The San Francisco call., 1909-08-29


the care of dependent children was a
benehcent one, and it was put upon
the people. The conduct and accom-
plishments Of the Mckinley orphan
age show how willingly the burdeE
was accepted
This orphanage is situated at 3S41
Nineteenth street. the Castro street
ears running with two blocks and
half. The house was formerly a pri-
vate residence. and is set in ample
grounds. 1t is comfortable and COM
modious and, being on the crown OF a
hill. has all there is of sunshine and
good air. Besides, every vista is an
inspiration. 1t has spread before it
the panorama that Burnham says is
the most beautiful one of San Fran
cisco.
The visitor who waits in the recep-
tion room is sure to find something
there to indicate what kind of an
institution" there is on the top OF
the hill One day. recently. there was
a darly doll reposing on one cushion
Of the sofa and a blonde one on an
other. This room is not reserved for
company" 1t is a part OF the home.
Two pianos with an abundance of
music about tell another story. Pro-
motion certificates tied with blue rib
bon from Sunday schools lying on the
table recall the picture of the happy
little trooping in with the tangible
evidences of their proficiency. A
small organ in the hall adds q chap
ter to the story told by the reception
room.
Inquiry shows that the day begins
briskly for the big family. Daylight
finds the household about its business
All the children dress in their play
clothes. the ones they put on when
they come from school There is a
merry hustling in the lavatories, where
the smiling faces are scrubbed until
they shine and then comes breakfast.
Between that time and the ID minutes
before school the beds are made and
the rooms put in perfect order. The
children in the primary grades attend
the Douglass school and the older ones
Everett grammar school, while few
at noon. This arrangement is possible
because the schools are all within sight
OF the house.
Children Have Liberty
There are study rooms for those who
need them. but the home rule is that
each child shall do as it pleases from
supper until bed time. The dining
rooms are utilized for the evening
gatherings. Games OF all sorts. includ-
ing checkers and dominos. are popu-
lar and there is always a quiet corner
for the boy or girl who wants to read.
In the earlier years OF the orphanage
a cook had to be hired as well as gem
eral attendants. but soon possible
Mrs. Courneen decided to do the work
with the aid OF the larger members of
her household A suggestion one day
for volunteer to assist with the cook
ing brought so many eager offers that
Mrs. Courneen decided to take the
prospective cooks in rotation. In adopt
ing this plan Mrs. Courneen carried out
one OF her pet theories that she will
not ask any of the childreH- to do what
she does not do herself She and her
children always work together. The
kitchen experiment proved successful.
Each girl had her turn in the kitchen
until finally one Of the older girls de-
veloped such a genius for cooking that
she was installed as head of the
kitchen and is paid wages just as il she
came from the outside. Under her and
Mrs. Courneen the younger ones cook,
and SO there is many a good little
house keeper in the making at the Nc
Kinley orphanage. Another girl who
has grown UP in the home has been
made Mrs. Courneen's assistant and is
happy in the compensation she re-
ceives. She is now an eficient type
writist and is of great value to the
home.
The problem of the kitchen has been
further solved by the advent of the
fareless cooker. Three of them stand in
the kitchen. working all the time. The
mush for the morning goes into tho
cooker at supper time the night before.
are put in the cooker in the morning
The vegetables for dinner have little
cooker all to themselves. The cook
ers" mean that for many hours of the
day the kitchen is closed up and dark
where. in earlier years, something was
going on every hour OF the day in or
der that the family. that varied from
e5 to So. might have enough to eat. All
the bread used is made at home. There
is a big baking every day.
Every child in the house is taught to
do something. The boys. quite natur-
ally. are the workers in the garden and
yard, but they assist with dish washing
as well as the girls. 1t is case in the
Mckinley orphanage of many hands
making light work. even IL they are
little hands.
Developing Natural Bent
One phase OF the work which Is of
the greatest concern to Mrs. Courneen
is the consideration for the individual.