The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-31
At the Institution on Vermont street
the Helpless Are Given
indy Care.
SOME PATHETIC INCIDENTS
PECULIAR MANNER IN WHICH THE
HOME Is CONDUCTED.
The Institution Largely Maintained
by Charitable O6erings-Light
Work Done ny Inmates

On Vermont street. between East and Lib
cry, there is a large brick building, sur
rounded by a high board fence and brick
wall. In the center of the fence is the gate
with a sign over it which reads Home for
the Aged, Conducted by the Little Sisters
of the Poor The gate has a bell at the
side of it which the visitors are supposed
to ring, when one of the Little Sisters Will
come down and let them in. In this insti-
tuition there are over 135 destitute inmates
ranging in ages from sixty TO
ninety-fve years. and at times there
have been old people who have
gone two or three years over the
century mark. OF these inmates sixty
are women and seventy-fve are men. The
reason the men are in the majority is that
this is the only place in the city that will
take them. There are a number of homes
for aged women, but for men there is none
other.
There are no luxuries about the place.
but every necessity OF life can be found.
The hardwood floors and iron beds with
their white coverings are spotlessly clean.
and everything is made bright and cheerful.
And yet there is something indiscribaly
pathetic about the home. No matter how
delightful may be the lawns and gardens.
how perfect the appointments about the
building, unless ones heart is callous the
very atmosphere about the place will be
charged with pathos. Here are numbers OF
gray-haired men and women spending the
evening of their lives in charity. They
wait patiently, with a resignation which is
almost hard to understand. the final bell
which will ring down the curtain on their
earthly dramas. Many of these inmate
have been prosperous some time in their
lives. but misfortune has overtaken them,
and now in their last few remaining years
they are alone save for the kindness and
tenderness shown them by the sisters. In
most cases they have no relatives left to
furnish them the comforts which can be
found in no place but home. no matter how
kind and gentle others may be.
CARED FOR BY SISTERS.
Brothers, sisters and children have all
passed on before. leaving them TO continue
the struggle for existence surrounded on the
field of life only by nettles and rocks. AT
last. growing tired and sick at heart. they
turn their footsteps toward the gate of the
Little Sisters Home. where they are re-
ceived and taken care of far better than
many in their own homes. The rules OF
the place require that a person shall be over
sixty years old before he can be admitted.
This is to assure those in charge that no
unworthy person will ever enter. and for
this reason, too. a recommendation is also
required as TO the persons former life and
character. One strange thing is that never
a person who has led a life Of begging APP
plies for admission TO this institution. The
cause for this is that there are certain
regulations which have TO be complied with
which would greatly go against the nature
of a beggar. while with the person who has
lived a respectable life these rules are very
easy TO live up TO. They require that all
inmates shall be i'm bed by 9 o'clock. and
If they want TO go to bed before this they
are at liberty to do so. They also must be
up at six o'clock in the morning unless
ailing in some way. when this regulation
is set aside. Services in the chapel are
held immediately after getting up. which
all who are able must attend. At Z O'Clock
breakfast is had, after which all Of those
who are able go about their light tasks
which are assigned 10 them. IL has been
found, especially with the men. If some
kind of work is given them about the
grounds and buildings they are much more
contented than when idle, and they also
keep in better health. on one Tuesday each
week from S in the morning until 400 in
the afternoon the women are permitted to
go about town and visit their friends and
relatives, if they have any. while the next
Tuesday the men are allowed 10 go. II any
of them happen TO imbibe a little too freely
Of liquor, which is seldom the case. they
lose their days out for three or four weeks.
On Sunday and Tuesday afternoons is also
the time set aside to receive visitors.
SOME HAVE PRIDE.
Some Of these old people are here because
the pride which stihens their souls like
iron prevents them from seeking the homes
Of their children. even though the door
stands open to greet them. These are in
variably the ones who have had the great
est ambitions in life and for whom the
end Is filled with the greatest gall and Bit
terness The lot of these. however. Is not
near so sad as that Of those who have out
lived their usefulness and find the vigorous
ones OF their family unwilling TO assume
their support. To look upon many Of these
old bent and withered men and women one
sees living objects OF the ingratitude that
King Lear came TO know SO well. There
are also many cases here OF where daugh-
ters-in-law could not get along with the
parents Of their husbands and also an equal
number of cases where the husband would
not agree with the wife's parents. one
case which illustrates this very readily IS
that of an old woman who was received at
the institution some months ago. Her hair
was thin and gray and her form was bent
with the weight OF years. for she had gone
far past the age that entitled her 10 ad-
mission. The second day that she was in
the home she lifted up her voice In thanks.
for she declared that had been the first day
in years she had not heard the abuses OF
her sons wife. Any number Of cases sim
liar 10 this could be cited. for they are be-
ing brought 10 the notice OF the sisters all
the time.
The stiffness OF this institution is almost
death-like in its intensity. The sisters who
are attendant upon these aged people move
about with noiseless tread and their voices
have assumed such a ~softncss that they
speak almost IN whispers. Occasionally the
quavering voice OF some of the inmates can
be heard raised In argument; sometimes a
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