The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-17
OLD FOLKS HOME.
Police Matr0n Thorpe Explains
Her Latest Plan.
Would Have a Place to House
the Poor.
THOSE WHO SUFFER.
Says That Many People Could
Be Relieved.
Wants a Place With IL or 15
Rooms.

"Philanthropists with money to dc
things should get together and REM a
Toofny old house and let it out free
during the winter to old people who
could earn enough to eat if they did not
nave to pay rent / know old people
who are now suffering with cold and
hunger to keep a shelter over their few
things khich they fondly call home -
Mrs. Laura E. Thorpe, police matron.
This, in a nutshell, is the latest plan
Grafton of the condition of the aged
poor of Topeka, some of whom. as Mrs
Thorpe declares, are suffering with cold
The proposition is quite unique, and
several questions are likely to arise in
the minds of everyone who considers
the wisdom of Mrs. Thorpe's plan.
Why don't the county take the aged
poor to the county farm?
How many suck cases are there in To-
peka2
is needed2
Who will be in general charge of the
house?
Who would pay for the use of the
house?
In explaining the details of her plan,
so far as decided in her own mind, Mrs.
Thorpe answered the questions which
suggested themselves. She said.
THE aged people of whom I speak
are not eligible for entrance to the
county farm, they are able to
(dAA l4ClI QDDOI except III winter
when it is sc cold. ana is hard to get
out and find work. If the poor farm
was close to town, so that these old peO-
4 pie could arrange to board there, pay
ing a small sum for their board, 1 think
1t would be unnecessary to have a spec
1al home for such cases. Besides, there
is a natural prejudice against becoming
n permanent inmate of the poor farm,
and these old people viii fight hard to
retain their independent existence.
Il should say that there were abou
TEN deserving cases of this kind in To-
peka at present / know, for instance,
of an old man and old woman who live
\ on East Fourth street, in a little room
for which they pay $1-25 a week The
works for 81 a week 1t is a mystery to
me how they n to exist. 1 think
they would not be able to live without
help from Poor missioner Hale.
Another deserving case is down on
Crane street, where there lives a widow
with a little boy to provide for.
1t really does not make much diff
ference what sort of q house we have.
or where it is located. Probably a house
could be secured cheaper in North To-
The upper rooms owe a store
ABBY would not cost much in some part
of town. I think that a dozen or fifteen
tToomS would be enough. One room could
4be used for a common laundry room.
II think that we could arrange with
lone of the tenants to be in charge of
house We would. of course, admit
|only desirable tenants, and / think that
There would be no extra expense for the
general supervision Of the house. Ap-
s~plfcants could be assigned to the rooms
lin any way thought best by the donors.
I'm regard to paying for the rent of
Ithe rooms, it seems to me that there are
Iwealthy people in Topeka who would
contribute SIS or $50 apiece to the char
|ity TO make it a success. I think that
'for a hundred dollars the rooms could
be rented for the necessary length of
|ktne each winter. If there is some man