Norwich bulletin., 1913-10-16

attendance somewhat below normal at the annual meeting of the board of | management and the committee of vis- itors of the New London County Tenn porary home, held at the home here Wednesday, Fifty two sat down to the
 excellent dinner provided by the eff | cient staff of the home directed by the | matron, Miss Jessie Gibson, whereas there is usually an attendance of 70 l or 80. Those present evinced much l interest and enthusiasm in the work ] of the institution and went over the | premises, especially the newly ac- | quired property adjoining the home 1 proper, and everything was found to i be in its usual condition, 8 condition
 which could not be improved upon. | Bouquets of fall flowers at various | points added to the bright cheerful ness of the home.
 County Commissioners c. H. Smith and Albert H. Lanphere were present 1 besides ex-County Commissioners B. l F. Williams and Charles D. Moves, 1 Mrs. Frank A. Mitchell, Charles F. i Kellogg of Waterbury and Justin 5. l Holman of Saybrook of the state board county commissioner, Representatives l John R. Craney and William T. Del
 aney ex- Mayor Tinker of New London and pr. Joseph H. Townsend of the l state board of health.
 The business session opened at 1I.5O l o'clock in the forenoon with County l Commissioner c. H. Smith presiding. 1 Prayer was offered by Rev Charles l H. Ricketts and Mrs. Frank A. Mitchell 1 the secretary of the home was called
 upon for her report which was as fol- lows:
 The year has gone and in a general | way you all know that it's record haS
 been much as in former years. Few
 have visited the Home which has been open for your inspection every week l day of the year, and which today looks l in little better condition than it has
 each day since the last annual meet l ing. Repairs have been made as
 necessary. New floors have been laid | in three of the dormitories, new tub l placed in the matron's bathroom, and 1 considerable papering has been done. 1 You will doubtless notice the cheerful 1 atmosphere of the whole house.
 Needed Property Acquired.
 For many years your Secretary has { emphasized the need of other quarters where children committed by the l courts might be received and cared for under the direction of the Home long l enough to ensure that they had no i contagious or infectious diseases, nor
 were in any other way a menace to ] the health or morals of the large fam 1 fly in the Home, During this spring, 1 at the request of the Commissioners, 1 committee from the Legislature looked 1 over the situation, and recommended 1 that the county be empowered to pur- i chase adjacent property upon which an option had been obtained for the | use of the Home. The county was so empowered and the property just east 1 of and adjoining the land already held ! by the county was secured. ThiS Is 8 valuable addition to the Home plant, both in the quantity of excellent land and because of the fact that the cot tage located near the street will meet the needs for a house of retention. Possession has only been obtained October 1st, so all repairs and inn provements are yet to be made before it will be available No one who has not carried the anxiety of the great danger of an epidemic of serious pro-
 portions can be expected to realize
 what a relief and satisfaction the ac-
 quisition of this property is, and what
 it means in safe guarding the health
 of the Home children.
 General Health Excellent.
 Alhough there have been a dozen
 cases of measles at one time, none proved serious, and the general health of the household has been excellent. The children have been examined, ac- COrding to law, and pronounced free from tuberculosis minor teeth trou- bles have been attended to, glasses have been supplied as needed, and bakers dozen have had adenoids re- moved It would seem that these children have been properly cared for in these matters, as well as being housed, clothed and fed.
 Miss Gibson still labors unceaSingly for the good of the Home and still re- tains the highest regard of the Board of Management. She it is who pur- chases all supplies for the house, ex- cept coal. who engages the helpers and plans their duties, and is in all ways the head of the house. To her management, as well as to the interest and generosity of the Commissioners, doubtless much of the good health of
 this large family. and the lack of fric- tion in all departments, is largely due. The same teachers give their best
 energies to the training of the children, and MT Willard of the State Board of
 Education, sees to it that their work
 is satisfactory.
 Problems in Backward Children.
 One of the problems in the educa-
 tional department is to know how to
 deal with children so backward as to
 be a distinct detriment to normal
 children when the State School for
 feeble minded is already over crowded
 and the Home teachers taxed with the regular duties of a school made trying
 by the changing of the pupils
 The children have had fewer outings or pleasures of any kind than in recent
 years. Perhaps this report has given
 the idea that their wants were so we'll
 supplied that some have been afraid
 they would have too many of the
 things, which although not necessary
 really help so much to make childhood
 a happy period. After all these chill
 dren have no real mothers to kiss
 away their hurts and woes and they need a bit more attention from others
 on this account.
 Holidays Seasons Made Joyful.
 You may be sure Thanksgiving and
 Christmas were just as bountifully supplied as ever. Turkey dinners on both days, with dolls, toys. fruit and candy at Christmas left little to be desired. The generosity of MT George w. Carroll has been for years a large factor in the good cheers of the hoIi- day season. which this year was made still more enjoyable by the gift of ice cream in individual forms, sent by kind friends who were giving a large reception.
 Members of the Loyal Temperance Legion have visited the Home as usual. and on one occasion brought cake to each child. Father Fftz- maurice has been constant in kindly attentions to the children, frequently bringing them home from church the longest way around in his auto. Representatives of the Federated church have come to the Home for an hour on Sunday afternoon to interest and instruct the children who attend NIN. r.T Eaf rh