Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1913-12-22
XMAS PUT FORWARD
COUNTY HOME INMATES
Remembered by Generous An
napOlis People Who Con-
tributed To Their Comfort.
GIVEN CHRISTMAS CHEER.
Guild Of Mercy Takes MANY Snb-
stantiai Presents Santa Claus"
Travels To South River in



good example, the Guild of Mercy
put Christmas a few days forward
aud delivered the presents tC the in
mates of the County Home yesterday.
AS the act was one Of Charity
and Mercy" it fell within the bounds
of deeds that may be done with proper
accord on Sunday the Lords Day.
The day was gloomy, damp, rainy,
foggy, but the giving brought sun
shine into the lives and hearts of
those unfortunates whose greatest
misfortune is being olj and poor and
frie ndless Thanks to humanity each
county in the State provides for its
INDECENT poor, and Anne Arundel is not
the least of these counties.
Situate on a hill overlooking beau
tiful South River, is a one-time CO.
lonisl mansion, which is now the
Aims House, or County Home. In this
abode, besid IS thekeeper and his family
are eight white men, poor, friend
less and several of them tottering on
the graves brink. 1t was to these
the Christmas cheer was first taken
Each man was remembered b9undti-
fully, thanks to che gene rosity of
the kind Annapolis people, and also
one Baltimore firm. who packed and
shipped blocks Of The Velvet Kim"
of ice cream, a generous portion for
each inmate. Cake was served with
the ice cream. ard this was indeed a
"dainy dish to set before a king.
Hitherto the ice cream has not been
included in the Christmas cheer at
the County Home and this year it
came as a splendid surprise to the in
mates. Then there was a bex OF
candy for each,a bag of nuts, oranges.
apples, bsnsnas, email cakes and
even pies weTe taken to them and
each one re ceived a generous slice.
The men were given bags of tobacco
and several pieces of chewing tobac-
CO each, and every man received 3
substantial corn cob pipe and five
cigars each.
There were useful things as well,
for every MAJ got socks, a pair of
gloves, a sweater and handkerchiets.
The women each was given an apron,
a shoulder shawl, two pairs of stock
ings and several handkerchiefs, be-
sides their gift of cake, candy, oran-
ges, apples and bananas. After dis
tributing the presents in the mems
ward, the Guild of Mercy went to the
hospital, where sick in bed lies an
old white woman some rs or so years
old, crippled with rheumatism. She is
attended by her husband, old and
feeble, hut faithful to her needs and
attentive to her wants. Both the Sc
white people were generously remem
bered.
Their condition is pathetic, yet
they do not complain, homeless snd
friendless as they are, except for
the county's bounty and care, and they
spoke of their trust in Him who
doeth all things well, and watcbeth
even a sparrow's fall. The faith and
trust of these two old people is q
lesson to others so far better off in
this worlds goods.
The colored quarters were next
visited, and each and every one
generously remembered with good
things and useful things as well.
Every colored man received the
same gifts as every white man had
been given-socks, sweater, hand
kerchiefs, gloves, and all had ice
cream, cake, pie, candy, nuts, sp-
plies, oranges and bananas, besides
smoking sndSS chewing tobacco and
corn cob pipe and cigars.
The inmates all wish to thank
the kind friends ia Annapolis who
so generously donated to the fund
for taking them Christmas cheer.
and it may be said with assurance
that every man and woman, white
and colored, was most appreciative.
Through the kindness of Mr.. Douw,
whose automobile was put at the
disposed of the Guild Of Mercy FOR
taking Christmas cheer to the County
Home, the trip was made possibls
and it was made, all told, in two
hours. when for years past IT has
taken from six to seven hours.
The Guild of Mercy feels grateful
to the Baltimore firm who contributed
the Velvet Kind" ice cream, and to
all who so generously responded to
the Guilds appeal for making Christ.
mas happy for these poor unfortunate
old people at the County Home.
This account would not be complete
without the following, which was
handed to the members of the Guild
of Mercy by the old white man who
is nurse and clretaker for his invalid
wife in the hospital room. 1t is writ
ten in his own hand, distinct and
legible, IS follows:
Courty Home.
Mercy Guild:-I forward you the
following report, commencing Decem-
Der, 1912, TO the present time, Decem.
ber. 1918.
Bible reading prayer and exhorta-
tion on the same every Sunday; spec
ial prayer for sick and dying, con-
Quoted Christian burial services.
Holy Communion by Methodist
preacher, 9 color I'd and 8 white in.
Il n