Smyrna times., 1929-08-21
SURVEY BEING MADE To
AID A. |. DUPONT IN WORK
MRS. S.WALLS VISITS KENT AND
SUSSEX AIMSHOUSES
Conditions Found to Be Very Fav-
orable-WOrk TO Be Completed
by the First of September

orabIe-WOrk TO Be Completed
by the First of September
Mrs. Laura C. Walls, of Lincoln
City, who is making a survey of
the State for Alfred I. DUPONT in
order to obtain a list of the aged
who are in financial need that they
may be pensioned by Mr.. DUPONT
until the next session of the Leg
islature, has visited the Kent and
Sussex AlmshouseS in order to OBJ
tain a list of the inmates who are
eligible for the pension. She also
visited the Home for the Feeble
Minded. Concerning the conditions
she found Mrs. Walls has the fol-
lowing to say: Il visited the
feeble minded children of Della
ware Colony on Thursday, August
s, and I was very favorably i'm
pressed with the excellent manage
ment of that Institution by their
superintendent, Toward T. Ennis,
and his splendid assistants. One
particular thing 1 noticed, every
body seemed happy, and they had
so many real blessings to make
them so; such as freedom, fresh
air, large Fairgrounds, equipment,
exercise, proper food and clothing,
and splendid supervision. There
were radios, pianos, and large frig-
idaires in each building. There
are about 16O children in the Della
ware Colony, accommodated in
three large buildings. They are
building another large building
with greater improvements to give
them more room. The children
were all going on their annual
picnic the next day, and big prep
arations were being made for
big feast. Mr.. Ennis said he was
going to provide plenty of spend
ing money for the kiddies, so as
to fulfill every wish, to make them
happy On August z 1 visited the
Kent County Almshouse, accom-
panied by Rev. Schelhouse and
Mrs. LeCompte. Mr.. Jones has
been Superintendent of that Insti-
tuition for the last two years, and
Judging from what the inmates
say, he is far above the average
person, and is especially fitted for
that place. Many improvements
have been recently made. The ex-
terror of the buildings have been
painted, a large electric washing
machine has been instilled. They
have all modern conveniences,
electric lights, baths, and hot
water heat. Mr.. Jones gives his
inmates much freedom. They are
allowed two weeks vacation every
year. One thing that I feel is
needed to improve these institu-
tions, is, to have religious services
held every Sunday. We have that
privilege. Why not they? 1 am
sure that every minister in the
state will be glad to volunteer to
preach one Sunday in the year, in
these poorhouses, and we hope to
make arrangements to that effect
in the near future. On Tuesday
July 81, l visited the Sussex Coun-
| ty Almshouse, accompanied by
Rev. Gardner and wife of Whites
vile, Del, Rev. Kirby and family
and Mrs. LeCompte. Mr.. Wood
has been superintendent for five
years, and he has made many i'm
provements since he has been in
charge of that institution. The
interiod of the buildings have been
painted, new floors have been laid,
bath rooms and electric lights
have been installed, also a radio.
I was glad to learn that inmates
at the Sussex County Almshouse
were no longer buried in boxes,
but Mr.. Carey, who is one of the
board of trustees and an undertake
er, is providing caskets at whole
sale price, so as to give the in
mates a respectable burial. If the
name of the almshouses was
changed to Home Comforts for
The Aged" and improvements to
the institutions continue, the old
folks would no longer look upon
these institutions with dread. One
/ of the greatest necessities, to my
estimation, is trained nurse
should take care of those who are
sick, and tighten the work of those
who have already entirely too
much to do"