Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-09-08
A VERMONT TEACHERS HOME.

|
fortune. 1t was Miss Ruggless purpose
| to provide for "a home for respectable,
unmarried female teachers and widows,
with limited means, who have been teach
| ers, not strictly a charitable institution
| but one where one can reside In comfort
| by paying such moderate and reason
able prices as accord with their means
and the rooms they occupy" The fund
has been so invested that it has increased
to about $4,000. Efforts have been made
to place it where it would become of
benefit to those it was intended 10 help.
but UP to this time 1t has not been posi-
bic to awaken sufficient interest among
the teachers of the State to enable the
trustee to turn the fund over 20 their
use.
corporation was formed at the time
the matter was in the courts. 1t has
been thought that the best way to ostab-
| lish the institution was to purchase
house with considerable land around it.,
so located that it could ultimately be
developed to n size such as the fund
would be capable of sustaining. Such
a piece of real estate with a house upon
it is estimated would cost $4,000, more
or less. 1t has been thought by some
that nothing less than a large institu-
tion such as would consume all of tho
fund would he adequate even rs n starter.
but it is believed that u fair sized house.
located upon several acres of ground
would provide we'll for tho establishment
of the home. This would also ncccssitate
the employment of n matron, and per-
haps n man. with one or two servants,
With home thus provided the institu-
ton could be started at once. It is esti-
mated that the income from the fund
now held by the trustee would provide
for the running expenses of such Il place
and it is desired to purchase tho home
without impairng the fund, and If posi-
BILE to add materially to it,
There is a very general demand for an
institution of the character contemplated
by Miss Rugglcs. Various fratornal or
| CARNATIONS maintain such homes and
there is as much need for a home of this
kind for retired lady teachers as for any
other class of people. They are at best
but poorly paid Their work is oxacting
and trying to the nerves. Not infrequcnt-
~ a finely organized lady finds herself
unable to continue her profession. Among
those who have become widows or have
never married. a home, not in any sense
( a poorhousc, but a place whore they
can go and pay such money as tncy can
afford and find themselves among pleasant
surroundings, is demanded by very large
class. Cases of this kind may be found
in almost every town in Vermont. end
if "A home such as Miss Ruggles had in
mind could he established. it would be
a great service TO the State and its
teachers. Miss Rugglos herself, with all
her property, was in need of just such
a refuge.
1t is estimated that there are about
5000 teachers in the State and a contri-
button of one dollar each would go a
long way toward starting the institution
If this contribution could be maintained
at the rate of one dollar per year for E
period of five years the home could b,
placed upon a very satisfactory footing
without impairing the finances of any
one a contribution of one dollar a veal
would be at the rate of two cents per weel
for each person. In the army and navy
for many years each man has contributed
} a few cents month toward the supper
of soldiers and sailors homes, ami il
the case Of the army the fund now reache!
into the millions.
Until the teachers of Vermont see thu
, Importance of taking hold of the matte
themselves it Will not be possible to secur
- the aid of others, but when once tn
g., movement is given impetus by the teach
/ ers, not alone through enthusiasm ant
interest, but with financial aid as well
it will be possible to approach other
who have funds from which to Civ
with d view to making the institution
all that the needs demand.
The following extracts from the will o
Miss Ruggles indicate the kind of al
institution TO which she desired the fund
left by her devoted
IAN the rest of my estate real, persona
and mixed OF whatever nature and where
i ever situated, | dispose OF as follows
G Believing that the faithful conscientious
= progressive female teacher is one of III
] most useful and worthy workers FOR tn
good of mankind, ana mat Tor ner iabo
2 and exhaustive mental effort she has been
l and still is, but poorly paid. ! wish |
establish a home for respectable, unmar
: ricd female teachers and widows, wit
limited means who have been teachers
not Il charitable institution, but one wner
they may reside in comfort by payin
such moderate and reasonable prizes a
accord with their means and the room
they occupy
Having been a sufferer from feebl
health for many years OF my NE, an
having also been subjected to pecun ar
losses of considerable magnitude, / nay
not the means to establish such a buld
ing or home as my head and heart suR
gcst. but what / have to give l nope vi
prove nucleus to which other donation
may from time to time be added, to fur
nish and improve the home and make
one of beauty and comfort. In word
wish it to be a home suitable for we
educated ladics-teachers-an others VIII
have been teachers. 1t is also my Wis
that any worthy lady teachers, who fro1
sickness, or misfortune, have been abb
TO save but little, may, by paying u SUI
sufficient to meet their funeral and burr,
expenses have home here in old ag
and haplcssness free of charge and
. trust that donations for this purpose WI
; be made by those interested in the exist
. ence of such an institution.
y 1T is my belief that persons of ampl
means can do much good by helping TN
> institution, but | say again that this
. not to be solely n charitable institution
Ladies of refinement approaching the in
| portanco of the work in which they AZ
| or have been engaged, shrink from racciN