Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1909-10-29

The work of the Thompson Trust has
been hindered during the past years by
many irresponsible statements by out
side parties as to what the trust was
or was not dOing. The trustees have
often been reported as helping persons
whom they were not helping, or as not
helping those who were being helped.
Moreover, while the great majority of
cases have been settled quietly and with
out question, public attention has often
been held by limited number of cases,
from some Of which there has been much
Misrepresentation and abuse of our agent.
This has usually originated with per-
sons who have failed to get what money
they wished, or from others who have
failed to get It in the form of an abso-
lutte gift, owing to there being either
property or earning capacity in the fam
lily.
The real permanent injury from this
misrepresentation comes not to the
trustees or their agent, but to the COM
pnunity and to those for whose benefit
tie trust was intended. Where such
statements are thoughtlessly circulated,
and are consequently believed by people
who might help the trust in its work, or
20 whom the trust might otherwise be of
help, much unnecessary trouble and suf-
fering result.
We therefore ask those who really
wish to know what the trust can and
will do, to find out, If possible, at first
hand from the trustees or their agents,
and at any rate not to base their opin-
ions entirely on information coming from
sources that are necessarily prejudiced
and are sometimes either mistaken or
irresponsible
This request to find out directly and not
at second hand applies especially to a
class of persons whom the trustees have
been glad to consider as within their
field of helpfulness, namely, families or
persons who have some small resources,
but are not in position to make use of
what they have for their immediate
needs Such cases are often proper sub
jects for loans rather than gifts, and
sometimes for loans payable after the
death of the persons receiving them. AS
instances:
An elderly woman may have savings
bank deposit on which she fears to draw,
dreading that it may be all used up be-
fore she dies
Another family may be in practically
the same trouble from having all its
savings in a piece of real estate.
Another may have an insurance policy,
good enough after death, but something
of a burden during the years when the
family needs to draw on past savings
Sometimes the best resource of poor
woman may be children who need to be
fitted to support the mother during her
declining years.
The number of cases of the above kinds
that can be helped Is of course limited,
but sometimes quiet talk with the agent
of the trustees will show how the trouble
may be helped without injustice to other
claims on the fund.
Financial Statement.
Following is the financial statement for
the year ending May 10, 1909:
Gross income, $S2,51226
Expenses, $21, 1854
Trustees charges:
L. Minot, $2,74S.75
R. M. Bradley, 1.S74S7 4,12S.R 26.OSs.S6
$5s.472.4O
Brattleboro 2-3 share is $37,64S.27
Balance from last year
Qncluding amount re-
served for taxes, 2s,T3sO
Money repaid, 1892 S., SS1.2s
Expended, 0,990.25
Balance. sss.ss1O4
Der list, ss7s19
Total available in Brattleboro
May 10, 1909. sSO,2i4S5
Analysis Of Amount Expended.
Direct aid to seamstresses and
others, sS,4S5.1s
Mutual Aid Association 1925
kindergarten $4,000
Paid for nursing, 1880
General expenses 1,514.33
Equipment, 1870
Running expenses of hospital 16,5O5.17
tuberculosis work, 1884
Smallpox hospital purchase 100000
Work prosecuted by Charlotte
Macleod 5774s
$SO,ssO.25
Analysis Of General Expenses.
Telephone, kilograms, and tele-
phone rentals, 5 S7.1S
Travelling expenses, 50.33
Mrs. Wells's salary, 10000
Other salaries, 39842
Stationery, car tickets, carriage
hire and postage 61.S5
Advertising, 1880
Expert and medical advice, 10000
Legal advice, 10025
1,51433
Exceptional circumstances have caused
the increase in the applications for d.
rect aid during the year. The smallpox
epidemic, following after the business de-
preston and stopping many occupations,
bore most heavily upon the women de-
pendent on their labor.
AS stated before, the success of the
trust must, in the long run, be measured
by the number Of persons saved from be-