Year: 1873

tary. Mira Col. Samuel Colt was placed at the head
of tho Executive Committee of Twelve, and Mrs
Gov Jewell at the head of Finance Committee of
Ten, and Mayor Robinson made Chairman of an
Advisory Committee of six gentlemen.


The objects of the organization were very clearly
set forth in the opening address Of tho President
from which is quoted the following:


The foundation OF organization is broad and lin
tied only by its intention to benefit those OF
who less happy and fortunate than ourselves
We might almost adopt, our only motto, Love thy
neighbor thysolf." We cannot yet foresee what
superstructure may DO raised above cornerstone
but must bide time and be content to grow by
slow degrees Let not draw by anticipation upon the
generosity of the public. II prove udicous amoners
of the little extended to us, We may hope to be
found worthy Of more abundant proofs of confidence
WORK OF THE UNION.


Over eighteen months have elapsed since these
words were uttered, and the Society can safely be
said to have more than fulfilled tho hopes OF its
founders. To report in detail works of benevolence
is always difficult, especially when. as in this
instance large part of tho work has been IN quiet,
unrecorded deeds of mercy, visits to the houses OF
the poor the sending of food. fruit, and flowers to
the needy and sick among them, with the bcstowai
of personal sympathy and care. carriage fund" Is
kept by several of the ladies' who each week either
put their own carriages at the service OF Mrs. Suy
ter to enable her to give some convaescing person
sun and air. send the money to enable her to hire
a conveyance for that purpose The Hartford jan
is also supplied with flowers by the union In more
than one Instance these true sisters of Mercy
who wear no badge, have taken from the nome OF
poverty sick child to nurse and bring back 10
health under their own roofs.


GIRLS AND BOYS READING ROOM. DAY NURSERY,


AND sEwING-sCHoOL


From the first annual report of the Society, pub
lished in May 1873, edited with great care by Mrs.
Louise Bushnell. whose poetcal contributions to
The ARantio Monthly have won her deserved
laurels, very good idea may be gathered of the
work of the first year in the various branches OF the
Union. The first report in the pamphlet is that OF
the Girls Reading ROOM" which has. some 10
visitors-grls from 10 to 20 years. These girls gather
at the pleasant parlOrs furnished In building now
rented by the Union, adjoining the cofee-house,
where they spend the evening IN singing. receiving
instruction sewing machines, or listening TO read
ing or instruction from of the younger ladies
of the Union who have charge of the room, two OF
whom are al lways present on these occasions, many
of them coming long distances IN all sorts OF weather
Baths are provided i'll an adjoining room and are
eagerly sought. SO much Improvement has been
shown in their manners by the girls who have
attended these that of late a well-tOdO grocer
inquired of the young ladies in charge, one evening
as to what it would cost to get his daughter re-
fined like them other girls"


The second branch to report IS the DAY Nursery
In the second story OF the building nsed by the
Union matron is provided, who for 10 cents per
day takes of any child left in her charge by its
mother if the latter is called out to work to which
she cannot take the child. The number of
children left each day ranges from six to twenty
The little ones have bath and good food, and enjoy
themselves after the manner of litter of young kit
tens 1t cost about $500 over and above fees TO
tain the nursery for its first nine months.


The third report is that of the Sewing-school held
every Saturday morning. 1t is attended on the
average by nearly 10J young girls. The lady Man
ager of this branch has thrown her whole soul into
the work, and with an efficient corps of assistants
has accomplished results in the way, of improving
how Inff
plication to work OF which she may well be proud


The Boys Reading-room Association also sends a
report to the Union. This organization grew out of
the necessity that arose for providing for the LADS
who fOoked into the coflee-house for warmth on the
cold Winter evenings. Three OF them used to call
each evening for two pieces of pie and two cups of
coffee for the party when the two boys that received
those articles would each give the odd little gamn
one-third of their pie and coffee. The Rev. Edwin
Parker was largely interested i'll the organization
of this Association which now numbers
some 10 young gentlemen, nearly all of whom
i'll active business, and rather driven
than otherwise by the loads that in this bnstling
city all compelled to carry. The object of the
Association to provide well warmed and lighted
rooms for the newsboys boot blacks and poorer lads
pleasantly and prOftably. The MANAGEMENT is in
the hands of an executive committee of nine en-
bracing of all shades of belief from Roman
Catholic TO Universalis for in this as III every de-
partment of the Union no sectarian feeling enters
the absorbing motive being" How can we help
Others to help themselvesT





The Association has two large not far from
the coffee house, which are pleasantly but simply
furnished. They are open each weekday evening
during the Winter, under charge of a superintend-
cnt, who is nightly assisted by two regularly de-
tailed members of the Association the detail coming
TO each member about once a month.


The rooms contain fine library, abundant games.
and bathing facilities, which latter eagerly
sought that boys have been known. in their first
thusiasm over cold water, 10 soil their faces
after one bath that they might enjoy another
the night. From % TO 100 boys
gather at these rooms nightly and read, play
games and listen to any instruction or entertain
Inent provided. Profanity and the use of tobacco
were suppressed in the ROOMS at the start, and at
this meeting they are as quiet as the average Sun
day-school room when the school is in session. This
branch has separate offices and separate treasury.
being sustained by contributions and by the
monthly dues of the members of the Association.
It's running expenses are about 500 per month


There is more modest little bTanch-a Clothing
Club--that meets weekly and makes up garments to
be sold az cost TO those who need then; ms little
branch does faithful work and is self-sustaDng.
The Union itself is sustained by the monthly dues
of 81 per member, by donations, and by entertain
ments of various kinds-tableaus, readings, anna
teUr theatrcals, etc Its receipts on It's hrst year
were s. 163 81; expenditures. S35l7 30; balance
carried over to the new year Sl6lo %. III SS,JOQ
have anywhere in the country been expended
to better advantage among an equal number OF
deserving people, it is 10 be hoped that report
thereof viii be made in the columns of TIE TRIB-
UNE. 1t is not that the people of Hartford are
whit better than the people OF any other city with
the same wealth and advantages that they have
have thus succeeded in doing good, but II is be-
canse those who have taken hold of this movement
have had but object and that they have carried
out This embodied in the suggestion OF their
President at the start-tO make their only motto
" Love your neighbOr as YOURSELF