Middletown transcript., 1894-03-03
A. VISIT TO FARNHURST.
A Day Spent With the INDECENT Poo
- of Our County.

|
t A Day Spent With the INDECENT Poor
= of Our County.
, 1t was my pleasure q few days ago to visit
the home for the INDECENT poor of our
3 county.
The location of this. public building,
: strikes one as being most eligibly situated
for health and convenience of access by
rail and county road, and in full view of
the many who pass on these thoroughfares
} of travel. AS you approach the place going
from the railroad station, the impression is
} unquestioned that the best site in the county
had been selected, and, no unfayorable
criticism could change that conviction.
|, The spacious grounds in front, and broad
acres in the rear, show a thoughtfulness
band wisdom, deserving the highest COM
mendation, upon the part of the projectors
of this homeof charity.
l. Through the kindness of Rev. J. R. Dill
j,who visits this place on Wednesday of each
week, to'impart religious instruction and
comfort to all who desire his ministration,
I was conducted through the building
which in all its appointments, for comfort
and convenience, is a model, and is in per-
feet keeping with the external appearance
of the structure, and beautiful grounds
which surround it.
We went to the first floor and took
survey of the apartments, assigned to that
unfortunate class who usually get stranded
on the road, at the end of their summer
travels and seek snug harbor to shelter
during the cold and storms of winter, but
when the peach and apple blossoms open,
scent the fragrance from afar, and start
| again OH their annual tramp. 1 feel glad
that a resting place is within reach Of
| these poor unfortunates, who belong to the
| common brotherhood, where they receive
| tie care which they seem unable to provide
| for themselves. They listened attentively
and respectfully TO few words of comfort
| from the word of God with which l hoped
| TO Inspire and stimulate them with pur-
| pose to seek better life In leaving these
apartments felt sad in the thought, that
mem can touch point so far down in the
scale of society, especially SO when the life
is spent in the midst of opportunities, such
as this land offers to everybody. was will
ing, to indulge the hope that with the frag-
ment of life remaining, the mind might
grasp some truth that will "fasten as nail
in ASSURE place."
We went from here to another floor where
the aged, infrm and dependent were. and
at tho main corridor there is located a room
in charge. of D.: B. Ferris, competent
druggist and nurse, where the prescriptions
are compounded, and various remedies pre-
pared for the sick. Opposite this are the |
toilet rooms with hot and cold water. Down |
this corridor comfortable rooms furnished |
with good, clean bedding, for the care of
those who are more or less disabled, with |
attendants to look after their wants.
On the third floor in one of the larger |
rooms religious services are held to which |
an Invitation is giyen--.tg-ail who may
desire,to attend. The simple services under
the direction of Mr."Dill was participated
in by the thirty or forty inmates who were
present joining heartily in the singing,
prayer being offered by blind man whose
fervor indicated depth of piety exper
fenced only by heart in communion with
God. Being invited to speak to them, 1
quoted this passage, There Shall Be No
Night There" I spoke of the unclouded
day, that would open to them after the
stormy voyage of life was ended, and urged
them to love God and seek the life to come
Mr.. George Groves the Superintendent
and his wife, of whose hospitality had
some knowledge before, afforded me as a
visitor, every facility in the limited time at
my command of seeing the workings of
this public institution, which stands as
living illustration of tile wisdom and bene-
violence of the people of our county. Mr..
Groves commands the respect and conf
dence of all under his charge, and with a
spirit of benevolence that beams in his
very countenance, and yet frmness
needed to maintain proper dicipline, he
seems by nature adapted to discharge the
duties of such a delicate and responsible
position. 1t is unfortunate that so compe-
tent Superintendent with an experience
of two years SO important in the manage
ment of such a place should be retirad
simply because the political complexion of
the Board of Trustees changes. We con-
slider it misfortune, and hope that the
selection to be made, will result in the
choice of man as competent and as we'll
qualified as the present incumbent. w. D. ,
Carnog the watchman, with a general over
sight of building and grounds was found I
attending to the duties of his position with
great care and an eye open to guard against
afy intrusion upon the property or danger :
to the buildings.
Miss Minnie o. Hamlon, nurse, was found
passing through corridors giving words kind
and attentive to every want and call. The
temperature and facility with which the ;
culinary department was managed was q
proof sufficient that engineer John Blees.
dale was at his post as engineer.
Ray Weldon the manager of the farm
which supplies the home with all needed 7
product of the soil is a good practical +
farmer. The farm contains 125 acres and !,
is supplied with eight cows, four horses and .
The larger part of the work done on the
farm is performed by the inmates, of which q
there are 265. White men, 14s; colored, 20; a
white women. SO; colored women, IS; white q
children, s. colored, 2.
The health of this large household is
ooked after by two physicians, DR.. C. H.
Baird and DR.. A. B. Harris, two young =
men of Wilmington, attentive and well up
n their profession. With hope these =
ines may give the readers of the TRANSCRIPT :,
! higher appreciation of the good work of =
his public institution, and awaken deeper =
for the poor and unfortunate =
Who need that some provisions be made for -
hem, is the desire of your correspondent. y
B.
Special Jury Panel.
Prothonotary Hort has chosen a special in