The San Francisco call., 1895-10-09
A LOCAL FRESH-AIR FUND,
1t Will Be Formed in COnnec-
ton With the Presbyterian
Orphanage.
Negotiations Now Pending for the
Purchase of a Large Farm
Near San Rafael.

The lady managers of the Presbyterian
Orphanage at San Rafael held a meeting
yesterday afternoon for the purpose of
coming to some decision regarding the re-
moval of the orphanage in San Rafael to
some larger and more commodious quar-
ters. AS result of the meeting it was de-
cided to combine two schemes which the
ladies have had under consideration for
some time and to secure large farm upon
which both plans may be put into effect,
The idea is to establish an orphanage, a
children's home for the weak and con-
valescent, and a number cf "fresh air.
cottages on large farm.
The establishing of the fresh air" cot
tages will be after the idea which has
proved so successful in the East. There
will be this difference, however, that while
in the East children are sent to private
families. on the farm to be established
they will go to the cottages built espe-
cially for them. The idea of forming q
fresh-air fund for this purpose las been in
the minds OF the managers of the orphan
age ever since that institution was founded
in San Rafael last February.
The orphanage at San Rafael has now
thirty-siX children under its roof, and this
fills the house so that it has been found
necessary to turn the last living-room in
the house into a dormitory. It must be
| moved temporarily, but the lady mana
gers have fixed ON one suitable site for its
permanent location, and they ere only
waiting TO assure themselves that there is
no better before taking it. The under con-
sideration site is located near San Ansel-
mo, in the vicinity of the Presbyterian
] Theological Seminary, and contains 15s
acres. The ladies can secure it for $4,000
and the raising of that amount is ques-
ton for serious consideration. Already
over 5000 has been donated toward the
amount, and it is announced that further
| donations can be sent TO Mrs. P. D. Brown
| the president of the board, or Mrs. W. B.
| Noble, the treasurer, at 920 Sacramento
| street.
As further means of increasing the
/ revenue Of the orphanage and raising the
| purchase money of the land, the Presbv-
Verian Synod, which meets in San Jose
within the next week, will be asked to set
aside one Sunday in the year as Orphan
| Sunday, upon which day the collections
| from the churches of the State will be
| turned over to the orphanage. This, with
! the donations which are expected and the
the dues of the members, will, the ladies
! hope, pay off the $4,000 within a reason
able time, and keep the institution run
| ming.
| The privileges of the farm while under
control of the Presbyterian church will be
allowed to all children regardless of their
religious belief. If no better site than the
one offered is found, and it is not expected
there will be, the bargain will be closed
and by next summer the farm will be run.
ming. The cottages will be open durine
| the summer months, and children who
otherwise would spend the hot days in the
streets of the City will be given as long g
time as possible over on the farm. Sickfy
children will be allowed to regain their
| health, orphans will be kept where they
will have plenty of room and the Older
boys will be taught how to plow and SOW
and all the trade of a farm, for there are
| forty-seven acres of meadow land in the
farm which will not be allowed to remain
| idle. AS for the funds the ladies feel con
| fident that when the scope of the scheme
! is known there will be found plenty of peo.
pie willing to help.
The officers in charge of the work are
Mrs. P. D. Brown, president; Mrs. Will
liam McRae, financial secretary; Mis-.
Helen Van Winkle, corresponding secre
tary; Mrs. W. B. n oble, treasurer; direct
ors-Mrs. L. McLaine, Mrs. Thomas An
derson, Mrs. Frank Dalton, Mrs. !. c
Smith, Mrs. E. G, Denniston, Mrs. Rober
| Mackenzie