The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-11-17
HER OPTIMISM
AND GROUNDED 1T ON FAITH
How One Colored Woman
Started Great Charity for
Little Negro Waits.

Among Richmonds many charitics is
ono which has not heretofore had the
light of publicity cast upon il and yet
one which. IN an humble WAY, has done
and is doing an amount OF good which
can be computed only in tho figures
Of humanity. 1t is q small, unique in
stitution at 1913 Taylor Street very
dilapidated. but clean. little place,
where arc housed twenty colorcd chill
cren ranging In age from eighteen
months Ia fifteen years. These chill
drcn arc waits. Three or four OF them
have parents who contribute small
amounts To their support. but the rest
arc deserted children, or orphans.
Some years ago tho home was start
al by n colorcd woman who saw the
need for such an institution and who
took her first charges three chill
dren from the CITY Ii Sz,. Her chief
capital was hope. Her greatest assis-
tancc was faith. There was no in
come in pecuniary form: no endow-
ment nothing more than the optimism
Of this one woman. Eut she conserved
her optimism and grounded II on faith,
aud its reward Is coming. She man
aged u get some help for the rent.
and she begged stale bread from tho
bakers alid scraps OF meat from the
butchers to feed tho children. So shc
.ahorcd IN her chosen vineyard until
last summer, when the rent was more
than snc could meet. and tho house
was noout 10 be sold over her head.
IL was old and In need OF repair. but
was in n ncighborhood where the chill
drcn could he brought UP TO be re-
spectacle,
She applied 10 n society which was
so young that II had not been named:
SO poor that il had not q treasury.
But its members had banded together
to help the Colored people in Rich
m"nd. ana they could not disregard this
appeal They agreed 10 buy the house,
let the colorcd woman use it. and TO
stand behind her efforts. and To try
10 make OF this little home the begin
ming OF an industrial school for home
less colored children. An appeal and
4 few personal letters brought Il re-
sponse. and 500 was raised. y thous-
and dollars is still due. The amount
already raised has been the gift of
about Miucty-tirc generous citizens. two
oolorcd churches and four mitc boxes.
The women who have undertaken TO
stand behind this work mean to do it;
but they need the support of the public,
and invit" all who become Interested
To 80 and see the home and then send
III contributions OF money. bedding.
groceries OF clothes.
II any contributor should desire Il
return other than the satisfaction OF
helping worthy cause. he may have
il by calling AZ the home and hearing
ii most enjoyable concert. Once a day
the children are summoned. and march
into tho room, single nlc. the eighteen
months old baby heading the line
they sing as they march, and then
line up iii 4 double row. \ variety of
instruments; is handed 10 thcm--horns
drums. tambourincs. trianEles--and
they 20 through . performance enjoyed
equally by those participating and the
audience.
The children find II happy shelter
schooling during school hours, and out
of useful work. washing, scrubbng,
all. religious training which should
meu, and women.
The two striking features OF the
home to q casual visitor arc its sim
pie wlo!csomcncss and its air OF hap
piucSs.
Contributions to help in the work
may be sent 10 the president OF the
association. which is yet unnamed. Mrs.
L. Calvin stewart. 1881 West Grace
Street: lie treasurer, Mrs. w w. Arch
cr. 5eS East Franklin street. or To any
81 the following committee: Mrs. Hen
ly H. Baskerville Mrs Norman V. Ran
dolph, Miss Carrie Lancaster aud Miss
\dclc CorinE.