The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-04-29
AN INFANT INDUSTRY.
Our Day Nurseries and How
They Are Managed
Not Yet Fairly
Established.
TIE PEOPLES PALACE WORK
Home of the Homeless in Line
Notes From The Field of
The Churches.

1t would seem as though a day nurs
cry were a needed institution in any city,
however well supplied with other paney-
olencies it might be; a day nursery where
mothers, obliged to go out to work dur
ing the eutire day, might leave their
children until their return, knowing
that, on payment OF a nominal fee. they
would be as carefully attended, and
more, than If they were unde her per-
sona supervision. When inquiries were
set on foot on this matter at the time of
the ~canvassing for Chicago Fair statis-
tics there were none reported; since then
two have sprung up. The first was
established several weeks ago by the
Home of the Homeless; the second Is o
of the many directions in which the
ceaseless energy propelling the Peoples
Palace movement makes itself felt.
The Day Nursery OF the Peoples Palace
was opened on Monday morning. April IL,
at seven O'Clock. It's hours are from seven
A. M. to seven F. NJ, subject to the needs
OF mothers. On payment of a few cents,
the mother leaves her child to be fed,
amused and generally taken care OF until
her return. This payment serves q
double purpose towards the self-respect
OF the patron aud the support OF the
nursery. The Committee started out
with a fund OF $500. n were fortunate
in securing an experienced matron, who
knows exactly how this work should be
conducted.
WHERE ARE CHILDREN?
But with ali these conyeniences, there
is yerybittle patronage as yet. There are
pretty rooms. well lighted, well venti-
lated. everything just right for the recep-
ton of restless Infants liable to drink
kerosene and play with matches II left TO
their own direction. All this is there.
and a capable and experienced mafron
besides. Since the nursery opened there
has been one child III 1t.
Well, the nursery Is there. anyway. and
when the populace becomes a little more
used to it, il will have an opportunity TO
do a little more extended work. The
ladies In charge have worked faithfully
raising the money. preparing the rooms
and getting everything ready. and some
day they will have their reward.
THE HOMES DAY NURSERY.
At the Home of the Homeless the gen.
eral rules are observed. The hours are
from seven to seven, the fee ten cents.
Tn mRtrou of the home is In charge, as
sisted by Miss Patterson. This nursery
has an opportunity to reach the people
whom 1t is intended To Accommodate, in
thar it is an adjunct to a home whore
parents have left their children to be
taken care of, without in any way giving
up claim to them, as III the case of the
usual orphan asylum.
In the fitness of things. there ought to
be a great many pathetic or l~augnable,
or at least deeply interesting stories to
tell about scenes in these Institutions,
but the calm fact is that day nurseries
are yet, in more ways than one, an infant
industry, and thoss In charge are by 10
means overworked on account of the rusn.
The Day Nursery Convention held re-
Gently In New YORK. and attended by
many of those Interested in the move
ment. brought into public notice how
many of these useful institutions there
are In New York and vicinity, and how
many mothers and children are constantly
receiving benefits from these sources.
The idea is comparatively recent. and
there should be an excellent field for it
10 lower Jersey City particularly.
There is a model institution OF this
kind, within easy reach of Jersey City.
whose workings it is well to keep in view
as q reminder of what Is in store for our
institutions, If they can hold u long
enough. II is the nursery connected with
Grace church, endowed BY Mrs. Levi 2.
Morton. 1t is always full of children,
who enjoy all the comforts Of a perfectly
appointed house with the liberty of a
home. There is no regular uniform, but
the children wear white aprons and put
on little white caps for the service in the
chautry every afternoon at half-Dast four,
in which they bear a prominent part. A
prettier sight one would go far to see. 1t
is Just as well to bear in mind this
nursery and many others like 1t, and
understand what is in the field of a sue
cessful institution or this kind.
H