The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-06-21
FARMS FOR THE POOR
BY NRs. F. NELSON ANDREWS

The constant needs of the poor and
to mind a farm that / visited in Geor-
gia a few years ago.
The land was a donation from an
Individual. to be used for the poor. The
donor objected to its being called a
poorhouse. county farm or almshouse,
so it was given his sir name-say, Ross
Home.
on this farm were four-room cot
tages, with a broad hall through, and
at back and front ran wide veranda.
Each house was occupied by both well
and infirm people. in order that the
strong could care for the weak. There
was a big mess hall, located near the
center of the settlement. Three times
a day a great bell was rung, announcing
meals. The meals We're carried by
children or grown persons to those who
were not able to so to the table
OF course no contagious diseases
We're allowed to remain, as a physician
lived on the place. In cases where par
ents with children were left destitute
they were all provided work and
home there. The older children took
care of the smaller ones, supervised by
grown-ups Everyone had work of some
kind except the bedridden or those too
old. The fields and gardens We're
worked by men and women. Even the
children often found pleasure in SOW
ing seed and doing other simple parts
of the work. The old clothing sent out
| from the city was mended or made
over into smaller garments for the
children. When the garments could no
longer be worn they were cut into
small pieces and made into patch quilts
for winter use Even the rags We're
woven into rugs. The laundry was all
done there, and each cottage seemed
to vie with the others in cleanliness.
l remember seeing small boy sit
ting by the bedside of a very old man
tanning him while he slept as 1t was
a very warm summer day. l asked the
boy If that was his regular Job. He
answered: No, 1 just love to do some.
thing for him, because he is never cross
and he tells us boys so many goot
stories when he is not too sick" Ever
he, the old man, who was only living
to die found his part to do, and i
liable lessons were learned from him
This farm was not very large, a.
/, the county was not so populated as /.
ours, yet the place was almost entire
ly self-supporting. If an individual wal
sick he was treated accordingly; but i
not sick, there was work to be done
under direction of those in authority.
believe If something of this kint
could be arranged in our county mucl
loafing and hunger could be overcome
Suppose there were several farms
each having a simple name, estab
lished, where the poor could be givel
employment and really be made to worl
for their living; and if one should re
fuse, let him go hungry a few time
until he does something in return 70
his food, shelter and clothes.
/ believe that smaller farms could b
managed better than one large place
for several reasons, one being that If
2 man should give trouble on one place
he could be transferred to another AM
there perhaps do well. Again, the averag
unfortunate does not need money, for h
knows not its value, consequently spend
it fooishly or unwisely.
After all, In summing up, if work, food
: home, clothing, with healthy surround
rgs and conditions, could be had, | be
lieve this plan would prove less expensiv
than any other.
: A short time ago I read most interest
ing descriptive letter. written from Ger