The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-22

What should be the standard OF cloth
ing. food. and care in tho municipal
almshouse? Shall Il have the regime OF
the prison. or shall II be hospital, or Is
1t possible to make 1t a homo? III II Is
TO be d home. how far can 1t be made
possible, Clean, sanitary, and how Sarael
can the food be and how good the-cloth-i
Ing, without making 1t too, attractive; X
The answers to these questions arc being
found in the solution OF the second prob
lem stated above. The elimination OF
the able bodied element from the aims
house. together with the segregation OF
certain classes of detectives now COM
monty sent to state institutions, Is max
ing the almshousc II home for tho aged
and sintirm. or. at least a place where
none hut the aged and lriirm are cared
for. and which should BIO homclike II
the applications are carefully inyesti-
gated. so that ony those who IRE actu-
ally unable to earn n livelihood and
whose Immediate relatives are actually
unable Ito maintain them, and who are
unable stoldo any regular and ordinary
work, are allowed TO cnter the institu-
ton, the danger OF its becoming "attrac-
tive" is mfnimized. We can all assent
to higher standards of care. better food.
better clothing. and a moro comfortable
place for the really infirm, incurable,
and scnle than We would favor II able
bodied were also to share in such proyl-
sl0n.
One OF the first facts In the situation
to be recognized liz that the population
of q home for the aged and lntirIn In
any large city, Is avery diversified pOpli-
8latien.s II has little homo-gencity. aside
from the two facts OF physical disability
and destltution. It represents many ma
tionalitics many religions, many previous
occupations, and many different stand
ards of life. It includes all varieties OF
disease that aftict the aged, and In all
degrees. 1T represents al attitudes to-
wards its caretaker-thc city. 1t is a.
little city in itself. It will, II left TO IT.
self, and IL It's circumstances permit.
break up into smaller groups on lines
Z OF nationality. tastes. and character. This
suggests the lines along Which the admin
istratl ion, to II bo succcssful, should be
directed. Tho buildings should be 80 CON,
allow some opportunities for natural
groupings. and In particular SO as to al.
low etlah inmate. able to do even little,
work, to do that which he Ii most able
TO do. & While there will be no a hle-bod-
led element III our almshonse population
sif 1t is thoroughly investigated and WISE
sly Judged upon; admission, here will
also be few. co npara lively fow, who ART
absolutely helpless. Tho man who can
do only half a days work by working
all day, the man who can only work
half OF each day. the man who has the
use Of, HIS hands but walks with great
difficulty or not at. a l,--a)l these. With
hundreds OF thers,s are as certainly do
barred from participation in the ordinary
Industrial life OF the community MS
though they We're absolutely helpless.
Yet very many sofs them can do some
work, ca n contrl hut In some degree to--i
wards tho orderly operation of the ssin-s
stItution In which Il. Icy arc cared fol. or
reuulred In THAT or some Their city In.
,stitution. While cnnsld crnhao progress
has been made In utilizing tho labor Of
some Of they inmates Sof some ofSSouf
& Inns houses, much remains to
"a accumulated In this direction, Grea t.
cr resourcefuln mess than Is, usually found
in an institution of this class Is tred,
however for devIsingS and carrying to
success further g fforts of this character
III eyery largo incubation Of The e ged3
and innrm, acute Illness. accidents 3 or
conditions equtrirg gcnl opera IONS 9,
viii gqoit develop. llo llospittiall
ward lis a cessary nd iunct 70 tie AIMS
hcuso. II And If thepd arc included a 9 hos
nitnISnatients those suffering from incur
ahle diseases which, permit long years
a. life, h the hospital portion becomes, 4 M
lnrae N motor. "a t. ! tho New q Fork City
Homo. Tor the aged and 5infrm, from
sono- Quart Il o ons-th third spfl tie ntsra
nnnuiation arc cared for IN buildings
i, nown8ias $sllospitnls and u organized $50
Yai. 4as \ prnc lea bic on a. lospital basis.
lfhe diseases are Of such 10 charac ter
ithataIt is IA lflcnlt II, II not impossible, to-
ssnu,ntaiS trainll,g schools for8 nurses. Il
liz not that sthe patients arc ohiertion-
nile on that the diseases are ohtenti9ll-;S