New-York tribune., 1902-01-27
JOSEPH'S COAT OUTDONE.
INDIAN CHILDREN WEAR NEW-YORK
COSTUMES THAT RIVAL THE RAIN
BOW IN HUES-WORK OF
THE PEABODY HOME.

Joseph's "coat OF many colors" would pale into
sombreness beside the multi-colored dresses worn
by of the little Indian girls in certain mission
schools in the West There waists with fronts
Of one material backs Of another. underarm pieces
OF still different patterns and colors, and sleeves
that are things apart from all the rest The
skirts of these costumes show all the color char
acteristics Of the waists except that while the
latter may have required only ten pieces there
abouts tie former made from double that
number, or more The pieces set together with
pipngs. cordings. stitchings braidings and any
other form OF ornamentation that the Ingenious
dressnaker may decide upon.
1t is woman IN her eighty-eighth year who has
been an inmate Of the Peabody Home, at One-hun-
dred-and-seventy-n -ninth-st. and Boston Road for
nearly twenty years. who is the maker and design
er Of the odd costumes. Her materials are manu-
facturers samples, Of all sorts of woollen goods
which are supplied 10 her by dealer. The stout
Innings and other findings provided by friends,
for she has no money with which to buy them her
self Whether the Indian children find greater hap
piness in wearing the bright hued dresses or the
aged woman In making them, would be hard to de-
eide Out OF the unseffish effort has grown more
than one good. Not only is her time happily
occupied In the work and the destitute waits made
comfortable, but other inmates of the home have
been mustered into service, and many an hour that
would otherwise have been tedious has proven
happy.
4 know there's neither hgger nor fashion in 'em-
they keep the chider warm, and love to do EN-"
Then she invariably adds If in half apology,
Il am not dressmaker. I just cut the patterns
in me own head"
Sometimes the woollen samples are exhausted,
but the activities of the worker do not on
that account, for there is always something left to
sew. Occasionally she falls heir TO calico samples,
which are constructed into gowns with fashion
which never before entered into the mind Of
woman to invent. These are sent TO negro children
IN Tho L..
the year round Pieces that are too small TO go
into dresses made into petticoats, and samples
TOO tiny for even the smallest of these find their
way into quilts. When all the samples fail there
is always big box Of silk pieces and of these
nothing that Is visible to the eye is useless, as the
pincushions made Of hexagonal bits testify.
~ Why we cannot keep this woman man st in bed
paws; the matron. yesterday. She is always
The labor Of love is performed in a corner be-
tween two windows. which is fitted UP with all the
When asked II she looks forward with pleasure
10 the new building into which the home is soon
that subject is a sore one as she glanced in the
direction Of the spot where she has spent SO many
The, suggestion Of steam heat and electricity
moved her 10 remonstrance. but she added with
touch Of the patience for which she is known: Its
1ng 4ng disposition TO go through what have to, and
III get along" Her Irish wit has not suffered by
age: When asked II she was ever married, she
MS E1lSclieEousIy replied: No; ma'am not yet: but
Another inmate of the home has spent her life in
vest arms within 2 stones throw Of her present
location; She remembers when the Boston stages
passed her uncle's apple orchard, which occupied
me slte OF the Peabody Home property and recalls
tnat when the people Of the vicinity wished to
make visit to this city they started o'clock in
Whether the stage was drawn by one or TWO horses ]
Set 1 Upon Upon the number Of passengers
VINO are az present inmates of the institution is an
wee Ess woman i. who knew Bishop Potter when she
Nds COOK, and her cup OF JOY filled to the
orim not long ago when he paid her a. visit Sew
eal pictures OF DR.. Potter decorate her room and
q photograph, folded in a
cholce handkerchief and laid away in a closed box
every night Although this is a great
ss1Herer, no mUrmur of discomfort escapes her
Aps II is said and she manages in her own wav TO
while away the hours most of which she spends
zone Three big, elaborately dressed paper dolls
on and by changing their position she inge eniousIy
succeeds in making them contribute her plea sure
81 necessitated the erection of a new building for
Inc Peabody Home. as the improvements will de-
.1ynsh ~ me present house. The new structure is
- SNAPPED and the entrance in the angle of the
= faces the corner formed by One hundred and
seventy -nnth-st and the Boston Road 1t is built
aecommodate thirty-five inmates each OF whom
@fl ~ nav nave separate room. The shape and position
VI the building will insure plenty of sun and air
enc the equipment will be the most modern ON the
ms moor will be the office the dining room and a
rati Cd IA which 20 hold meetings. entertainments etc
70 De htted up comfortably The laundry drWins
,oona ,na and kitchen will be in the basement a broad
nis and there will be another around the bav
reacL%. Ihe second and third floors will be
bujdiieo , py an elevator Ii is expected that the
IT, "il De ready Tor occupancy in April.
l,.hae me Peabody Home is unsectariau and IS abso-
tjoeyiree hoy iree TO respectable aged women of ali ma
son,rsaiues ana creeds 70 the extent of IT'S re-
II ICES IL was founded twenty-seyen wears ACC
bn.soSs no endowment, being supported by contri-
The president Of the society is tbe Pow m II