Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-10-19
HOME FOR THE DESTITUTE.
Officers Elected ut Annual Meeting

me OWL ANNUAL meeting OF Tue corpora
tion of the Home for Destitute Children
was held at the College Street Church
parlors Thursday afternoon. Reports of
the president and other officers were
heard and officers were elected as fol.
lows:
Prcsident-M Mrs. i. II. Platt.
Vicc-president-Mrs. ". $. Peck.
Trcasurcr-Mrs. A.. q. Peirce.
Assistant treasurcr-Mrs. c.. S. 1sham.
Sccretary-Miss Mary Roberts.
Auditor--W. c. 1sham.
Board of managers--Mrs. n. S. Peck,
Mrs. G. +. Smith. Mrs. A. q. PIERCE. Mrs.
G. Il. Stetson. Mrs. G. s. 1sham. Mrs. Il.
j. Andrews. Miss Mary Roberts. Mrs.
Harriet W. 1Iickok. Mrs. A.. T.. Richard
son, Mrs. Fred ~Johonnott. Mrs. l.. Il.
Lord and Mrs. q. q. T.. Tobcy.
Honorary members of the board-Mrs.
c. NJ. Spaulding and Mrs. Sarah +. Tor
rcy.
Advisory Miss Mary c. Tor.
rcy, Robert Roberts and NJ. a. Bingham.
Trustees of permanent fund-C. i.
Smith. Henry Greene and T.. w. Ward.
County characterization county. Mrs.
J.. a. Fletcher of Middlcbury; Bennington
county. Miss Susie |. Rogers of Benning-
tom: Caledonia county, Mrs. W. l.. Smith
of st. Johnsbury; Franklin county. Mrs.
Daniel Morcn of East Berkshire; Grand
Isle county, Mrs. NJ. +. I.andon of South
Hero; Lamoille county. Mrs. o. W. Rcy-
nolds of Cambridge; Orange county. Mrs.
Laura d.. Stow of Chelsea: orleans coun-
ty. Mrs. Augusta Paddock of Crattsbury;
Washington county, Mrs. n. Il. Nye or
Berlin; Windham county. Mrs. ]. M. Ty.
Ter of Brattleboro: Windso county. Mrs.
$. i. Pingree of Hartford. No managers
were elected from Essex and Rutland
counties.
The annual report Of the president was
follows:
1t hardly seems possible that another
year ha, ended. and our work begun for
another year. Now IS the time to decide
low much time, love and sympathy We
are willing to give this blessed institu-
ton. that has been So blcst IN all these
years.
At present there are 81 children in the
home; new admissions A.; % have been
placed in homes. returned from homes
.3, died 2: Industrial chool 1; total cared
for 13l.
rhe circumstance which bring these
children to the home are often very sad,
so many arr deserted by either one or
cncs, Il brother and sister. the eldest
ones. a brother and sister, the elder
fonr. tncir father in Jail. the rlother
deserted them. They were found in a
starving condition.. Sc dirty the poor
master was obliged to care for them three
days before bringing them. Another case
two little brothers, beautiful children.
the mother dead. deserted by the father,
come both father ana mother ~drunkards.
generally one parent. we see much more
Of this great evil since high license has
been established, the mother left with
out any means of support. she must go
out by the day as n bread winner. We
are very grateful that there is an open
door for these little innocent children.
1t has been ininos sible to receive all
the infants and children under four years
If ngc. this past year. for We haven't
room in our nursery building. One poor
mother came with as pitiful a tale as ]
ever listened to. She had four little Onos.
ard she said her husband drank all his
earnings; all she had received that week
was II cents, but W. had no room for
the children. OF course, it is impos-
siblc to take all those children for the
home would soon he Oiled to overflow
ing. We try to select the most needy
and deserving. This takes far greater
wisdom than | am possessed of. 1t is
our aim to have children surrendered
where We consider parents unable or un-
fit to care for them.
Tho past year we nave found some OK
ccllent homes for our children where we
believe they are loved and tendorly cared
for. it is our desire to visit the children
until we boone satisfied they have gooG
homes. We cannot visit rs often as we
wish. as our means are limited.
The past year our expenses We're great
ly increased by diphthcria which visited
the Home. Although We had no deaths %
children were quarantined. We were
obliged to have three nurses at s25 each
Il week. with medicines and disinfcctants
The hill amounted to the appalling sum
of $500. part of this for anti-toxine was
generously given by the city. We wish
to acknowledges this with many thanks.
with the money spent in this illness
we had hoped to put NJ new sheds and
out buildings, absolutely needed for
many years. Unfortunately we were
| obliged to borrow over 5000 for this
purpose We try to practice great
economy, but we are always in debt.
| The largest debt We have had to incur
since building the home is the repair
ing of the opera house, the interest ON
this alone will take our extra income
for years u we hope in the End to
have an income which will make ii
pay. The time had come when this
had to be lone IL we rented the stores.
and we depend largely upon this build
ing for our income. Tho trustees of
the home have been untiring I'm their
efforts in this great undertaking. 1t
has been II great demand upon their
time and patience, and I am sure the
board of managers appreciate all they
are doing for his noble charity, as we'll
as those outside who are interested for
these little ones. and we hope many
will be led by the love of little children
to help us lift this large debt.
We are very thankful for gifts which
como to us in small ways from time to
time in the way of clothing and bedding
from different societies throughout the
State. we would particularly mention the
Zen Pin club of Chelsea for their generous
donations.
The impression has gone out that the
Home is IA cheap boarding house where
children can be fed and clothed for "A
dollar II week. We do not intend to do
any hut charitable work. ms the funds
were given the Home strictly for char
ity. We still feel an imperative need in
the state for Il home for the feeble mind
cd. WC nave at present in the Home two