Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-12-20

For Aid For the Home For Aged and
F.rIsndIess Women.

FrfsndIess Women.
s'Ii we only had somewhere to send
these girls to take them of the streets?
What are we to do with this woman and
her children?" with all our charities,
not one meets these cases." 1--WE ought
70 have a Home for Ffiendless Women.
These were remarks made by some
good women in Wheeling during mauJ
years previous to 1888. II is no easy
task to organize new benevolence In
any city, when we know il means
hard work, and the continual giving OF
money 30 sustain the enterprise. But
being spnrred by anxiety over the dan
ger and need Of some special cases, one
or two earnest women, who believed the
right time had come, Ventnred to maze
beginning with but twenty cents In
the treasury and a large measure OF
faith in the ultimate success OF home
for friendless women and girls.
house with six rooms was opened In
1883. and from the first day till now
the applications for admission prove It
was a most necessary link In the benev-
oence of our city. But It's work Is SO
Quiet and unobtrusively conducted that
some of our own intelligent citizens are
not aware OF It's existence.
For two years after it was opened, no
provision was made for permanent or
aged inmates So general was the de-
mand for this feature that the charter
was changed, and there are now num-
Der in the Home whose busy day or life
is over. The Sivered hair and the Zee
bic step indicate that the special and
tender help needed by old age should be
supplied. None can become permanent
inmates unless they have been residents
of West Virginia for three years proceed
ing their application and except In
cases OF special necessity, have reached
the age OF sixty-fvs years.
The admission fee is regulated by the
age of the applicant, and the minimum
is $4,000.
The transient inmates come from
many parts OF the country, and they are
generally the inexperienced, friendless
and penuiless ones who come to get en-
ployment, shelter, aid and protection.
and are ignorant Of the temptations,
dangers and sins of city life.
While the majority come to better
their condition, there are some who
never do we'll and give much trouble,
but the greater number are brave girls
and women who shrink from accepting
charity and are anxious for self-sup-
port, The old and the young come with
the same story: "0ut Of work, with
but little money, and OF necessity
must make that little go as far as
possible. Pathetic cases come under
the notice Of the managers, the details
of which they cannot make public
The life story Of those admitted is proof
that almost every one Of them has
struggled hard to make an honest liveli-
hood.
One or two cases may serve to illus
trate this fact. Miss Blank came TO
Wheeling to get work; she walked the
streets one entire day. Night came on
to find her weary, hungry and penniless.
She knew not where to spend the night,
but as she passed by the Catholic
convent, she knocked at the gate
with some hesitancy, as she
is a Protestant. She was kindly re-
ceved and in the morning the Sisters
directed her to the Home, where she
remained till a home and work were
secured.
Miss - canvassed the city for
work, going without food for several
days, till weak and tired of ringing door
bells, she was told by kind lady of the
home on Thirteenth street. Her moral
character was firm, or she would have
been led into such snares as would ruin
her for time and for eternity.
Miss Blank, an attractive girl, yet
Pin her early teens, q reader OF fashY
! literature, who listened 10 her enthusi-
astic companions eulogize the stage and
its actresses, ran away from home to
join a travelling troupe, which
played Ia the small town
in which she lived. A few
weeks only were needed to open her
eyes to the morals of her new asso-
ciates. Heartsick, bomeslck, without
| friends or money, she reported herself
at police headquarters, and the officers
| brought her TO friend Of the Home,
! who secured her admission. The tour
| lists are not all young girls. Many are
deserted and ill-used wives, some are
widows, on whom depends the support
| of young and helpless children. A few
weeks ago the wife and children OF a
most unnatural man applied for admis-
sion. They we're poorly clad, the
mother shoeless, their tears and sobs
would touch even hard heart. He had
turned them out in the storm and for
babe anyone to shelter them. He
himself will lounge around all day,
and In the evening will black mis-
shoes aud moustache, dress himself
with care, quit his home-not to return
before or 3 O'clock next morningl
This is the work for which the Home
exists. Forty-nine inmates were re-
ceiVed since January, 1898. Forty
eight were transientS; and the family
now is IA. The stringency in the
money market has reached Us, and it Is
a question to know the best course TO
pursue and the wIsest way OF replenisb-
Ing our treasury. We do not come
often before the puolic, but as Christ
mas is near, we make an earnest appeal
to be remembered at this season, for
we are in need of means to keep up the
| good work.
Buy Gold Spectacles for Christmas
gifts from Prof. Shelf, the only scien-
tiic Optician in the city, ITO Main
Street. See advertisement on 5th
] mage