The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-12-09
HOME FOR THE FRIENDLESS
ANNUAL MEETING HELD TESTER
 DAY-OFFICERS ELECTED.

EIlenQIeSS, w euneSQay dIlefloolit hIS'
 Osborne, the secretary, gave a careful review of the work of the Home and it's present needs. The report is as follows:
 As we record to-day the closing of the thirty-second year of the Homes eXis- tence, we remember with grateful hearts the generosity which has put us in possession of the well-equipped and spacious buildings which are nearly filled by our large family of women and children, and which we hope may al ways endure as Home for the Friend- less. These build ngs are most durably constructed; they are nearly fire-proof, warm sunny and convenient. Of course our enlarged quarters entail additional expendi lures, as every housek eper knows; and even with the oid-- ash toned New England economy, which is thoroughly understood and cheerfully practiced by our management, we ind that more money must be annually raised in the future than has been hith- erto To offset this rather discouraging fact we are encouraged to find our selves able to do more and better work than ever before. That this wCrk is | necessity in our rapidly-groWing com munity is shown by the number and urgency of the applications made for admission to the Home.
 Owing to our small income, we find it necessary to very strictly limit our aid to such cases as being worthy, cannot be received elsewhere, and often sorely against our will, we are obliged to send an inmate from us when, owing to change in her condition, she can more appropriately be cared for elsewhere. Several aged women have been trans i ferred from the Home to the General hospital during this last year, since as we have no fund for the maintenance of a nurse, we cannot keep an inmate who needs skilled or even constant atten6ance. Of course in eases f sud- sen and short illness we hire nurse for little while, but this is too seriau an 1 expense to be often incurred and per manently helpless person must be sent 1 to a hospital.
 l When the Mary Wade House was built space was designad for an ele- vator which we shall put in whenever the money to pay for it is given to us Even our easy stairs are insGrnounta- ble for the very aged and infirm in mates, and add greatly to our difficult ties in caring for them. With an eleva- ter in the building we might often re- ceive an inmate unable to go up and down stairs, who can now be admitted only when we have a vacant room on the ground floor as all are necessarily ' ,i,lnI tn hlT al 1JynS n6 to go to the dining-room for their meals as a general rule. This gift of an ele- vator is one of the things which we hope for
 Telephone communica with the Home is another much needed thing, which would greatly tighten the burden borne by our executive officers. This, too must wait until some generous friend provides it for us.
 Many gifts have been received for the i furnishing of the new building, all though several rooms are still unfur- nished, and for this reason cannot be occupied. Two rooms had been nams d ! in accordance with the wishes cf those who gave the money for their furniture. I One is called the Caroline M. Fabrique room. It was completely furnished by members of Dwight Place church. The other room is named the Strong room, and was furnished by the members of Mrs. Strong's Sunday-school class of Plymouth church.
 In March Miss Slater resigned, being quite tired out. Mrs. Bradley succeed ed her as matron in April and resigned in July. Miss Slater, finding herself equal to the duties of the place after three months of rest, again took the po- sition of matron in July.
 Dr. Boyer resigned in August. Dr. Adams was appointed his successor as attending physician.
 The Bible class has been, as always, an important feature of the life of the Home. Sunday services under the aus pices of the different churches have been regularly held and much enjoyed and the frequent visits of some of the ministers of the city have given great comfort to the inmates.
 Thankseivirg and Christmas are al- ways days remembered by the inmates of the Home, whose lives are of neces- sity so monotonous.
 Certain friends have for many years not forgotten these days. By their libe- rality the Thanksgiving dinner and the Christmas tree have been provided These are eagerly looked forward to- and have been made occasions of hap pinesa and pleasure.
 Of the eighty-seven inmates who have been in the Home during this year, for ty-siX are still there, and one is at the hospital on our free bed.
 There have been several cases of seri- ous illness among the old women, but no death One woman over eighty years of age has had cataracts removed from both eyes and after two years of total blindness she can see once more. She is very happy in the enjoyment of her recovered faculty, and very thank ful to the friend who defrayed the ex- pens7s of the operation.
 In February the children at the Home had the mess'es. In May whooping cough made it's appearance among them. All the cases were mild and re- covery was speedy.
 Eleven young girls have been received in the hope that Christian SUIT undir gs and watchful care might save them from further wrong doing. In the ma- jority of these cases we have reason to feel that our help has been extended in time, and the hope for the future is very good indeed
 During the year We have been asked to care for number of deserted ard