The times., 1899-12-03
A HAVEN FOR The POOR
WashingtOn's Unique Institution
for the FriendleSS Wanderer.
Novel Features of the Home of the
Good snmnritun-Au Men Fed and
Clothed without QuestlOn-PriVi-
Ieges Never Abused by Those Who
Share in This Generous Charity.

Share in This Generous Charity.
There is one place in the Capital City OF
the nation where good food, d comfortable
bed, and a warm and well ventilated room
may be had by the poorest creature that
applies. And these comforts may be had
Tor the asking. The ca4y recommendation
needed is absolute poverty, complete mis-
cry, and ragged and filthy garments. The
hatless, coatless, and shoeless unfortunate
is more welcome to his house than those
who are better clad and less miserable.
The greater the misery, the more absolute
the dependency, the warmer and heartier
the welcome.
No payment for this entertainment is ac-
cepted, no work from the inmates is ex-
pected, and no restrictions are imposed
Absolute freedom to go and come is given
to all, and no questions are asked. This
haven of rest for the weary is the Home
of the Good Samaritan, at 1917 l. Street
northwest, and Ii is under the care Of the
Leagus of the Good Samaritan, the officers
of which are William f. Downey, presi-
dent; Charles NJ. Connell, secretary, and
Joseph E. Roach, treasurer The active
superintendent and founder of the Home
is Mr. Downey.
4 visit to the Home.
A reporter of The Times visited the
Home He was not expected, and his en-
trance was in the nature of surprise.
He found in long room twenty neat
ly clad men reading at tables. There was
an appearance of contentment on the faces
of all. When the reporter entered the
room the men arose, and bowed politely,
and resumed their seats and their reading.
The room was scrupulOusly clean, the
floor being bare and polished. Along the
west SIDE of IL, were number OF tier
beds made of iron, and having iron spring
mattresses, flannel blankets and com
fortables. When made up these beds
formed two tiers, and they certainly ap-
peared to be as easy and comfortable as
anyone would require. The beds accom-
modated twenty-five persons.
At the south end of the room there is a
small gallery. upon which is an organ and
I beneath it two well-filled bookcases, and
a table that holds a number of daily and
weekly papers and magazines. The north
end of the room is used for the kitchen, and
for this purpose it is as complete as it pos
sibly can be, with its range, hot and cold
water, closets, and utensils. Partitloned
off from the kitchen is the hot and cold
water shower bath. The flooring is of
cement and waste pipes drain off the water
when used. The one imperative rule of the
Home is that every person admitted to II
| must first Of all take bath and good
one at that. Their clothing, if good ioT
anything is placed in a fumigator and
/ thoroughly disinfected, after which it Is
washed and mended. If the clothing is
useless, # is burned and its owner is pro-
1 vided with an outfit
willing Help of the Inmates.
/ Although the Home is under the direct
1 supervision of Mr. Downey, it is in many
respects cared for by the inmates. These
unfortunates have three officers whom they
( elect from their own number. One is q
sort of superintendent, whose control Is
/ absolute subject of course, to the ap-
/ proyal Of Mr. Downey. The two others are
/ the cook and the assistant cook. The
! cleanly appearance of the room, the ar
/ tistically decorated walls and ceiling are
/ the result of purely voluntary work By
+ the inmates. Those who want 10 aid il
making their quarters cheerful and com
Portable may do So or they may not. They
/ are never asked to work.
The total force of inmates is divided in
/ TO two watches The first watch leaves
the Home directly after breakfast and goe:
i in search of employment. The men return
/ at noon. and then the second watch goe:
/ out in quest of work. When one is sue
cessful he sewers his connection with the
I Home and provides for himself. There /!
/ not = lock and key about the premises, anC
the well-stocked pantry is always open, bu
there has never been a case Of theft IN the
/ HGme In speaking of the institution b,
| has established Mr.. Downey said that al
! men are welcome. There is no enquiry al
/ TO religious belief or discrimination be
] cause of age or color, but it is rarely tha
/ a colored man applies for admission. A
present there are in the Home a numbe
of Protestants Catholics, a Jew, and
Korean There are mechanics, statesmen
a school teacher and former business man
as well as day laborers. Each receives tn
same treatment and appears TO be mort
than content
Mr.. Downey has for more than ten year
been a member OF the Society of st. Vim
cent de Paul and engaged in visiting til
| prisons reformatorieE, etc, in the city AM
| it was because of his study of the socia
| problem while engaged in this work tina
he conceived the idea Of the Home Of th
Good Samaritan. He submitted his plan
10 the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, bu
no action could be Immediately taken OF
the proposition by the organization Tn
I
guage of Mr. Downey, who said;
Origin of the Institution.
The Home was brought abou
by the fierce blizzard of Febru
airy, 1895, which drove scores 0
these poor creatures TO my door 70
shelter and assistance several Of whom
were in a deplorable condition, with frost
bitten feet. scant clothing, and withou
food or shelter. Seeing the necessity TO
immediate action and feeling that my pla
was practical, and one, which in time woul
meet with the approval and support of tn
charitable, ! no longer hestated and a
once opened and furnished a home for thi
purpose which not only supplied the much
needed relief at the time but has since ac
complished so much good that il has wo
warm friends among all classes. who hav
voluntarily come to its aid.
There is no sympathy, no proyisio
made for the unemployed and homeless
,,..pTer-r Thayy must NOT bap- tbay Tn1te