The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-05-24
THE ORPHANS HOME.
Where Young Children Of Mis-
fortune Are Cared For.
HAPPY THOUGH IN POVERTY.
The Scene which the CAaldsea Present
Well FED a.A HssseA Hut In Rag
Bsueat For Them.


esteemed charities in thi. county is the
Orphans home. at Box and Harrison
streets. maintained By the Ladies' Relief
Society. This home sprang into exist.
encc in answer to . need tina, could not be
ignored nor kept out Of sight. One Of the
first things that attracted the attention of
the relief society when il was established
in 1854 Was the fact that there was no place
where children without homes could be
comfortably cared for. Such children as
we're thrown on the care OF the county
were given by the authorities TO private
families At a stated sum per month. this
being q serious pubic charge and result
ing in gross neglect Of the children be-
side. The relief society thereupon took
upon itself the organization OF home
such rs was felt to be needed This was
the nucleus Of the present home and was
established in the summer of iSs5.
The first home was in rented quarters,
the house of Mary J. Pon.ius in what is
now the Pontius addition. The first
matron Was Mrs. Jensen, a nurse, who is
DOW in California. Two years the home
remained in the Pontius addition. In the
summer of 1855 ID. r. Denny donated the
two lots at Box aud Harrison streets
buildings were completed and occupied in
the summer of 1887. Mrs. Pontius the
previous year had offered . whole block.
but the society deemed it too far out Of
the way and IL WAS not accepted. This is
now close to the Broad way car line and in
the midst Of . well buit-up part Of town.
Mrs. Jensen resigned her charge Of the
home soon after moving to the Box street
quarters. and Mrs. MCGEE was selected in
her place. She had been In the Epicopai
hospital at Portland and returned there
after leaving the home here in 1852 Mrs.
NJ. J. Smith succeeded Mrs. McGee and re-
NAMED till January. 1879, when the present
matron. Mrs. Olivia Hyland Morley, took
charge. Ever since being in tho present
home the number Of children maintained
has been uniformly about thirty-fve. this
being about the capacity OF the house.
though in times of extreme need forty
have been sheltered. The number cared
for during the year lso2 was about sixty.
The older children attend the public
schools, and for those too young for this
the society maintains regular kinder
garten. with a special teacher employed
for the purpose. All the children come
within the reach Of this training, even the
youngest. some of whom are not yet 3
years of age.
4 reporter Of the Posr-ISrELLIsEScEEv Wis
tied the home recently. 1t is pleasantly stu
ated At Box and Harrison streets, square
away from the Cedar street electric rail-
way. The first thing one notices in APP
preaching the house, il the day be clear, is
the crowd of children in the vacant lot on
the west of the house playing in the open
air without any undue restraint. A ring
ut the bell will be answered by ono Of the
older children or by Mrs. Morley. the
matron, herself Inside the house furni-
ture is seanty. but one room being car
peted. the reception room on the first
floor. Though the floors are unexpected
and the furniture severely simple and
plain. the general air of cleanliness is I'M
mistakable. The resources of the home
are scanty. but they are utilized
to good advantage. The reception
room. sitting room, the kindergarten
room. where the very small children
are cared for. the dining room. the play
room and the kitchen occupy the first
floor. The children. thirty four in num-
Der nj present. are clean looking and give
every evidence of kind treatment; but that
they need clothing is painfully apparent.
Many Of them are actually ragged, and it
is on their account that the appeal Of the
Relief Society has been sent out 10 the Sc
attic public. Up stairs in the home build
ing are the sewing room girls bedroom
on the west side and boys bedroom on the
east. One or two of the little ones were in
bed, bat with these exceptions all were
out PLAYING in the sunshine. or else sew
ing in the sewing room or in some house
4. 4 n
seems to have won the confidence aud love
OF her little charges and 10 have spread
happiness around her. Notwithstanding
fraycd trousers and little arms out at the
elbows.
Ii is hoped by the managers tina, a
ready response will soon be had to the ap-
peal for clothing. as the demands upon
the society's funds have disabled il from
doing what IS needed TO make the charges
comfortable.
The need OF the children Is such that the
members Of the relief society have pre-
pared an entertainment to be given on Sat-
urday night by the Seattle children in aid
Of the home. 1t is the play of 'Cinder-
ella, and will be produced at the Seattle
opera house. THE cast is made up en-
sirely Of Seattle children. the pupils of
Prof. I.opp, and this will make it very in
ieres;!ng To large circle of people Dur
ing the evening 4 large number of fancy
dance steps will be given. including the
serpen,ine dance. the Highland dine.
Irish clog dance Skin; dance sailors horn
pipe and the FninGes lie Louis Ky. The
entertainment. both on its own account
and because of the excellent charitable
purpose fer which it Is given. will corn-
.nand the attention of the amusement.
los ing public,
From DfsI<TE.EsrED rAEry.