The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-01-26
CARE OF THE AGED AND INFlRM
Some Facts and Suggestions in Regard
to our Poor-4ouses.


to our Poor-Houses.
To the Editor:-That the strong
should protect the weak is one of the
first Christian obligations. The strong
too often narrow this down to its most
limited sense. When the poor, aged,
infirm and helpless are supplied with
food, of whatever quality, sufficient to
keep body and soul together, with
enough clothes to cover their bodies,
a place, however uncomfortable in
which to sleep, and shelter sufficient to
break the wintry blasts or protect from
summers scorching heat; then the
prosperous, the strong, feel that their
full duty towards their less fortunate
and weaker neighbors has been dis
charged. The weak, MS well as the
strong, need something beyond the
bare necessities of life.
Are the strong of North Carolina full
filing the above obligation as they
should? Look at her poorhouses for
answer.
Considered as a whole, the poorhouse
system of North Carolina is very UNI
satisfactory. Some counties provide
comfortable houses, healthy food and
good clothes for their poor. But many
of our counties treat their poor hardly
any better than their swine, and still
others do not pretend to have any
home for this unfortunate class OF
people.
The county Homes consist mostly
dilapidated buildings and farms that
are run down at the heel.
The general plan of architecture is
the same Throughout the State. There
are never less than two houses-one
for each race. The buildings are in the
nature of small cottages or log cabins,
except in few places where the houses
are made of brick. They are finished
in rough style; many Of them neither
ceiled nor pIastered. The usual mode
of heating is by wood, in open fire
places. Ventilation is by doors and
windows, and in some cases extra ven
tilation is obtained by cracks, though
at one or two Homes the cracks are
substituted for windows. The Homes
are generally very well located as to
shade and water supply. But few
are in bleak and desolate spots where
the people have neither shade nor
porches.
The farm products are, in lumber
of places, used by the keeper for him
self, and are thrown in as part of his
salary But in other places not even
a garden is cultivated.
Many of the superintendent are to-
tally incompetent, having no fitness
for dealing with the morals and phys
ical needs of the poor. Several of them
are drinking men. Some Of them are
kind, humane men, who do the best
they can with the scanty means at
command. Most of them get very low
salaries. Too much care cannot be
taken in the selection Of the one who
is to have control over these poor,
helpless creatures. And he should be
paid q good salary. Frequently the
position goes to the lowest bidder. He
who promises to take the least money
out of the county treasury is the one
the commissioners engage.
The food is generally coarse, with liz
tie variety. The prevailing diet is corn
bread, bacon, molasses, coffee, and
such vegetables as are raised on the
farm, and some milk and butter. Fish
is added in counties near the seashore.
In quite a number of counties a GER
tain allowance of uncooked provisions
is given to the inmates. In Circumstance
unground corn was given instead of
meal. Only one county reports that
the food is well prepared, and only two
report special delicacies for the sick.
Fruit is furnished at two Homes. At
one Home the occupants are fed bread
and bacon, with no change, at every
meal Tn como few inGfapnpc fan3yf+EV
or beef are allowed, at rare intervals.
The moral interests of the inmates
is sadly neglected. Regular religious
services are held at only one third of
the Homes One-third have occasional
services, while the last third never
hear any more of the gospel than the
cannibals of Africa, and all they know
of the Christian religion is what they
learned before they came to the poor
house, or what has reached their ears
indirectly. Is not the soul of one of
these poor unfortunates as precious in
Gods sight as the soul of the million
aire?
There are two classes of inmates in
the Homes: those too aged, and those
too weak, either physically or men
tally to work and support themselves.
Among the inmates are number of
idiots and insane people, who ought to
be in some better equipped institution.
They are frequently an annoyance and
trouble to their fellow inmates, and
they do not have the food or medical
oversight they need.
Allowing children to remain in the
homes is one of the greatest faults in
the present system. No amusements
are provided for them and the food
is rarely suitable to their age. The
environment is generally degrading,
both morally and mentally. They
grow up in utter ignorance, very little,
if any. race distinction is made Child
rem are often there with their mothers,
they should be taken away as soon as
they are old enough and put under
better influences. They should not,
under any consideration, be allowed
to remain in the poor house.
A noticeable fact is that, as rule,
the best Homes are in those counties
in which are situated large, progress
siye towns. Some amusements, and
intellectual food should be supplied
to these inmates. Light employment
should be provided for those able to
work and something should be done
10 occupy their minds, as well as their
hands 1t is suggested in the report
from Martin county that plant for
making brooms and mats be establish
ed. While all could not do this, all
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