The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-07-11

The desperate crisis just made pub
lie concerning the affairs of the Home
of the Friendless has shocked the
community beyond measure and touch
ing as it does the popular heart, it
would seem that with the wealth and
influence to be commanded in this
city the institution which for twenty
seven years has perhaps done more
work in the way of preventing crime
and alternating suffering than half the
churches, should be relieved from the
heavy burden under which it is strug-
Cling. The conditions are the result of
no reckless extravaganza and no pos
sible fault of the management, but
rather of a combination of circum-
stances in which the financial depres-
sion of three years ago and a succeed
ing chain of ill fortune has been promi-
nent factors. Among the discourage
ments may be mentioned the fact that
in the past three wills have been left
by deceased friends in which money
has been bequeathed to the Home, but
in each case technical points of law
the dead toward the noble charity in
mind.
1t will be remembered that the plot
of ground now occupied by the insti-
tuition was donated to the home by the
Pennsylvania Coal company through
the kindness Of the late John b. Smith.
The crowded state of the old building
made some change imperative, and as
a new structure had to be erected, il
was deemed best by all concerned tC
give the little children and the feeble
old women the benefit of the fine ali
and the beautiful location of the Dun
more property, A sale of the old place
which it was thought would immedi
ately be arranged, was not concluded
and 1t was found necessary to secure
a loan. A mortgage of $4,000 wa,
placed on the old home and later an,
other of 100000 on the new building;
$1,000 OF the entire sum is all that ha,
been paid, and the management ha.
now for two years been endcavorin;
TO keep up the interest on $33 900. II
the meantime a vast increase of ex
pense is recorded, and the effort to pro
vide for the larger family and also e
carry the burden of the mortgage ha
reached point where it is folly Z
continue the struggle. With relief from
the drain of the interest payments, tn
institution could be comfortably sup
ported from the annual membershl
fees and the many gifts from gencr
Gus friends. together with the enter
tainments which from time to tim
bring in considerable sums.
While the suggestion that those VIII
annually patronize the Home excur
sion might send the money thus usual
ly expended to help tide over the stres
OF the summer, is one which should b
acted upon, 1t is still necessary to d
something more and il is now tin,
that the cncumbTances on the Home fc
the Friendless are cleared up once an
for all. Let the people who lntcn
leaving handsome bequests to the II
stitution pay it in now while they al
alive, 10 see the blessing they conf,
and reap the full reward of their gel
erosity. Let those who have bee
blessed in worldly goods give Of the
substance now, when 1t Is needed (,
the benefit Of one of the real charlti,
Of earth, where they know their none
IS being well employed. Let friends
the Home all over the city bestlr then
selves and see what can be done
prevent abandoning work that is n
where more needed than in this cor
munity,