The Portland daily press., 1898-10-19
FEMALE ORPHAN ASYLUM.
The Annual Meeting, Reports and Election
of Officers.

The Female Orphan Asylum closed the
seventieth year of its existence yester-
day.
This is the report of the president:
This institution, founded in 1928, closes
it's seventy years of work for homeless
children, with gratitude for past favors,
and begins it's seventy first birthday with
congratulations to it's friends and patrons
that they have achieved such marked sue
cess.
Never in our history have SO many chill
dren of both sexes been sheltered under
our roof. Never has the asylum been
under more efficient care. or the recipient
of more fayors from its generous patrons.
Gifts, large and small, have beeu timely
and welcome. Money, clothing, furniture.
toys and provisions have been furnished
us, all serving to brighten young lives
and lessen the sorrows OF sad little hearts:
Early in November, 1897, we were called
to the bedside of one. who from early
childhood had been an inmate of our
home. A little dark-eyed girl Of five
years, brought to us by loving grand
mother, too poor to care for the child,
Mary Ella Crosby grew up, blessing to
all with whom she came in contact, ris-
ing to the place OF assistant matron,
loved and obeyed by the children. A
spinal trouble developing, gradually in
validism took her to other surroundings,
until after three weary years, she was at
rest. At her funeral, from the Sylum,
her expressed and unexpressed wishes
were carried out and everything that love
could do was done by those to whom her
beautiful Christian life and example had
endeared her.
The event of the year has been the erec-
tion OF new dormitory at our Summer
Home on Great Chebeague island, the
credit of which is due to one of our mana
gers, who has given time and thought and
money.
The summer proved an exceptionally
healthy one, requiring neither physician n
or medicine, fresh air and sunshine super
ceding them.
We have received into the family thirty
children, four were returned to us by
persons who had taken athem on tria'.
Our present family consists of Miss Wash
burn, matron; Miss Flegar, assistant ma
tIon; Miss Peterson, nursery matron;
and Mrs. Davis, cook; thirty-nine chill
dren on October first, eight of them boy s
and thirty one girls. In the early spring
we had forty-four children. Nine have
been placed in homes mostly for adop-
tion, eight have been returned to their
friends. and four in the nursery have
died. One, frail baby, whose appealing
eyes seemedSto tell the story of abandon
ment by his unnatural father and mother.
Since October first. one girl has left
and two girls and three boys have been
admitted.
Just here we cannot but refer to the
effects of the easy divorce laws of our
state Fathers and mothers separating
and often re marrying the children or the
former marriages are disowned ana
thrown upon public charity Still more
appalling is the large number of illegit1-
ob of irrpSnnnS1 hla n6Of l0.
The consolation is, that when fathers
and mothers forsake them, the Lord
takes them up" Kindly hearts respond
to our appeals good Christian homes open
for boys as for girls. and true fathers and
mothers take them for their own.
In closing, we desire to express our IN
debtedness to our able treasurer, Mr..
Barrett, for wise counsel and prudent
handling of our funds; to our patrons, for
their economy and good management;
to our patrons and friends for confluence
and encouragement, and to our physician,
DR.. ellison, for his freely given services.
Most of all, our gratitude to God for his
blessing upon our work.
HANNAH 4. FEM, President.
The report of the treasurer Mr. Frank
lin r. Barrett showed income 70. 800. 81
and expenditures the same amount.
There has been received the past year to
be added to the permanent fund from the
estates of Woodbury. and Caroline II.
Davis 81, 1853 &c. estate of Cyrus Cole ST.
$50. SIS, a friend S100, total ST. S55.1l.
These officers were elected:
Presicent-M William FL. Fem.
Vice President-Miss Hannah A. An
derson.
Seer etary-Miss A bby S. Barrett.
Trea surer-Mr. franklin r. Barrett.
Managers-Mr John B. Brown, Mrs.
James p. Baxter, Mrs Walter S. Beckett.
Miss M. e. Barrett, Miss Mary J. II.
Clapp, Mrs. Hiram L. Jones, Miss L b.
johnson, Mrs. James +. Mcdowell, Mrs.
Charles B. Nash, Mrs. William l.. put-
nam, Mrs. Sidney W. Thaxter, Mrs.
George E. Thompson, Mrs George F.
Thurston, Mrs r. Ii. Turner.
Auditor-Mr. Sidney ". Thaxter.