The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-18
NEW BUILDING IS
NOW OCCUPIED
Family Of the Home for the Frlendless
Take Possession OF II.
SOME VERY PATHETIC INCIDENTS
Many of the Old Ladies' Were Loath
to Leave the Old Quarters on
Adams Avenue Which Had Grown
Very Dear TO Thom - The New
Building Is a Beautiful One and
Has a Surprisingly Fine Location.

Last night the family of the Home
Tor the Friendless slept for the first
time under the roof of the new build
ing. 1t was an unquiet rest, Cor many
of the inmates, particularly the elderly
ones, who for years had laid their heads
on the pillow placed in a certain direc-
tion in the shabby old rooms which
had grown so dear.
About 1 o'clock yesterday a process
sion started from the spot which has
been a shelter for twenty-five years
for the destitute and homeless. 1t was
an interesting procession, freighted
with the old and weary almost stepping
with heavy feet across the threshold
of another life; of the young before
whom more than before most children
stretches an unknown path; of DESC
late, deserted wives bearing wailing
little ones upon their breasts; of others
thrust out of homes in their helpless
age and intirmity, for an old person
without money to leave is of course
a burden to many who in turn in the
years to come will be burdens on their
friends. Following came the final loads
Of household treasures so familiar in
the old institution, while last of all
trudged along double quartette Of
tIc ltll Stol bOyS WIFI cart llileu WllI
precious things. "I knew they were
from the Home" exclaimed one of the
managers who did not at first recog-
nize the bright little faces, "for where
else but from the Home would proceed
eight boys who would simultaneously
and with the utmost gravity take off
their caps at sight of Home man
ager?"
JOINED THE PROCESSION.
Several members of the board fur
nished carriages to convey the family
away, and nearly everyone but the
faithful matron, Mrs. A. X. Walker,
went with the procession" She re-
mained to arrange for the departure Of
the Others and to close the house.
The scene at the new building was
interesting indeed. The children were
wild with delight, but there were those
among the aged who looked at the
fine edifice rising In the brilliant sun
shine and then glanced with a sigh
beyond where a belt of trees just hid
the Home plot in Forest Hill cemetery.
Some of the old ladies were discovered
in out of the way places, amid all the
splendor of bright surroundings and
new furniture, weeping over the lost
IL.
Others wandered around in disconso-
late fashion, saying over pathetically:
II want my own chair; do wonder if
they brought my trunk I've had these
fifty years." or II cant stand it If they
won't let me have my bureau that John
bought when Maggie was a baby" But
soon in the excitement of getting set
sd they forgot their woes and, finding
ehe missing treasures, began to see the
superior attractions of the beautiful
home. Long before night more than
one aged face smiled placidly as its
owner rocked In contentment in her
own dainty room furnished with a neat
iron bed painted white, and with a
pretty bureau, warm, bright rug and
other delightful things surrounding her
OLD LADIES' ROOM.
The old ladies' rooms are all on the
first floor and look out on a magnificent
view. They are sunny and spacious
and make anyone feel an impulse of
willingness to Immediately become a
= nice "a lady with cap and room in
the tAne for the Friendless.
Everything was. of course, in con.
fusion yesterday and it was only by
the liveliest effort that the dormitories
could be prepared for occupancy. Mrs
c. p. Matthews, Mrs. w. d. Kennedy
Mrs. ]. f. Carmalt, Mrs. N Y. Leet
Mrs. A. Hendrick, Mrs. ]. A Robert
son and others We're on the spot en-
deavoring to evolve order out of chaos
1t seemed rather a hopeless task, as
many of the rooms are as yet unfur.
nished, despite the generous gifts OF
friends. Among those not yet provided
for are the matron's sleeping room
which is one of the lower chambers
and the board room below.
The building is so beautiful. the loca
tion is so surprisingly fine that the
visitor is overwhelmed with the pros.
pect. One cloud rests upon it, and tina
is the ominous black cloud of a deb
of $4,000.