men see only
the deed, and do not consider the cir
cumstances; and hence boys that are
not really bad at heart are too often un-
justly condemned. The letters from
parents Of such boys who have been sub
jected to the ameliorating influences of
the home are greatly encouraging to
those who have given money and labor
to its maintenance. During the past
two years 220 boys have been received
into the home.
Returned to parents, 25; sent to the
reform school, TO-; arrested for leaving
the city after having served their
sentence, IL; expelled as incorrigible, 5;
sent to San Francisco Aid society, 2;
now learning trades, IL; attending the
common schools, IT,; permanent work
obtained for Al. During the year end
ing October l, 1892, the boys paid for
board and lodging at the home the sum
of $508.35; amount received for same
period, 1891, $364.7O; gain for 1892,
$143. 65.
This shows self reliant and manly
spirit among the boys at the home.
Their earnings are scanty, but they have
cheerfully paid the nominal price of 20
cents per day and done 80 oungrudgingly.
The citizens of Los Angeles have
responded generously to the calls for
monetary aid from time to time, and
have manifested an interest in the same
by their attendance at entertainments
given in aid of the home, the proceeds
OF which have reached the sum of
$444 So, which sum has been placed on
deposit, after using portion of it for
fitting up room in the home as a night
school. This school was temporarily
discontinued Ia April, 1892, on account
OF many of the boys having obtained
situations in the country; and such as
remained in the city were in daily at
tendance at public schools.
On the 7th of September last the
resignation of our good and efficient
matron, Mrs. M. @. Hilbish, was re-
ceived and accepted with regret. Into
her new station as matron of the Flor
ence Orittenden Rescue home, she car
ries the good will and respect OF all who
knew her in her former position. Miss
Mary @. Housed has been appointed tc
fill the vacancy, and has 80 far been able
to give thorough satisfaction.
The fact that 80 little sickness has oc-
CURED in the past year is largely due to
the neatness and good order observed by
the housekeeper, Mrs. M. B. Neeley,
whose motto is Cleanliness and whole
come food.'
The increased interest in the home is
shown by the large number of visitors,
$50 having registered for the year. Do.
nations of clothing have come to US from
every direction. The ladies of Los An
geles, as well as of outside towns, have
helped US literally. "A printed report
will soon be issued in which all donors
will be gratefully mentioned, and
kindly continuation Of such favors for
the future Is earnestly solicited.
PROFESSOR TYNDALL.