The Washington times., 1901-07-14

! Are in Humble circumstances.
/ Half hidden among the trees. at the
/ TOP of a hill, where the Postoffice
Branch Road crosses Grant Road, the
/ Children's Country Home is located. 1t
! is conducted by two sisters of charity
/ of the Episcopal Order of st. Margaret,
/ and supported by the voluntary offer
! ings of the people of Washington. The
| laughter of forty little ones, happy in
/ their recreations, now greets the visi-
! tors and gives assurance of the effective
work for good being accomplished
| there. Cramped in their charitable eff
forts by the limita ton of the means at
! their disposal, the sisters have. how
ever. set themselves to a noble task
which they are doing with all their
might.
On alternate Mondays, during the
summer months, early in the morning a
group of children, numbering from
thirty to forty, and VARYING in ages
from three to fifteen years, gather at
| the corner of Fourteenth and u Streets.
| These are the little ones, selected under
the supervision of Miss Mamie Gordon,
of the Epiphany Mission, to spend the
| fortnight at the Home. The children are
taken from the homes of the poor peo-
pie of Washington, without regard to
creed, with only the object Of relieving
the sufferings entailed on the children
of urban poverty, by the terrible heat
of summer, and to provide in exchange
recreation, fresh air, and wholesome
food for the necessarily brief period Of
their stay at the Home.
The little folk board the cars here,
and their fare is paid out of the meagre
funds of the Home. Transferring to the
Chevy Chase electric line, they arrive
shortly at the Grant Road, where they
leave the cars and walk to the Home.
The Home is some little distance from
the line of usual travel, and a walk of
perhaps a quarter of a mile brings them
to the Branch Road.
At the Home, the sisters take them in
charge, and they are soon thoroughly
domiciled in their new quarters. Quar-
ters are assigned TO them in the two
large dormitories, where little iron beds,
ranged side by side, are neatly spread
with the whitest of linen. Their be
Iongings are deposited beside the beds,
and the little ones are then at liberty to
amuse themselves. Wide porches.
shaded with awnings, stretch on two
sides of the main building. and are for
the usa of the children. Several acres
of land, shaded by many groves Of fine
trees. and with grassy slopes, and sand
ed roads. provide an ample play
ground. Here the little folk build sand
forts, ride in the old tricycle., which is
sadly in need Of being replaced through
charity BY d new one, use the swing,
play hide and seeF and other chiidren's
games. romp. and enjoy themselves to
their hearts content, in such manner as
they may devise, with only kindly and
loving restraint to control their sport.
Every day the large Dayton, which
viii carry about ten little ones, takes
the children about the surrounding
country for an hours drive, returning
at the end of that period for a second
load, until they all have received the
benefit of a ride. AT meal time the
children take their place at the long
table. covered with white oil cloth, and
enjoy the simple but wholesome food
provided. Pure milk and water. fresh
hcme- made bread. and different meats
constitute the menu principally. To
these substantial articles are added lit
tie daintics within the means of the
Home
The feature Of the vacation to which
the children look forward with antici-
pations Of the greatest joy are the fort
nightly ice cream picnics. These excur-
sions. one Of which is given TO each lot
of children, are taken to the Zoo, TO the
Chevy Chase Lake, into the woods, or
wherever it is decided to hold them.
For the occasion a large wagon filled
with straw is called into requisition,
and the journey to the spot selected for
the picnic is made on a straw ride.
Dinner is served on the grass, and is
completed with a plenteous course of
ice cream. At Chevy Chase, through
the generosity Of the management,
when the picnics are held there, the
amusements are placed at the disposal
OF the children without charge. Here
they find free swings. boat rides. the
flying horses, and other things.
The annual picnic is held at the end
of the season, about September, when
all Of the children who have enjoyed the
benefits Of the Home daring the sum
mer are invited.
The association OF the Children's
Country Home owns the buildings and
grounds, which are valued at about
$12, 600, and has other unincumbered as
sets to the total value of 17,Si9.O4 The
total expenses Of running the Home, in
Guiding the salaries of several servants,
and the visitors, repairs, provisions,
etc. are far above the interest derived
from its investments. 1t receives in an
nual subscriptions less than $3.50, and
donations of money in 1900 were little
over 500.
The sisters in charge Of the Home re
ceive no compensation whatever.
Nearly all Of the ordinary expenses can
be met out of the fixed receipts, but the |
children are dependent for their picnics
on general contributions for the pur-
pose. These have not been very exten-
sive this year, and the meagre re- |
sources of the Home have not been suf- |
fcient to meet the expenses.
A marvellous change has taken place |
in the children in the course of their va
cations. on the Saturday night, when |
A.. & Ia pit