The Washington times., 1895-06-09

Yesterday was festival OF flowers for
the many hundreds OF sufferers and un-
fortunates, the lame. the halt, the blind,
and the sick, in all the hospitals OF Wash
ington. 1t was flower mission day."
the loveliest and most tender OF all the days
in the year, and on which charity IN its
true sense of loving kindness was dispensed
by the ministering angels Of the WOman's
Christian Temperance Union.
This beautiful benefaction is intended
to commemorate the birth of Miss JEANNE
Casseady, a wealthy girl, but hopeless in
valid, of Louisville, KY, whose suffer
ings were tempered by the remembrances
OF her friends in the form of fragrant and
sweet flowers. She afterward made uni
versal among the poor and sick OF her city
this custom of furnishing flowers for solace
OF their sufferings, and was eventually
chosen by Miss Frances Willard to super
intend department. Of the Flower Mission
for the W. C. T. Z.
The superintendent OF the Washington
Flower Mission is Mrs. T. G. Jones, a lady
whose heart is very much in this gentle
and practical work Arrangements for
the distribution OF the flowers, literature,
fruit, and other little things to the sick have
been in progress for some days. A large
part of that work was performed by eager
hearts and willing hands yesterday, but
an important and extensive part remains
TO be done to-day, the 9Th, which is in
reality the birthday OF Miss Casseady.
DISTRIBUTING THEFLOWERS.
The members OF the mission are COM
posed of the presidents of the local W. G.
T. Unions, including the unions of the
younger ladies, who are Familiarity known
as the "Y's."
1t was intended originally that all OF
the members should meet yesterday at
the headquarters of the mission, No. 910
street northwest, but other arrange
ments were made by which the work was
most expeditiousIy done. The flowers
were sent by many of the florists in the
market and elsewhere direct TO the resi-
denceS OF the members and the members
proceeded with their fragrant burdens
to the hospitals nearest to their homes.
One of the largest parties was, however,
organized at the headquarters, and con-
sisted OF Mrs T. G. Jones, president;
Mrs. Luckctt, Mrs. j. E. Richardson, Mrs
E. H. King, Mrs. E Rider, and Miss u. r.
Grimes These ladies undertook TO visit
Providence Hospital, where there was
plenty of work to do, and it was most
admirably and interestingly done.
a
were sent by the Burden Bearers, of Rock
vile, Md. They also had great many
copies of various magazines and the
Union Signal, in which is given an inter
esting account of the life and services Of
Miss CasSeady, the inspiration OF the
movement.
The florists in the market were also par
ticularly kind and gave to these ladies
an abundance of their choicest flowers
vxyith pat n
sweet work. The party was received
very kindly by the sisters in charge at
the hospital, and were offered every op-
portunity TO visit each OF the wards.
1t was expected that the special charm
of the presentati ons would be in the
wards devoted to the women patients
In ST. Mary's ward there were many in
stances OF rare interest. One of these
was fair and lovely girl whom they all
called Josie" She was seated ia an in
valid's chair by one of the cool windows.
By her sat one of the young and pretty
| trained nurses, with whom Miss Josie
appeared to be favorite.
IN HER PRISON CHAIR.
Miss Josie has been confined to her prison
chair for more than three years, and is
yet of a most cheerful disposition. Hel
| bright face quite filled with tears as Mrs.
Luckett handed her some flowers, and
| told her the story of the day She clasped
| them to her bosom, and was quite over
whelmed by the thought of the outside
world in her case
| In the room with her were quite a num-
ber of old ladies, invalids, to whom the
| flowers and the gifts We're as dear and as
| acceptable as if they had been the things
which they once wished for in life, bat
for which they have but little use now.
| In another division of st. Mary's ward
| there were several cases of melancholy
| interest.
| "0h here are the flower ladies' said
| a bright child Of thirteen years Of age
| as the flower laden ladies entered this
/ ruom Her name is Ada Kessler. She