Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1897-06-11
THE COUNTY lNFlRMARY,
The Editor Makes n Journey cover the
Hills to the Poor House,.


What conld be more suggestive of a
newspaper mans future than TO make
trip to the poor house?
We made such trip yesterday, and
found the condition of affairs out there
such as to justify us in thinking that
such place is not so bad after all We
were prompted to go out by desire to
see Just how matters were running
under the present regime.
In response to one ring, we were ush-
cred into hall that for cleanliness,
we, with all our prim ideas of house
keeping were tempted to exclaim at
the spotlessness of the place. After a
few minutes rest in a cosy sitting
room, Mrs. Briggs, the Matron, ap-
peared, and we got warm welcome at
her hands. Mrs. Briggs is such a
woman as makes an ideal matron. She
is a warm. hearted woman who makes
her visitors feel at home, and must give
great comfort to the inmates.
She took us over pretty much the
entire building, and in not the remotest
place was there evidence of the escape
from scrubbing brush and bi DOM. The
only draw back to the utter cleanines
is that it is possible the great assiduity
of the housekeepers will wear the place
out.
The principal Railways are carpeted,
some with ingram and others with rag
carpet made on the premises, and war
ranted good. In each private room and
dormitory is displayed many of the com
forts of home, and to many of the occu
pants, more than they ever knew when
under their rooftrees in the days of
their independence when not county
charges.
The place is heated by gas the main
building largely by open fires. The
asylum (the new buildingJ is heated by
hot air furnace. Throughout the
house, according to their ability
to appreciate, the inmates are sur
rounded by comforts which must
greatly lessen the pang of having to
! go TO suCu al pldCe'
The main kitchen and dining room
is presided over by Miss Viola Bel !,
who proves most efficient in caring for
the wants of the inmates. A dinner
composed of good fare, and plenty of
it, was on the table yesterday, and it
was partaken of in a quiet orderly
manner. They get plenty of good
things, and even strawberry shortcake
frequently falls to their lot.
AT present there are in the house 81
persons, and among them there are
only five colored people; two of these
are happy old colored couple, Uucle
Jackson Washington and his wife,
Peggie, who sit comforta bly, side by
side, enjoying the evening of their
lives.
The farm consists of nearly $50 acres,
and it shows itself to be ir intelligent
hands, for on the face of every field
smiles provender for man and beast.
The farm is in charge of perintendent
j. F. Briggs, assisted by Mr. Frank
Dye and Charles Briggs, The inmates
help with their work commensurate
with their capacities and according to
their desire.
To keep the people about the place
''sewed up" Miss Emma Bowman is en-
ployed, and to assist about the presid-
ing family's kitchen and dining room
is Miss Mary Sandford.
To feed all concerned it requires
three barrels of flour each week; and
the potatoes eaten in the same length
of time will amount to about fourteen
bushels. Seventeen COWS supply cream
and milk for all, and butter of the best
Il plenty to more than go round.
Churning is done every day except sun
day, and Saturday sees the operation
gone through with twice.
City water is used, and clean, we'll
kept bathrooms and closets prevail
In convenient places are put automatic
chemical fire eztinguishers to prevent
so far as possible conhagration.
In sick beds there are at present only
five persons, and they are we'll looked
after by DR.. Mitchell and careful nurses
generally inmates who take pride
and pleasure in the responsibility
1t is the policy of the Directors and
Mr. Briggs to buy all the supplies here
at home, so that the expense of rum
nlng the institution is in a large degree
returned to its supporters.
The Directors, Messrs. Richards,
Schnaufer and Cranston, are certainly
entitled to large credit for their policy
of conducting the Infrmary, and they
may congratulate themselves on hav-
ing Mr.. Briggs TO execute it,
Just try 10 cent boy of Cnsrnrets.