The morning call., 1893-04-23

the girl running downstairs and telling the
managerslhat she smelt smoke
Mrs. j. G. Clarke. the president Of the
lady board of managers, rushed upstairs
and opened the door and saw that the room
was one mass Of flames
The alarm was given to the men below
and they FASTENED to extinguish the flames
with buckets of water. The flames had lust
reached the lathwork back of the mantel,
and in ten minutes more the fire would have
been beyond control.
AS 1t was, the inmates were terribly ex-
cited and all wanted to see the room alter
ward in order to make certain that the
flames were all out.
Bnt for the GOODNESS of Mrs. Clarke the
building would have been destroyed
The many visitors who were startled in
the manner described were drawn to the
place to attend the ninth annual bazaar
held for the benefit of the aged inmates.
The large parlor was Handsomely deco
rated with all the flowers of the season, and
they were scattered around with all the
prodigaiity Of spring. Roses lent crimson
shade in one place, and further on the white
lilies looked like the Immaculate nun at her
prisons. Golden peoples opened wide their
glittering cups to brighter things around.
Festoons Of evergreen twined around the
whole and fringed the bright colors of the
flowers with veTdant border.
Around the sides of the walls, from which
these decorations were suspended, were
arranged tables. which were covered with
fancy work and bric-a-brac of every de-
seripu0n. Beside the tables stood women
Whose silver hair and fuTrowed features
showed that they had passed the age of tax
ing care of themselves in worldly way
yet they managed to be able to stand beside
those tables with cheerful, happy counte-
nanees. smiling sweetly as only the cid can
smile when every hope is turned to other
things than earth.
They were the inmates OF the home pro-
vided through the philanthropy of James
Lick. Some of them look back many gen.
erations, aud enc was there who came into
the world when the Father of His Country
was laid to rest in 1899.
Yes. they formed fine picture there
among the flowers which bloomed around
to hide the shadows of the grave
They we're there to hold their annual
bazaar. This was the ninth occasion of
such an event, which is one TO which the
members always look forward to with
great expectation. During the year the old
people occupy their time whenever their
spirits incline them in making fancy work
of all kinds. These are sold at the annual
baZaars and the proceeds belong exclusively
to the inmates who sell the articles. The
proceeds become their pin money for the
year.
The amount realized from the admission
tickets is devoted to the purchase of some
thing valuable to the home. Last year the
directors purchased piano for the inmates.
This year II is proposed to buy a fine, COM
Portable carriage for the use of the old
ladies in driving around the grounds which
consist OF twenty-seyen acres. very finely
cultivated and beautifully laid out.
During the progress of the bazar a string
band flung sweet melodies throughout the
halls, and children from the neigh borhood
danced and sang to bring back to the
hearts OF the inmates their own happv
childhood. There appeared to be nothing
of unhappiness TO them in the remein-
brance, though ahead OF them lowered only
the gray sky Of sunset.
Rev. DR.. Case was present. He delivered
a short address and number of hymns
were sung. The interest of the visitors was,
however. centered on the sale of the ar
Iicles. 1t was surprising to see how artfuily
some of the old people negotiated the sale
of their articles, and, when sold, TO witness
their expressions when they saw depart
forever the silent companions of SO many
lonely hours.
The table of Mrs. Sarah Cory was lit
orally covered with knitting. There were
shirts and stockings and bureau sets galore
7 made them "a, all myself" said Mrs Cory
money for them l hate to let them go"
At the table of Mrs. Mary E. Storms was
large collection of beautiful drawing
work for tablecloths and handkerehiefs.
Miss Bessie Allen had some fine crochet
work on her table.
There was one old lady. though, who did
not have any faDeywerk on her table. She
was blind. but still she sold something. Her
name is Mrs. Hannah Brown. One of the
other inmates, seeing that Mrs Brown did
not have anything to sell on account of her
great misfortune. wrote a little poem of
which tile following stan7a is a sample:
The light OF earth is shut from View
The world and all Its pleasures. TOO;
But heaven, with all Its glorious theme
Is in my heart-I am redeemed
Mrs. Brown sat at her table and sold the
poem for five cents copy. realizing quite
little sum. So she was as happy as the rest
Besides the president, Mrs. Clark, Mrs.
Robert McElroy, Mrs. A. II. BIecken field.
treasurer, and Mrs. A. NJ. Mitchell the sec
rotary. contributed toward making the ar
rangements for the bazaar and reception.
The fine decorations were done by Mrs.
Msttis0n, one of The inmates.
On the conclusion of the sale a collation..
with all the delicacies of the season, was
served to the inmates and visitors.
The oldest inmate OF the hume is Mrs.
Bunker, who Is "a years of age. She was
born In 1899. and sui possesses her mental
faculties. She remembers the war of 1872
very wildly, though she was only Is years
old at the time.