Evening star., 1893-09-15
THE CHILDREN's COUNTRY HOME.
An Instance Showing How 1t Exerts
nm Educational Influence.

An Instance Showing How IL Exerts
nm Educational influence.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:
Conduct" says NJ. Alfred Fouille In his
article called Education and Natural Sc
lection" depends. to large extent, on
the circle Of ideas which one has received
under the influence Of experience. social re-
lation. and esthetic and intellectual
cultivation
NJ. Guyan further says: Everything
that child sees or hears will be a sugges-
ton. This suggestion may be the founda-
ton of a habit, which may be developing
during the child's whole life"
All educational thinkers and writer's agree
that during the formative period OF child
hood there should be presented to the child
correct ideas, the highest standard OF mo-
rality the principles of truth and justice.
that by endeavoring to attain to the ideal
that Is placed before him he may acquire
the habits of right thought and action.
We deplore the ignorance, immortality,
credulity and superstition Of the degraded
classes. But do we ever think whether
they have any higher standard OF morals
than their own desires? Have We ever done
anything to raise that standard to give
to them a glimpse Of pure. refreshing.
wholesome life? Before we censure let us
be sure that they would not prefer cleanli-
ness to filth. order to disorder, beauty to
ugliness, a life Of virtue to one OF shame.
We provide. you may say, schools and
kindergartens, sewing schools and Sunday
schools, boys clubs. and girls societies. 1t
is true that these are wonderful impulses
and helps to right living. But II we add to
these an actual participation, II only for
short time. in a wholesome home life, can
we realize just what may be accomplished
for the children to whom cleanliness and
the comforts Of regularly ordered house
hold are unknown,
1 have in my mind one incident that has
come under my own observation. In visit
1l1w, ,I~<N,,t
midday year or so ago 1 came upon them
at their dinner Qf the repast can be SO
misnamed).
The family consisted of father. mother.
and eight children from two to sixteen
years Of age The older children had come
in hungry, and in haste to get back to
school. The dinner for that family Of hear
ty growing children consisted Of some half
cooked corn meal, mixed with water and
lard. This "pone" as the mother called it..
was turned out of the pan directly on a
not very clean table, and the children grab
bed such portions Of the untempting look
Ing mass as they desired.
No plates, knives, or forks were used at
this truly primitive meal. The house con-
tained three small rooms, and was dirty in
the extreme. Two single beds and some
rags in one corner did duty for sleeping ac-
commodations, and there was evidently no
preparation made for personal cleanliness
or decency. Through the kindness Of one
of the trustees of the Childrens Country
Home. Of which board / was not then a
member, two Of the little girls were taken
In the home. At the end Of two weeks. the
time allowed for each child's stay at the
home, the children returned. What a
change in appearance! The complexion
clearer, and brightness and alacrity in
stead of the former dullness in manner.
NJ. said, looking up in her shy way, 20!
Miss NJ. we had oatmeal every morning
with milk" And such lovely beds" said
D. "And everything so clean" Poor child,
she was thirsting for something beautiful
In her life.
A seed was sown in the two weeks that
produced fruit The mother came to ask
me about the preparation Of oatmeal Bet
ter prepared food followed the oatmeal
A table set like that at the Country Home
was insisted upon by the small reformers.
The house was whitewashed within, anoth-
er bed was bought. and all three beds
spread with clean, white sheets and coun-
terpanes by D., for Il know how now,
helped at the home"
This incident alone is sufficient appeal to
you In behalf Of the little children who,
sickly and suffering, are in need Of fresh
some food. reminding you that not only are
the poor little sickly bodies helped and
strengthened, but the poor starving minds
| are fed. and both minds and souls receive
| impressions that undoubtedly become. in
| the future. a moral force and power. The
season at the home is over and through the
| liberality of friends we have been able to
| give to nearly 200 little ones. and some deli
| In plenty. and the happiness Of living for q
! time a good clean life.
| Though our expenses lessen, they do not
| cease with the winter. We need money for
| repairs. to improve the home and sur
! roundings, and to make the home more
| comfortable and convenient, and to begin
! the next seasons work. The Evening Star,
| always ready to assist in any good work,
| will receive the donations of those who are
| ready to help u.s. MT NJ.
Suit Over n Life Insurance Policy.
| Cornelia NJ. Brown and Lizzie H. Brown.
sisters Of George o. Brown, deceased, have
| filed a suit against the National Life -Matur-
ity Insurance Company Of this District 10
| recover $1,000, the amount of a policy 10
| sued to the deceased August II, 1887. by the
Columbia Mutual Life Association of this
| city, in favor Of the plaintiffs which policy
was reinsured and merged in the defendant
company. The Misses Brown allege that
| their brother die6 on the 25th of April last
and that although he fully compiled with ali
| the requirements of the reinsured policy
and good and sufficient proof of his death
has been furnished the company, the com
pany refuses TO pay the policy as 1t con-
tracted and agreed so to do. The refusal of
pany refuses to pay the policy, as it con-
| 49, % 81