The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-21
DRUNKEN WomEN's HOME.

/ ~ IN AGN w OuL EN- - HOG46-
! CF'rom Lady Henry Somersets Report.
| The village at Duxhurst received its
| first inmates in January, 1896. The
! scheme itself is unique, as there is no
| other institution for women in this
country on exactly the same lines. 1t IS
| hoped and anticipated that, if success
/ full, this home will serve in the future,
in measure. as q, model for state-sup-
ported institutions throughout the
country. The model village stands
among the beautiful hills of Surrey
on a farm of $50 acres, a group of six
cottages clustering around large
house. Each cottage has its separ-
ate establishment presided over by
nurse matrOn from the Church Army
There is no institutional character in
the arrangements; everything IS pref
ty, hOme-like and cheerful Inc de
STABILITY of separating the women into
small groups is especially emphasized
for, although the plan entails more
workers, the results fully JUSTIFY the
expenditure and the additional care.
The women are engaged In outdoor
work under the observation-disclosures of a
lady gardener from Swanley college
We cannot dwell too emphaUcalIy upon
the benefit of this Open-air occupation
The altered appearance OF some OF the
very worst cases testifies to its value.
Open air, new ideas, and above all the
encouragement of seeing direct result
from labor, have most beneficial ef-
feet on the impaired nervous system OF
the patients. The minimum charge Is
5 shillings a week for cottage patients.
Labor books are accurately kept, and
where it is ascertained patient has
earned her full keep, the extra money
is placed to her credit and handed to
her when she leaves the colony Mag
istrates have in many instances con
signed women to our care, giving them
the option of coming to the colony or
going to prison for short terms. We
have cases of women who have served
long and short sentences, one having
l,rrr r1r.aG fFnnfa
She is now, however, so far recovered
as to be able to take situation, with
every prospect of a respectable lite De
fore her. We endeavOr, as far as pos
sible to brighten the hours Of recrea-
ton; every night has its special Class
of entertainment There is one bright
feature connected with the scheme.
which, although not an integral part
of the original idea, is intimately bound
up with the success of the work, and
that is the -Children's home at the
Nest" The very sight of that long,
matched cottage, with the bright, red
hooded figures fitting in and out, adds
life to the lovely landscape and brings
a sense of hope that touches the wo-
men very nearly. The children come
to US from the slums of London and
we make a point of taking those who
are so poor that they are ineligible for
the holiday fund.
From the patients that have left us
we receive the most encouraging re
ports. It is singular how little trouble
we have had, considering how difficult
have been the cases with which we
We're called to deal OF course we have
had failures, but we expected them. On
the other hand, we have seen the wO-
men alter in the sunshine of the atmOs-
phere that has been around them, and
we have cases today of lives that we
believe to be wholly changed by their
residence among US. We believe that
in time we may almost make the cot
tages support themselves. We ask
that all who recognize the failure of the
manner in which we, as a nation. have
hitherto dealt with habitual inebriety,
should help as far as possible to give
US a fair start, and to lift from US the
financial burden. The object lesson
presented by the colony will be one of
value to all who study the working of
our penal methods.