The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-12-05

erwise be forced to go to the poor house.
 We have seldom had a vacant room, and for q long time there has been a waiting list of applicants. During the year, we have cared for sixty per- sons, and our average number of resi- dents nas been about forty-fve. In age they have ranged from infancy to extrame old age, the oldest member of the family, Mrs. Mary C. Futile, eX- pecting 10 be ninety years old on Christmas day. Two of the number arc eighty-eight years old; three are eighty i've; three are between eighty and eighty seven are between seventy live ard eighty; and seven are between sixty-fve and seventy-five,' In family in which twenty-three out of forty-fve are over seventy years old, there must be many who require much care. We an know how much vigil lance, tenderness and unfailing atten- tiOn is needed to support the steps of those 3n tie sunset road of life; far more are they necessary when the pill grims are footsore from weary march, es in days gone by. Not only shelter and warmth and food must be provi1- ed but also a great deal of painstak- ing service and nursing. For instance, during the past year from three to seven members of the household have mt Aeen able tc walk to the dining room, ane consequently, their meals have been carried to their rooms. While our beneAciaries are generally very willing to take their part in the labors or tho household the proportion of able-bo,9ied workers is small, and it is necessary to employ more domes- tic assistance than would be needed were the family more free from the in- hrmities of age.
 As has been remarked in previous re- ports, we could have no better com mendation of the home which we have provided for these women than the way in which their lives are prolonged. In many instances, they have come to us weakened by the struggle of life, and, sometimes, quite infirm; and yet, the regular enjoyment of warm house., nourishing food, and freedom from anxiety, has given them a new lease of life. Two women who came to us in 1889. and another in 1891, are now more than octogenarians, and whatever the trials of earlier life may have been, can look back on many years of tranquil old age
 Sometimes, we hear adverse crii- eisns of our name. Like our individual names, it was given to us before we of of the present time and controlling in fuence; and perhaps Home for the Homeless would be equally appropri- ate; but surely, those who have al- ready home and friends need not the support of the public; and is 1t not a | boon to those who know not where to turn that their very friendliness gives them claim on our assistance? Often the strongest argument in favor of re- ceiving an applicant is that she has nc one else to shelter her.
 So 1t was with a woman who hac seen better days, but was incapable oi ! supporting herself, and vet, expand l ing under the sunshiny influences oi 1 the Home, proved that she could be o' \ real use, so was it with a mother, who with her twelve-year old daughter had been abandoned by her husband ! Sick and wretched, she came to ui
 with her child, remaining for two oi three weeks until strength returned
 and they could go to work again. S
 was it with another woman who hat
 six young children and an intemper
 ate husband, for whom our Home af
 forded temporary respite and refuge | It may have been domestic servant
 broken down with rheumatism, : I laundress whose husband had deserted