The San Francisco call., 1897-10-24
THERE IS TROUBLE AT The OLD PEOPLE

There is trouble out at the 0 d Peoples
Home on the corner of Pine and Pierce
streets.
must admit tha: when l first heard the
report OF unjust, tyrannical treatment on
the part of the superintendent and matron.
l was inclined TO believe 1t only another
case OF the domestic dlscord which so
often marks small communities, another
proof of mans inferiority TO the birds,
who in their little nests agree" "a case OF
boarding house distemper, III short.
l have seen and spoken to many of the
complainaHts and 20 the complained OF.
Now, The CALL readers may Judge for
themselves whether there is legitimate
cause for complaint or whether the dis
satisfaction is due merely 10 the queru.ous
fault finding OF old a &c.
The Old Peoples Home is beautiful
building, beautiful adap'ed 10 beaul-
tul charity. Its owest floor is given up to
a handsome reception-room, Off e,
library, broad, well-kept halls and a
spacious, light dining-room- On the two
upper floors, in little, wel-arranged. cozy
rooms. dwell about 130 old men and
women.
But they do not dwell in peace and
amity. as was the hope and intention o.
The homes benevolent founder
"Why." said ali old woman whose hair
is soft and white and fine anu fluffy.
"why. never was so wicked-I never had
such wicked thoughts as | have since l
came here. ] have grown revengeful and
bitter and-and hateful L m ashamed
but il true"
looked at the poor little withered old
, septuagenarian and tried not to smile a
her sjniulness.
But it's not laughing matter to these
poor old people.
"Dont-don't ask me anything" said
the quavering voice of the occupant of
another tiny room, as neat and orderly a
its owner. The moment you came in
that door, it was known downstairs.
shall be blamed-I shall be accused of
telling tales about the management, and
indeed-indeed" pale blue tire eyes
fe before mine as she went on pi.ifully-
'Irs much improved-it's ;mproving-it
really is. "
1t was distressing TO see and to be the
cause of the poor old lady's distress, so l
left her room, while she strovc to apolo-
Eize for her IN nhospita bic delight at getting
rid OF me.
l find that a ter visiting a number OF
rooms at the homo nv memory of
these old familyless people is a sort OF
composite, typical picture of ol age.
The faces Of men and women grow so
much alike as they grow old. The head !
see is white haired always-no ore i al
mittei here VINO Is younger than 50
year--the eyes are a tender. mild gray or
soft brown, the faco is softly wrinkled III
tiny ret-!Ike lines, the mouth is patient
or sad, but usually philosophical, and
Sometimes even gently smiling.
On is inclined to believe the tale such
3 mouth tells, for people who have lived
three score years in this world. who find
that their exit from LIES stage must be-
almost as dependent phys cally and
financially was their entrance. are not
apt to dwell upon trifles nor to b. hyper
critical.
The home is not home" SAID a man
73 years Old to me. 1T has become more
like a prison than home. The sick are
neglected; they do not get proper food
and proper attention. The superin-
teAdent IS unpopular because he is petty
and oyerbearing and insulting. The men
co not like him. The women fear h NJ
Heencou:aces tale-bearing and hypocrisy
The religion | believe in taught that to
be a Christian consisted in performing
Christian acts. No amount OF preaching
and we get enough and 10 spare Of thai
on Sundays grace before and prayer after
every meal; on weekdays prayer every
morning-not six services nor sixty serv-