The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-02-17
seNNINeroN's ALmsAouss
A Comfortable Home Says One Who
Has Been There.
Dear friends and others =

Dear friends and others:--
Your Questions are many, very
pointed and proper will endeavo;
to answer them in rotation The first.
almshouse was established shortly
after the landing of the Pilgrims at
Plymouth Rock. At thar time the
occupants were supplied with neces.
sary food and other requirements by
kind hearted friends and relatives.
The former home was destroyed by
fire about four years ago No it was
not fired by woman who was jeal-
Gus Of recreant and false lover but
by an insane man who attempted to
annihilate one OF the guests. The
would-be assassin was soon after sent
to an insane asylum where he died.
Another poor soul mustered in
Surely the mills of the gods grind
slow but sure"
The present home is located on the
same ground that the former home
occupied. II Is two stories high with
an ample cellar sufficient for storage
OF fruits and vegetables. The house
contains twenty-eight rooms includ-
ing parlor, sitting room, kitchen, din
ing room and bath.
The house is steam heated and
electric lighted. II requires about
fifty tons of coal per season in order
to keep the house comfortable.
| Eight women guests occupy the
second floor. They have private bed
chambers which are suitably fur
nished with comfortable beds in
which to rest, sleep, dream of the
past and contemplate what might
have occurred. There are intelligent
women among the number | often
wonder why they are here. Echo
answers. misfortune, sir misfor-
! ture.
At present there are eleven male
| guests. They age. from thirty-eight
to nigh ninety They represent sew
eral different nations. Some of them
are deaf. blind, crippled and dement,
ed. They interest themselves by
talking over their past and putting
great clouds of fragrant smoke. from
their fast and tried friend-theiT
tobacco pipe. There are some who
love to read and to keep up with
passing events. Some of these mer
have seen bright days and still hops
to see more before they are muster
ed in.
A physician looks after bodily ills
and infrmities. Some OF the latter
we would not have, provided we hao
: not crossed swords with our head
strong wife on religion or politica
questions
The farm contains about two hun
dred acres, cut up into gardens
meadow. grain and wood lots There
| were enough vegetables raised las
season to supply all needs until mex
harvest, that is providing our appeti
ties do not increase. and the lan'
lord refuses to take few more hall
l starved city boarders.
There has been no kidnapping
elopements or marriages by the guest
and up TO date, no births. That
one of the reasons | am so lonesom
for | love children. | love TO loo
into their sweet innocent faces, liste'
} to their merry laughter and watc
them while they jump and dane
about like so many happy lambs. S
I say, God bless the children, whethe
: little or big
Yes, there are a few widows here
One OF them has several scalps hans
ing at her belt which she is yer
proud Of | informed her that lad
friend of mine was the prout posse,
sor CT three more scalps than sh
had and that she won blue ribbo
at the county fair for her many ma
rmonial exploits. The woman al
peared somewhat amazed but finall
: said bah. bah, / will win that w
mans blue ribbon ii the good Lor
spares my life" The widow then too
from her pocket her well-scented ia