The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-11-17


man and woman in the city has heard
of which every child who has learned
the use OF words has probably spoken
derisively or jokingly-as they grow old
or Vhere Is always n seriousness when
they speak of the City Almshouse. But
comparatively few visit the institution.
Inc vehicles from the city bearing sup
plies for the inmates, the BLACK wlg.
on, going ana carrying to potters' field
some lucky inmate whom fate has bless.
cd by sending him out of the world.
these are the chief visitors to this havep
OF shipwrccked humanity.
THE BUILDINGS.
The buildings are of substantial brick.
two stories, forming nearly Il vrianrlc,
and capable Of accommodating several
hundred inmates, A party of gentle
men, including VirG!nian representa-
i've. visited the almshouse recently ana
Philip NJ. Mordecai the Superintendent.
captain Mordecai escorted the party
through the buildings. through the Office
where the name or the applicant for
admission the sex. age, and nationality
are recorded; through the dispensary
where are kept Il supply of simple rem
edies, chiefly for local application; the
long dining-rooms, one for white and
one Tor colored inmates; the kitchen with
IT'S immense range; the larder with its
boxes, buckets, and bins filled with Il
variety of wholesome, substantial food;
through the sleeping rooms, the greater
portion OF which are located on the sec
ond floor
There are generally as many as half
dozen inmates of each room. and to
each Is allotted an iron bedstcad
me rooms are sufficiently large to
prevent crowding and are used as sitting
rooms by the inmates. The party was
also shown about the grounds. the well
Kept outhouses and lawn and the SUI
Derintendent insisted upon the accent
ancc of a sample of the fine turnips
from lot of several acres extent out
Slde the enclosure surrounding the
buildings.
There is n wierd fascination In the
appearance of the inmates of the aims
mouse. They are people who seem TO
nave lost all interest in life They have
played every card ard lost. Theirs is
not even waiting game. They are
waiting and will wait through the long
months and years, but they expect no
change. nothing but death. Perhaps
scme look forward to this as 81 relief it
IS moro probably regarded with In
difference.
SUNDAY SERVICES.
While the party was in the buildings,
a number of ladies and gentlemen ar
wed from Norfolk 10 conduct the regu-
lar SUNDAY afternoon service. which Is
always held al the Institution by some
ni me Christian people of this city
me bell was runG for worship, and soon
me INMATES, young and old, male and
iemaie of both sexes, began filling up the
corridor on .hc second floor. where the
reading desk and organ had been placed
y young lady at the organ possessing Il
remarkably clear voice. sang an old
fashioned hymn in which nearly all of
the inmates joined. The thin, broken
voices Of old men and women, on the
verge of the grave, mingled with the
.Ne Ia
auditors, the strains of the cottage or
gan, the short but earnest prayer of
The young minister. All left an i'm
preston odd, new-even uniuue-not
wholly unpleasant. 1t made one think
of Longfellow, and
Suffering, sad humanity,
STEPPED To the lips in misery,
Longing, Yet afraid to die"
For all these paupers are either Sc
riously diseased tof course they have no
contagious affcctions), or they are far
advanced in years.
y CHAPEL NEEDED.
The institution is sadly In need OF n
chapel. At present services have 10 he
conducted in the corridors but it is al
most impossible for all Of the inmates
10 hear. Ut Is 4 pc; Sheme of Captain
Mordecli 70 have another story added
70 The d!ninG-room for this purpose, and
Il Is probable that Il. an early day the
Councils will be asked TO appropriate q
sum for':his purpose. a great amount
will not be needed. and the necessity
or 4 room FOR religious services is GER
tanly Very great.
'rhn sun was almos. setting when the
party, after drin2.ing deeply OF the yell
low milk set forth by Captain Mordecai
drove away. The wind sighed with n
mournful forever" sound among the
branches of the pines, and whispered
eerly In the reeds OF the marshes. An
old humpbacked at the gate stood
watching the carriage as it rolled away
and when 1t finally disappeared among
he trees of the forest he was still
Sa2ing after ii.
1t is impossible to imagine any one
conducting such an institution in any
better manner without greater expen-
diture OF money than does Captain Nor
Gecai the almshouse. He is n big
hearted, charitable man. and evidently
endeavors to make the lots of the bits
Of human drift under MS charge ms
easy as possible, and It seems fair 10
say his object Is attained But at least
one of his visitors that day fell, as they
drove away that there We're not many
places better to leave. or avoid. than
this home OF the city's wards.
The virginfa Beach Rand.
Attention is called TO the change IN
the schedule of the Norfolk, VirginiY
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