The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-04-15


 Devoted Father
 Twenty years ago a prominent wholsesale druggist, Charles N. Crit tention of New York City, lost his lit- tie daughter, Florence. For months his grief was almost unbearable. but he finally became reconciled, determining to live such a life as would insure meeting his little daughter again.
 One night he accompanied a mis- sionary into the slums and visited sa- looms, where they found two young girls whom they exhorted to lead bet ter lives, and to whom they said in parting, God bless you; go and sin no more" But as MT. Crittenton was go- ing home the practical question arose in his mind: Where are they going?" Where can they go?" "What doors are open to them except those that lead to sin and vice?''
 From the above reflection resulted the opening, on April 19, 1883, of the first Florence Home, 31 and B Blocker Street, New York, since named the Mother Mission, from which have sprung 64 other homes in different cities throughout the United States, as we'll as abroad, where any unfortunate girl-mother may come and find friends.
 The first girl to enter the first Florence Mission was one of those to whom Mr. Crittention talked that night he visited the slums with the mission ary. The girl was Nellie Conroy, sold into sin at the age of F by drunken mother, and who sank deeper and deep- CT and deeper, until MT. Crittenton found her in a den of vice in Baxter Street, New York. She was converted in the Florence Home and lived there happily for two years until her death. No one who ever heard Nellie Conroy speak will ask. Gan fallen girls be saved?" During the last year of her life she spoke in many of the largest churches in New York City, and one of the last places in which her voice was heard was the Cooper Union, where she addressed an audience of about 5000 people, who were spellbound by her elo- quenee. She died in St. Luke $ Hospital. A few hours before her death she said. '"Tell MT. Crittenton I expect to see little Florence tonight in Heaven. .-,E
 MT. Crittenton was not the sort of man to be content with any but a large enterprise. The same energy and ability which had made him successful in business he carried now into his new work. His resolution to devote his re- naining days to reccue work once made, no opposition could move him from his purpose. He always had the capacity for gathering around him faithful and competent people who were ready and able to take charge of his business so that means might not be lacking to carry on his new enterprise Four years he spent in night mis- sionary work in the slums, then his health became so broken that his plly- sicians ordered him abroad. But even his vacation he made tell for his new work. He visited many large cities to study the condition of the outcasts. He wished to investigate any movement that he had put on foot for the better ment of their condition, but in all this tour he found not one saving agency. It was with renewed deter imitation to carry on the memorial tc his little daughter that he returned home. The next three years he spent on the Pacific coast, building homes il 1 San Francisco, Los Angeles and Sar Jose. Then he visited many parts ot the United States, carrying his chari. | {.,I sraho Ia,, ntfs
 where he became known as the friend of unfortunate girls and women. Yet even the income of a millionaire has it's limits. Some attempts wa. | made to render the homes self-support. ing, but on account of the large number of children and invalids to bt | cared for this was found impossible l The burden of expense had been borne ' almost entirely by MT. Crittenton. A. f, the work grew it became apparent tha ] he must rest at the point he haG I reached or call on the public for aid His first effort was to reduce his owr 1 expenses to a minimum.t His travel: | to and fro across the country had cos I heavily, as his own railway fare ant | that of his assistant had been a largt
 item of expense. He decided upon buy | ing a private gar which would be a | once his home and a headquarters fo
 his work. The railroad managers glad | ly passed him over their lines, and tn I money thus saved was devoted to tn, building of new missions.
 Several years ago the homes wer consolidated into a National organiza tion. Because of it's practical and far reaching influence the United State l Government became interested ant granted a Government charter and al appropriation. The administration 0
 the homes is liberal in character. Ther are no bolts or bars. The doors stan,
 open day and night to receive an, friendless girl or women. They com
 of their own free will, and love is tn
 only influence used to win them. Nor
 than 50 per cent of the women wh
 enter are reformed and start out in If {. anew, some as clerks and shop girls
 many as trained servants.
 The efficacy of the work has bee Igreatly aided by the facility wit
 which the girls are moved from on
 place to another. One of the mos difficult things that reformed girl ha
 to contend with is the suspicion whic1
 attaches to her, even after years o
 faithful living. During the past fiv
 years many have been sent across tn
 continent from one of the homes to an