Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-12-15

i SHdDiiity-lFom a sanitary StandpOin
of metal ones in Institutions of thil
character. Such Of the furniture a.
was beyond the reach of repair. or il
condition that specially fitte,
1t for bonfire, was disposed of
Ihat which was whole and capable Ol
further use was treated to new fresh
coat of paint-and the transformation
was little short of wonderful. Wher.
ever it was found advisable to remove
wooden bedsteads they were replaced
with iron ones. having good woven
| wire springs. Much of the old bedding
was destroyed, and what remained was
thoroughly cleaned Wherever wooden
bedsteads have been retained they
have been fitted with woven wire
springs. 1t will be the policy of the
present management, however, 10
gradually replace these with iron ones.
AT the present time, clean straw beds
are used in all the rooms, and a num-
Der of clean extra ticks are kept on
hand. in order that any of them, If
necessary, may be Immediately put in
use
Another move in rendering the rooms
of the inmates comfortable. was the
providing of good, stout, wooden
rocking chairs. While these chairs
were not expensive-being of the plain
kind which are easy to keep clean
they are thoroughly comfortable and
have been much appreciated by the
inmates of the house. particularly
those who are old and feeble.
But bare walls. however clean they
may be scrubbed, can never impart
home atmosphere. This fact Mr. Rob-
ertson was quick to recognize.
Through the columns of the Journal he
appealed to the people of our city, for
pictures to hang upon the walls of the
rooms and Railways of the almshouse
The response was both prompt and
generous An ample supply of framed
pictures was speedily contributed, and
with them wonderful change has
been wrought. The baroness of walls
has been largely hidden from sight
and an atmosphere of comfort and
cheer impaired to the rooms and cor
ridors which could not have been Sc
cured in any other way. Inmates. too,
have been encouraged to cultivate
plants whenever they have been willing
to assume the care of them.
Another difficulty was encountered in
the fact that Il few simple minded boys
who slept in some small attic rooms. and
who. of necessity. are constant care to
the management. had no common sitting
room on the lower floors. and in conse-
auence. were accustomed to spend Il con-
siderabl portion of their spare time rae
ing and rollicking about the Railways to
the great annoyance of the other in
mates. This was remeded by making Il
sitting room for these boys out of the
southwest corner room on the lower floor.
"A able and is provided with number of
good rocking and other chairs.
Here the boys are required to pass what
spare time they may have about the
house during the day.
The success of this experiment. and its
excellent results in the order of the
house. suggested to Mr.. Robertson the
idea of providing a general sitting room
and reading room for the older inmates of
the home where they might come togeth-
er to READ and knit-and where it would
be possible for them to gather for relig
ious services or social amusements. The
idea was broached to Mayor Choate and
third nOor in the northeast corner
of the house is a large room which
was used for a store room. This room is
not only light and airy. but it commands
"a beautiful view of the city up and down
the valley and to the heights across the
river. BY the aid of private contribu-
tions this room. at a very triflinS eX-
pense. has undergone a wonderful
change A large round table occupies the
center of it and is well covered with mag
azines and periodicals. the gifts of various
citizens. There are, too, neat window
curtains. number of comfortable chairs
and best of all a handsome organ-a
loan from Mr.. Robertson. When the
Journal man visited the aims house. this
room was occupied by a bevy of old la
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