The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-12-12

we wish more abu0ntloh couio 70 sisoAi'
that of friendly visiting. 1t is almost i'm
nossible for those who have been trained
In q ell ordered families to conceive how
little some of our poorer classes know OF
the art of true living. How should 6ney
know. never having been taughe. In
more than half the cases that come to us
thew need "a friend, not aims.
They need QUE who will visit them nos
once. twice or thrice only, but many
times. going not in the spirit Of criti-
cism, but of love, and telling them how
to spend economically, how to COOK nu-
tritous food, how to nurse their children
when Ill, the sanitary conditions neces-
sary to good health, the difference be-
tween physical and moral cleanliness, In
short, the Thousand and one things that
only wise friend can communicate.
We have had visitors in the past who
have tried this with good results Gould
we have this season score or more,
who would each take one family ana
give thenlss Ives tV uplift and ennoole
it in ever ny possible, q bic ssing upon
their Il crs would surely come from the
dear Christ who gave Himself for the up
lifting aud ennobling of us all.
Mrs. James P. Baxter made the fol-
lowing report On the workroom !.
The work of the workroom does not
vary materially from year to year.
winters work with good cheer and oe-
termination, to employ only those VINO
are not able, through age and lnnrmlpy
to go home to work or who are kepU at
b ONE to care for young children or the
aged and sick.
1t is not the intention to give sewing to
women who have able-budied husDanns,
vet the most careful scrutiny into the
| conditions of a family will not always
prevent impnsture, and in sonls cases 1ne
visitors of the Associated Charities, up
on whom the managers rely largely iof
their Information of the applicants, nave
been deceived, and consequently rev
undeserying have been helped. Wnile
| the managers regret SUCH mistakes anu
are prompt TO correct than, they nnd
some compensation in the Thought that
| it would be better to assist a rev un'
worthy than to become too Suspicious
and thus allow the worthy to suffer.
| There are some four sewing women
who accept charity from no other source,
vet who have been able, working almost
miracle " it'll so cents and dollar
week to put off for years the dreaded end
of becoming public paupers, ana aiter
death has removed them to better
home, while they could hold up their
heads among us as independent cltlzens.
The managers would Re glad to employ
only those who can do cred liable WORK,
that they conld offer for sale most attrac-
tive articles, but the fact that woman
cannot do fine or even common sewing
ia the forcible reason why she comes to
| the workroom. Was she skillful with her
needle, she would generally ind occupa-
| ton outside Of this society.
Here meet two of the difficulties with
which this society oontends-poor work
is piled upon our shelves, and many pur-
| ohasers turn from it, The ladies' realize
| Ii NTH littIQ merit in fh6n-
! selves cannot be sold except to the bene-
volent
/ This is said to be on the one hand OF
| our poor work, but nm the other hand,
| the managers do not hesitate to say that
much of our work is suitable for any
home in the CITY.
| It seems hardly necessary to repeat the
| oft-told tale of the society, yet there are
| always new corners in our city who may
never have heard of us. and Others VINO
may be lnodestly waiting for special
call to join the army OF busy and chaI.
liable women
We give portion of work to each WON
an weekly for which she receives, not
money. but an order of 30 cents for coal
or groceries, and here we might add to
the credit OF our poor women, that rare
ly have we found the money spent for
aught, but the plainest groceries. Ihe
| few exceptions brought to our notice
have been explained, where wife has
bought fruit or some trifiing dainty Tor
a husband lying in the last stage OF con-
sumption.
We make plain undergarments, night
shirts, bedding and children S clothing,
and sell the same for actual cost; or III
some cases at slight advance to offset
the loss on unstable work. We 90 not
pay the prices of the Sweating system,
neither do we pay Dy any means What
81
the piece or by the day in our homes.
In the spring we hold sale for weak.
This closes our 18th year, and we are
just entering upon another season. N
one can tell whether or not we shall
prosper; but why take anxious Thought,
when we feel we are at work In gooo
J cause. What has been done can be done
again. Has not Providence alWa s! founo
goo friends to help us? Shall we 10rge'
the venerable benefactnr, Hon. w. W.
Thomas, who stepped forward at the last
moment of our despair in our sale lasl
spring and lifted the whole burden Of
} our stock from our bands, making us
twice glad iu our financial relief, ane
: in turning the fruits of our charity into
: the channels of various charities IN oul
; city.
During the past winter we gave worf
J to 80 women. Ladies in the city VINO ar
accustomed to cutting and nttlng WORE
; for their own families, can greatly AID IL
: this work by volunteering their services
} The managers need those who Will b'
steadfast through the season to make thl
5 work a success. Contributions OF MONEY
or material are always acceptable. Ih'
! work is carried on Wednesday and Fridal
} morning weekly, at a. M, ID NO.
City building.
These officers were elected:
President-Mr. j. J. Gerrish.
Vice Presidents-Rev. w. L. Phelan,
DIR. 6. A. Pudor.
,, Secretary and Treasurer-Miss o. NJ
! Beckett.
/ Assistant Seoretary-Mrs. Thoma