The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-04-04
Home for the I'ricndless.


Il the Fricndess, reported in
the Scranton newspapers
when read in January at the yearly
anniversary. is now before the public
in pamphlet form. together with the
detailed financial reports for 1900
Its appearance in this form gives
opportunity for a thoughtful IL brief.
consideration of the Homes work in
the past, its present status and needs.
its outlook toward the future There
used to be u fashion in the earlier
wears OF it's existence of calling 1t
"Scranton's pet charity" Since the
autumn of 1871. when the first steps
We're taken for organizing the Home.
Scranton has gone far on the way to-
wards quadrupling it's population, and
not 4 few other charitable founda
tions and institutions have of necessity
come into being or have expanded from
small beginnings. making their imper
ative and Irresistible appeal to the
community. But, in its measure, and
according TO the ability of the people.
the Home has never been left without
spasmodic. help. 1t has some special
needs now. The pressing ones will as
suredly he met AS they are specified
from time tn time through the public
press. although the still heavy build
ing debt awaits the longedfOr event
of a sale of the Adams avenue prop-
crtv.
There We're siXtyiivc inmates when
the year 1900 cloSed--h dozen old la
dies: the remainder belonging to the
varied classes of little ones whom the
Home continually shelters. But sixty
five does not by any means represent
the number sheltered in the twelve
month. There had been nincty-siX
persons received during the year.
There had been seventy-iive dis
Charged many of these being taken
again by parents who from temporary
disastrous circumstances had gladly
sought the Homes shelter for their
little ones, until work was again Sc
cured enabling them to care for their
own again. \ few children have
found permanent homes; others are
out on trial.
Like hospitals, and like all institu-
tions for helping frienCless little ones,
there is Il continual current Of change
just as in the great world without.
But that very current of change
makes the work done more far reach
ing, widening out in ever increasing
circles.
One of the especially satisfactory re-
suits of the conditions of the Homes
cXistence-itS dependence on voluntary
of this community--is the influence
that it thus eXerts on the children of
happy homes without, called on to
steadily befriend the helpless little
ones, as we'll as that it exercises on
those within its shelter. One recorded
incident. that of four of these, to
whom last autumn some friend had
given few pennies, insisting upon
giving these. their all of worldly
wealth, to the Home itself. recalls the
poor Widows two mites, SO tcnderly
ana significantly commended by the
Master.
There is one feature Of the Home
in which, so far as we know, it. Is
unique. 1t is one that we hope it may
always retain, and which it would be
well that many other Homes for the
Aged" should follow 1t receives the
poor old ladies whom it. shelters with
out making the demand, impossible
for so many of those who most need
such shelter to meet, of an entrance
sum of hundreds of dollars. There
are no more pitiful cases of poverty
in the world than those of helpless
refined, aged people, doomed to county
poor houses, or sharing the poorest of
poor homes with those who have hut
scant bread for themselves. 1t is just
such as these that other Homes for
The aged of either scN shut out. May
Homo for the Fricndless be
by the public ana by its
from ever doing 50.
In the language Of the sporting fra
ternity ii sepmS about time that soma