The Republican journal., 1906-05-24

disappointment it is good time to
make few notes with a view to cor
recting the difficulty this year.
The much needed repairs to the house
and stable, for which an appropriation
was received from the last iegislatury
were finished sometime in July, and
through the practical ability and ex-
cellent management Of Mr.. Bowen,
were brought within the limit of said
appropriation, which was considerably
less than the estimate.
Some of our pressing needs have been
pointed out but are not yet supplied.
We deem it wise to state them again
aud in addition to mention others which
are worthy of consideration.
An annex to give a larger school room
and hospital room is an urgent necessi-
ty so that in cases of contagious dis
ease patients may at once be Isolated,
thus ensuring safety and comfort for
others OF the family. Hardwood floors
are needed in upper and lower halls and
in one or two rooms. The third story,
now unfinished should be converted III
to comfortable sleeping apartments.
The chimneys in the main part must be
rebuilt. The kitchen walls and ceiling
should be newly plastered and painted
and steel ceiling added in the large
dining room. We hope that a growing
sense of duty to these dependent little
ones will inspire some kindly disposed
person to send us the necessary funds
for these changes at once.
During the year Is girls have entered
the Home and II have been placed out.
The average number has been - altho'
much of the time there have been l6
and there are Is at the present time,
the oldest fifteen, the youngest five
years of age. They have come to us
from twelve different cities and towns
and nine separate counties. We have
on file several applications forgirls and
more than the usual number OF requests
for admittance are waiting cOnsldera-
ton by the Board.
The health of the girls during the
year has been uniformly good. There
has been no contagious disease except
some mild cases of measles and no
severe illnesses, but there have been
number of cases in which the attention
of physician has been required. Two
OF the girls have had operations upon
the throat We are indebted to Drs.
Tapley and Brown for free treatment.
The nursing has Teen done by our
faithful matron and assistant, which in
one instance when fourteen were down
with the measles was severe test, yet
by it was revealed anew the true moth
erIy nature and devotion of the one to
whom our girls are entrusted.
There has been no change in the
regime of the Home. The girls have
attended school, church and Sunday
school regularly. During the summer
they We're given several very pleasant
outings through the kindness of Col. w.
A. Conklin of New York, one of the
benefactors of the Home for years.
They were invited to join in the ex-
cursions of the several churches and
were furnished with free tickets to
some concerts and fine entertainments
by Mr. and Mrs Chas. Bradbury of our
city. There were the usual Thanksgiv-
ing and Christmas festivi les and these
days were made bright by the kindness
of many friends. The Thanksgiving
dinner, most delicious repast, was
furnished by Mr.. and Mrs. Thos. E.
Shea, who have so often remembered
the home.
No requests have been received, but
we have knowledge of some soon to be
recorded. We note, however, liberal
gifts from Hon. VIM. w. Bradstreet of
Gardiner Hon. Geo. H. Ware of Water
will; DIR. T. U. Coe of Bangor, the Co
burn family of SkowhegaD, and the Alb
bolt family of Dexter. Many Others
have kindly added to the receipts of
the year and we are certain that every
dollar has been used to the best ad-
vantage. We have not received quite
the usual amount of clothing and sup
plies during the past twelve months
but are grateful for timely contrlbu-
tions. The larger family continuously
and extra expenses have drawn heavily
upon our resources and again we are
confronted with the fact that our in
come is inadequate to meet the needs
of the Home. We therefore bring to
your notice, as we have several times
before. the necessity of establishing a
permanent fund. We have over POO
regular members on our roll and y
associate members. Many of these do
not pay the annual fee expected of
them. We trust some new plans may
be suggested at this time. But let us
remember that it is of vastly greater
significance that the lives in our care
shall be rightly nodded and that the
little bodies shall be made comfortable
through proper food and clothing than
that the accounts shall always strictly
balance, without deficit.
The meetings of the Board of Direc-
tors have been held regularly the first
and third Tuesday of each month and
all matters of business have received
careful attention as heretofore. We
possess in our President one fitted to be
a leader in philanthropc work, gracious,
charitable, broad minded, and, although
we were deprived of her presence dur
ing the winter months, we still had her
sympathy and wise counsel
We have had the cooperation of the
House and Supply Committee, who de-
serve much credit for the faithful per-
Torrance of every duty assigned them
and we do not hesitate to state that the
members of the present working force
of the society are closely united COM
pany of women kindly disposed toward
each other, accepting the effort of each
without criticism, and anxiously seek
ing to have the Home even more COM
pletely fulfilling its mission.
The work of your secretary has in