The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-06-04
28THE ANNUAL ERE:PORIj[I
Of sh. cA.la..a,. ,lo.n.,. J. u. CITY :,

tho city Of Wheeling, It may. be proper
to observe that the very nature OF many
of the results obtained precludes the
possibility OF any definite conception OF
the value OF the institution nnd It's
achievements In n brief review. How
can we sum up and present In compre-
henslye form the value OF rescuing I'm
fortunate, and neglected walls from the
terrible evils that surround them, and
bringing them under the best moral
and religious influence while their ma
tureS are st!ll PLASTER Or how can we
compute the beneficial results OF pro-
viding destitute little ones with shelter,
food and clothing, and a permanent
home with some kind family? Although
we cannot furnish an adequate idea OF
the actual results, In short statement.
It Is well to render an annual report
to give some account OF our steward
ship. to keep before the public. the
needs OF the institution, to quicken the
interest OF new friends and to stlmu-
late that OF old ones.
The officers and directors gave due
attention to the business interests OF the
not have been accomplished without
thC hhiut, blub bCiGSk aho
OF the lady managers. sifi
During the year. we met with deep
loss by the death OF Louis G. Stitel,
second vice president and lifelong
friend OF the Home, and OF Miss Louise
Forney, the devoted matron.
Herewith are submitted reports OF
various departments OF work under
the supervision OF the board OF lady
managers:
Mrs, ]. g. Hupp. president, presents
the following: g 4
6"As board we have held eleven
regular monthly meetings, transacting
at each meeting whatever business
would come up at the time, all consci-
ent!ously considered, for the best in
terests or our work, which work, as a
board OF managers, is quite q respon-
sible one. not given necessarily to pub
licity. Therefore. what Is done, Is gen,
orally known only to the parties inter-
ested. The children intrusted to the
Home by parents, guardians or decree
OF court, are by the rules Of the instltu-
ton, only given temporary home, It
being the. work of the board to place
these children In homes OF adoption.
Thdr new home must prove to the child
either veal or woe. We are all liable to
err In our judgment sometimes, and af-
ter investigating references, which can
be easily furnished by those applying,
we may make mistakes In placing child
rem. II so, we remedy It by recalling
them. This we seldom have to do.
On the contrary, the majority sent out
are happily situated. Letters from
the parties adopting. and also from the
child. expressing complete satisfaction,
are frequently received. 4 The express
sions OF pleasure and gratitude OF
members of the board at the reading OF
such letters show well the great inter-
est taken In these friendless children.
The average number OF children cared
for during the past year was greater
than any preceding year.
During the past year. our faithful
matron, Miss Louisa Forney, OF twenty
years experience, was removed By
death. She, was untiring in her duties,
often beyond her strength, her chief
desire being at all times the best in
terest OF the Home. She was unceas-
Ing in her devotion, and mother to
the little ones under her care.
This report would not be complete
without a. few words concerning our
sack gathering. which has become
part OF our Chillren's Home work 1t
is great source, OF maintenance, looked
forward to yearly am glad to say
that the yield each year Is equal to
the preceding one, showing that the
sympathy OF the city Is with the well
fare OF the Home. The sacks continue
to come In well filled with that, which
Is useful. and for which we ore CRATE
full to a generous public"
Mrs. John J, Jones, Chairman OF the
binding committee, submits the follow
lag report: n, -
''The past year, has been one OF UNI
usual activity for the Children's Home.
Applications for children have been nu-
merous, especially for girls, those rang
Ing from twelve to fifteen years being
in the greatest demand. During the
year eighteen children have been sent
to homes four; boys and fourteen girls.
OF these four: boys one ran away and
went TO his father, who lives near. the
city. Upon Investigation It was found
that his father, had become temperate
man, and his circumstances had SO, far
improved that he was able to provide
for his son. so 1t was decided to let him
keep the boy. The other three boys
have good homes In the country.
OF the fourteen girls. five were re-
turned to the parents or near relatives,
as 1t Is the policy OF the board Of man
ayers to restore children to their own
relatives, when they furnish proof that
they are morally and financially quail
filed 10 again take charge OF them.
More good Is accomplished by this fea-
ture Of the work OF the Home than the
present management will ever know.
"Of the nine girls sent to places, We
feel that we have been particularly for
tunate In securing good homes for them,
as they have been given, with one ex-
ceptlon, to mfddle-aged people, who
have raised children Of their own We
find that In. placing children In such
homes they receive mora love and gym
pathy, more genuine parental care
than when placed with younger people.
Besides the nine girls placed Z. In
homes during the current year, four
girls have been transferred from homes
where they have been for some time to
other places. and the change has been
for the better in all but one case. AT
one OF the meetings OF the board ~
managers few months since middle
aged woman was present who wished to
get little girl. She said: Pap and me
have raised O family, but they have all
married and gone to homes OF their
own, which IS all right, but we arc
so lonesome without some young person
about the house that just thought
I would come here and sec II I could
get little girl to take home md raise
As her references were satisfactory,
and the genial kindness OF her face
was n sufficient guarantee Of her good
ness OF heart, her application was i'm
mediately granted. and she, made her
own choice oEn little, girl While she