Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-01-19
HOME FOR THE AGED.
An Opportunity For Some One To
Do Good.

eilO OiiC lIldl 10 d. llIC t'ISSSLI tiiii@
being agitated by philanthropists,
and fraternal societies, in this and
other states is-homes for the
aged. Milwaukee has a "Home
for Aged Women" The home of
The Little sisters Of the Poor"
for the homeless, and Miss Plank
inton, benevolent lady of that
city, has designed another to be
erected next summer. All over
the country homes are being
reared, that give evidence of that
spirit of humanity, and fraternity
that emanates from the highest
attributes of our human nature.
1t is a wanton crime, cruel and
unworthy thing to let our aged,
lonely, INDECENT people feel the
desolation of homelessness in their
age.
There are magnificent temples
of love, and affection scattered
throughout our country; there are
institutions all through our state
afording shelter. and care to
homeless Or INDECENT members of
the various societies. One of the
most homelike and worthy in this
state is the Home for Soldiers and
their wives in Waupaca, with its
little cottages, each a home truly.
With all of these institutions, each
in its own way doing grand and
noble work, there are still many,
some in every community who are
still homeless. Some there are, to
whom an institution be it ever so
fine, with its many strange faces,
its system, its regulation diet, and
habits, and ceaseless round of
methodical daily duties, is more
intolerable than the cold, hunger,
and worry Of their joyless though
free existence.
To MISREPRESENTATION ways and
institution restrictions are not
homelike. One room, over which
they reign supreme is home to
them, and to live among those they
love, in poverty, is better than to
live in a palace among strangers.
For these, and for all who are
aged, and compelled to move from
place to place, as rent advances, Or
changes in ownership occurs, each
city, village, association or church,
owe duty, to contribute in some
measure, toward the establishment
of local homes. Each member of
society owes it to each other men,
Der, to himself, to humanity, to
their children, as an example of
broadminded philanthropy, to help
furnish a home in their midst for
those who have no resources of
their own. Indifference is criminal;
neglect is wicked; opposition is the
dephth of selfshness.
The moral duty of caring for
the aged, homeless ones, and over
looking the vicissitudes of their
life, in a hope Of helping them is a
burden we may not ignore. Right
here in our own prosperous and
proud city, we have those who are
lacking the comforts, and pleasures
of life, because they have no place
worthy of the name of "home."
There are quite a number, a care
full outlook will easily place them.
Those whose homes have been in
our midst during the best years of
their life, whose attachments are
strong for the old acquaintance,
and the old place, to whom every
tree, and rock, and shady drive
are dear from association.
Now is the time for work. Now
the time to provide against the
future. Now-while a lot central
ly located large enough to provide
homes for all that would be bene-
fitted by them for probably three
hundred dollars. A house of five
compartments of three rooms each,
with wide windows and porches,
with shed for wood, etc, for a few
hundred Or thousand, in the build
ing time. Money is loaned at a
low rate of interest. Is there no
individual, association, or fraternal