New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-08
A WOMAN'S NOBLE WORK.
"A CHu.pREN.s HOME FOR sIxTY-FoUR
YEARS UNDER FEMININE MAN
AGEMENT.
rHp LATE PRESIDENT. MRS h c HoUoHToN
CONTINUED IN HER DUTIES ALMOST TILL
THE DAY OF HER DEATH.

THE DAY OF HER DEATH
The death of Mrs. Henry C. HouFhton'
president OF the American Femels GUARDIAN society
ard Home for the FrieHdless calls attention 10 thS
fact that for sixty-four years this Institution mas
been managed entirely by women. and that the
money for it's central house. No % East twenty
ninth-st, and No. 80 East Thlrteth-stv was con-
tributed by women, most OF them farmers wives
and members OF village churches. whose hearts
were full OF pity for the city's outcast chlidren.
In this house for the last fifty years three nun
bred and more little ones have been sheltered an.
nuauy They are children who have been deserted
BY their parents-litte nameless Johns ano James
or those whose parents ill-reat them, so that 'hey
must be separated from them. In some cases the
children are received only temporarily. because OF
the breaking up OF the family through DEATH SICK
ness or financial distress. The nursery. with It's
nifty little white beds. and the hndersarten as well
O. the dormitories and schoorooms FOR tho larger
boys and girls. are pleasant places TO Visit "hen
the children legally surrendered 20 the eociety
they are kept until prepared 20 go out for adoption
and until suitable homes offer. and after they are
sent away they are KEEP. IN view by tho visits OF
the secretary and by letters. Hundreds o. these
children now and women, nre useful and re-
spected citizens many OF them az the head of MONIES
Of their own.
Several years ago John D. Wright presented tho
society with an old mansion at Oceanport n. j..
about two miles from Long Branch, TO be useo as
summer home. More room was soon needed
hcre and three wears ago Mrs J. d. Wright erected
an additional building as memorial Of her son, 20
that now the whole two hundred children are taken
down there for the entire summer. Two summers
ago hospi. ~, entirely separate from the other
buildings wa. erected, largely through the gifts OF
Long Braccl cottagers. With thirteen acres OF
ground thi2 forms delightful summer home
In this c.,y the society carries on twelve primary
schools registering about five thousand scholars
each year These schools are placed in the poorest
tenement-house noighborhoods Of the city, where
there Is not sufficient public school accommodation
for the children. When this IS provided or the
neighborhood greatly improves. the schools remove
20 other sections. Filled as they with the CHI.
dren Of the poorest classes. many OF whom come
breakfastess 10 school and would ind no dinner on
their return home. a luncheon Of bread Is provided
daily to those who wish II. and in some OF the
schools hot Is served during the winter
months Besides tho regular work OF the public
school schedule. several Industries taught 70
these ch1ren-sewng. cooking chair-caning, COB
bling and carpentry. In the summer a fres;h-air
the organ o; the society sends many OF these chill
dren away TO the country for fortnight. The
mothers and younger children are sent on day ex-
Mrs Houghton became president Of the society t
the active discharge of the duties OF that office al
two years her friends had been urging Ter to give
up tie work. but she begged them not 70 mention
such thing. saying that II would be ike giving
Mrs. Houghton was always accessible to any Of
the socety's workers" said nemner yesterday,
made rule never 10 consider matter closed al
ways being willing 70 admit new evidence and. Il
NEED be- reverse her former decision which she did
Mrs Houghton came 10 New-York from Var
mouth Ne. in 1859 after her marriage 70 Henry G.
residence here after graduating from the medical
department Of the University 0, NewYork.