Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-05-13
CHARITIES CONFERENCE.
Interesting Sessions on Friday Afternoon
and Evening.

anu Evening"
At on Friday afternoon Is session of
the Conferences oil Charities and lnsti.
tutions prayer was offered by Father
Welbsrs of st. Joseph's Orphanage,
after which reports Of institutions and
societies we're received. From the re-
ports 1t appears that the Home for
Aged Women has 81 inmates and can
accommodate three more. The Ferris
Industrial School has IS inmates. and
shows percentage OF so reformed out
of those who have left the institution.
The Girls Industrial School has %
inmates, VINO do launderying, gardening,
sewing and baking and attend school
lesson. The Delaware Hospital reported
the establishment OF training school
for nurses. The homeopathic Hos
pital also made report. Tho Minqua-
dale Homo has Is inmates.
For st. Michael's Day Nursery and
Hospital for Babies, Acrhdeacon Hall
reported in the absence OF Bishop Cole
man, who sent his regrets. Fourteen
babies are now in the hospital. The
death rate in the institution has been
high on eccount Of the weak condition
OF some OF the infauts when admitted.
The Sunday Breakfast Association
has an average of 10 men 10 the home
attached thereto in April Jog received
free breakfasts.y The Sarah White
Home for Aged Colored People has nine
inmates. The Society for the Proven
tion OF Cruelty to Children reported 372
children involved in cases in the year.
The Delaware Union for Public Good
has not yet accomplished it's object,
the establishment OF a workhouse, but
will continue towork for It, The Door
of Hope has cared for II women and
girls in the 10 months OF it's existence.
The Ladies' Aid Society Of st. Patrick's
Church has ministered to sick and
destitute irrespective of creed. More
than 100 persons received sewing weekly
from the Benevolent Socisty. The AS
ISOLATED Charities reported that two
Fairgrounds had been opened and a
shelter for children taken by the S. Z.
O. @. established; the laundry is a
great SUCCESS.
Mrs., A. ID. Warner read eulogies of
Father De Ruyter and the Rev. Merritt
Hulburd, S. 4. D., who attended last
year's conference, but had since died.
DIR. Hancker reported that about 3S
per cent of those committed to the State
Hospital for the Insane recover. He
thought thore was more intemperance
in this State in proportion to popula-
tion than in any other The report of
the Sussex county almshouse showed
that the institution had paid all ex-
penses and had SOL to it's credit,
Mrs. Ella g. Wogan, police matron.
reported that 275 females, of whom Ill
we're white, had been taken care Of at
the police station in the year. She
spoke of the need Of room for women
at the City Hall. In room 13xlS, 81
white and colored women had bean
confined for more than day. She re-
marked that IL she could confine the
members of the Legislature In the room
for II day they would most likely pro.
vide workhouse or other accommoda-
tions when they returned to Dover.
Father Welbers reported 128 boys in
st. Joseph's Home. He also spoke OF
the industrial village established at
Clayton by the late Father De Ruyter.
The Rev. u. j. Flynn reported that
st. Patrick's st. Vincent de Paul So
ciety has membership Of II. 1t ex-
tended relief to many families aud 29e
visits were made. 1t has collected fol
charity S505. 4S, and expended s445. So.
Interesting addresses were made
before the conference Friday evening.
Mrs. S. L. Oberhotzer Of Philadelphia
said the sub ject of school savings banks
is one of national importance. Children
are stimulated to industry, and deposit
in them the product of their own labor
and self-denial. The pennies they save
are planted in the bank as the seed Of
future fortune and good habits, instead
of being spent in candy and cigarette
shops. 1t has not heen found that Q
tendency to penuriousness is fostered,
but the children become more eeonomi.
cal and discriminating in the use oil
money, and will surely make more
provident and self.respecting citizens.
Pupils are allowed to take their bank
books home for day or two at the end
of each month, and the family interest
aroused by the monthly examination oil
these bank accounts has been found in
many cases to have taught lessons Of
thrift to the parents, through the chill
dren, and the condition OF the whole
family has been materially bettered.
Deposit cards are printed ready for use
aud the matter occupies but about 10
minutes each week. The system is liked
by the teachers and is useful In making
them more accurate. and acquainting
them with business methods The ex-
pertinent has been successfully made in
many of our cities, and in European
countries. Since its adoption in France
the children's savings have amounted
to II, 600. 900 francs.
PRISON REFORM.
Joseph James. superintendent of the
Chester county prison at West Chester,
gave much information regarding the
working of the system oil. the prison
discipline used there. The prisoners
do all of the work of the institution,
including the manufacture of their
own clothing. He showed specimens OF
shifting, jeans, bed ticking. rugs,
carpets. &C., woven on hand looms by
the prisoners. A large part of the in
dustry is the weaving of rag carpets,
making brooms and Gaming chairs for
sale. Each man is obliged to weave 10
yards day for the county; what he
weaves beyond that be is paid for. In
many cases the prisoners send the
money thus earned to their families; il
not, il is put aside and given to them
whsn they are discharged. In several
cases man has accumulated S25 by
the time he left the Jail. One of the
under keepers teaches the weaving,
broom making. &c. so no extra salary
has to be paid for the instruction.
The prisoners are kept in separate cells
II. .s.s1 =