Los Angeles Herald, Volume 39, Number 20, 31 October 1892 — HOMES FOR HOMELESS BOYS. [ARTICLE]

HOMES FOR HOMELESS BOYS.

Annual Report of the Home's Recording Secretary. An Account of a Work Which Deserves High Commendation. A Good Showing Made by Earnest Workers for the Past Year—lts Struggles and Its Steady Growth Into a Permanent Institution. The annual report of Frances E. Bennett, recording secretary of the Los Angeles News and Working Boys' home, for the year ending November 1,1892, lies on our table, and while the document is a trifle too lengthy for publication entire, it contains such a fund of information that the Herald condenses it with some reluctance. The most important event of the year, so far as this society is concerned, was the removal of the home from its old quarters to the larger and more elegant Ducommun mansion on Ducommun street, which occurred in June last, thereby giving the boys much nicer quarters than they had before, as well as more room. The grounds are beautifully laid out, the house large, well lighted and airy, and there is no one who sees the lads in their new quarters who will not pronounce it a change for the better. Such a home really should have a permanent endowment, with a manual training school and such other accessories as go to make up an institution in which homeless and otherwise friendless boys can be trained up to a useful manhood. Not long since a pleasant little episode occurred at the home. A former inmate, who had been brought there sick, and who was a long time in obtaining employment, called at the home one day and took all the boys out to treat them to ice cream. Observing, while there, that one of the rooms needed a new coat of matting, he purchased the same from his own scanty earnings and made it a present to the home. Who will say this was not a case of "bread cast upon the waters?" The letters received from various sources from the parents and relatives of boys that have been redeemed from lives of dishonesty and vagrancy by the good influences of the home, have been many and close together. Men see only the deed, and do not consider the circumstances; and hence boys that are not really bad at heart are too often unjustly condemned. The letters from parents of such boys who have been subjected to the ameliorating influences of the home are greatly encouraging to those who have given money and labor to its maintenance. Daring the past two years 220 boys have been received into the home. Returned to parents, 25; sent to the reform school, 10; arrested for leaving the city after having served their sentence, 12; expelled as incorrigible, 5; sent to San Francisco Aid society, 2; now learning trades, 11; attending the common schools, 15 ; permanent work obtained for 41. During the year ending October 1, 1892, the boys paid for board and lodging at the home the sum of $508.35; amount received for same period, 1891, $364.70; gain for 1892, $143 65. This shows a self reliant and manly spirit among the boys at the home. Their earnings are scanty, but they have cheerfully paid the nominal price of 20 cents per day and done so ungrudgingly. The citizens of Los Angeles have responded generously to the calls for monetary aid from time to time, and have manifested an interest in the same by their attendance at entertainments given in aid of the home, the proceeds of which have reached the sum of $444.85, which sum has been placed on deposit, after using a portion of it for fitting up a room in the home as a night school. This school was temporarily discontinued in April, 1892, on account of many of the boys having obtained situations in the country; and such as remained in the city were in daily attendance at public schools. On the 7th of September last the resignation of our good and efficient matron, Mrs. M. O. Hilbish, was received and accepted with regret. Into her new station as matron of the Florence Crittenden Rescue home, she carries the good will and respect of all who knew her in her former position. Miss Mary C. Housel has been appointed to fill the vacancy, and has so far been able to give thorough satisfaction. The fact that so little sickness has occurred in the past year is largely due to the neatness and good order observed by the housekeeper, Mrs. M. B. Neeley, whose motto is "cleanliness and wholesome food." The increased interest in the home is shown by the large number of visitors, 360 having registered for the year. Donations of clothing have come to us from every direction. The ladies of Los AnSeles, as well as of outside towns, have helped us liberally. A printed report will soon be issued in which all donors will be gratefully mentioned, and a kindly continuation of such favors for the future is earnestly solicited. ―――――― PROFESSOR TYNDALL. The Mysterious Young Man Returns to Los Angeles. Professor Tyndall, the man who claims to be a mind reader and hypnotist, is again in the city. He will be remembered as having acquired considerable reputation while last here by his attempts to extract a confession from a prisoner in the city jail, charged with robbery. The prisoner confessed all right enough, but was afterward found to be insane, and was sent to an asylum. Since leaving here the professor has married, and has continued his career, traveling about the northern part of the state. This afternoon at 2 o'clock, if the consent of the authorities can be obtained, he will attempt to hypnotize Chung Yung, the supposed murderer of Fernando Quijado. Yung is in the county jail. As Yung speaks no English, it may be necessary to also hypnotize an interpreter. The professor will, during his stay here, give several public exhibitions. ―――――― Found. At the drug store, a valuable package, worth its weight in gold. My hair has stopped falling and all dandruff haa disappeared since I found skookum root hair grower. Ask your druggist about it. ―――――― California Vinegar Works. 555 Banning street, opposite soap factory, near Alameda and First streets, one-half block from electric light works. ―――――― lce Cream, Soda and Confectionery. Soda of all flavors. The finest in the city at Marriam & Co's, 197 South Spring street.