Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-10-25
Sold the Dcaconcsscs.

- "StANN S'S''S I'NNSy
were offered for sale Sunday afternoon
in the Academy of Music. They were a
bright, earnest lot and didn't mind be-
ing sold in the least. Iu fact they
rather seemed to enjoy it and did all in
their power to di-pose of themselves.
Now it may seem strange, but there
were exactly 1SI of them sold. One OF
these women complete was worth $3.50,
but, as the Rev. c. II. Yatman expiain-
ed, person could buy Il whole one or
fraction thereof. That accounts for the
two-thirds.
The occasion was the anniversary
day of the New York Deaconess's s
Home, which was established in 1889
and incorporated on March 20 last The
affair was under the auspices of the
Metropolitan meetings which are now
held every Sunday in the Academy Of
Music.
Mr.. Yatman conducted the exercises,
and among those prominent on the
stage were Rev. DR.. Crawford, presi-
dent of the Home, who delivered the
opening prayer Miss Stephenson, bet
ter known as "Sister Dora" of London,
and Dtaconess Lucy Rider Meyer, OF
Chicago.
An elaborate musical programme
was furnished by the orchestra between
the prayers, speeches and the sale.
The main object of the affair was to
raise money for the support of the
Home for the coming year. When it
came to that part Of the programme
Mr.. Yatman afforded good entertain
ment. He began by pointing to the
twenty-eight deaconesses seated in
rows on the right of thestage and
telling of the work they did in
nipeteen city churches and missions
among the poor and needy; how they
educate Christian workers in their well
equipped training school. He ended
by remarking that, although they did
all this without compensation, they re-
quired Just s. 900 for their maintenance
for the coming year.
That is about $3.50 n year for each
leaconess," said he. Nov what man
in the audience will take one or more
deaconcsses for a year ~
A gentleman in one of the upper
boxes shouted: "Mr. Yatman, / have
long admired The great work of these
dcaconesses, and I'll take one for a
whole year"
The audience was convulsed with
laughter and the deaconesses on the
front row held their hymn books before
their faces.
"Don't blush, girls" said Mr.. Vat
man. "1he best looking will go first"
At this there was more laughter.
"Fll take four of them," cried a gen
tlemau on the platform.
Now this is doing well" shouted
Mr.. Yatman. ''If you can't afford to
take whole deaconcss take 800 worth
of one or form syndicate and buy
onen
Several deaconesscs were disposed of
in this way.
Subscription cards were distributed
throughout the house, and the audi
ence were told to write the amount
they wished to subscribe and their
names and addresses. Anything from
81 up would be taken, and the deacon
esses would be indiscriminately dispos-
ed of in this way.
"a woman is said to be composed Of
three things" said Mr.. Yatman, "a
head, heart and tongue. If you
can't buy whole deaconess why you
can take part Of one-a head, heart
or tongue"
More laughter, and then amid a good
deal OF hustle on the part of the audi
ence the deaconesses came down from
the stage and scattered all through the
house, from the top gallery down, col
!ecting the subscription cards. At first
they called out the amount subs cribed
on the cards as they took them up, and
two secretaries on the stage were kept
busy keeping the record.
Some confusion was occasioncd by
several deaconesses calling out at the
same time, so this plan was abandoned.
The exact amount subscribed was not
stated, but it must have been several
thousand dollars.
The largest invoice was four. who
were taken by Samuel w. Bovine, one
of the directors He afterward ex-
planned that two of them were for ]. NJ.
Cornell.
J. d. Sayback, A. H. DeHaven and
Superintendent Milbury, of the Indus
trial Christian Alliance, took one each
The purchasers, however, will never
know which individual girls they have
bought.-N. Y. Herald