HOUSE OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD.

III.

141

The House of the Good Shepherd, located at the corner of Thirtysixth and T streets, West Washington, was organized August 16, 1883, and incorporated March 6, 1884. The home was opened by a delegation of Sisters of the Good Shepherd from Baltimore, in the dwelling house on Ninth street formerly occupied by Admiral Smith. The house was given to the organization by the late Miss Anna E. Smith, the daughter of the admiral. Miss Smith interested Miss Alice Riggs and others of her friends, and a corporation was formed. The lands now occupied consist of all of block 133 in Burleith Addition to West Washington, and are valued at $25,000, the title being in the Sisters of the Good Shepherd. Buildings to the value of $36,500 and other improvements to the extent of $13,600 are upon the land. Of this amount, Congress appropriated $23,000 for lands, and from private sources came a house and lots, No. 1017 Ninth street northwest, which were sold for the sum of $30,000. The home can accommodate about 100 inmates. Of the inmates of the institution during the year, 4 were placed in other homes, 35 were restored to parents or relatives, and 6 left voluntarily. While the privileges of the institution are not confined to residents of the District, all of the inmates during the past year, with the exception of 8 belonged to the District. White females are admitted without regard to religious affiliation.

During 1896 the house received $2,700 from Congressional appropritions and $282.93 from the Board of Children's Guardians for wards placed in the institution. The income from private gifts amounted to $116.25, besides which there were received $2,770.05 from sewing done. by the inmates and a legacy of $1,000 from Miss Anna E. Smith, making the total income $6,869.23. There is an indebtedness of $25,000 on the home, involving an interest charge of $131.67 annually. The only salary paid is for one man. The cost of maintenance equals the receipts, including the Congressional appropriations.

The institution was established for the reformation of fallen and unfortunate females who might apply for admission or who are sent to the house by the courts, and for the preservation of young girls and children who, from dangerous surroundings or through want of proper paternal care, are exposed to the danger of being led astray. The home maintains two departments-the reformatory and the preservation class. The principal income is derived from all kinds of needlework, from plain shop work to the finest sewing and embroidery. Children are instructed in the rudimentary branches.

IV.

The Florence Crittenten Hope and Help Mission, located at 218 Third street northwest, was organized in 1888 and incorporated in 1895 under the general incorporation act of the District of Columbia. The

mission occupies one large five-story building on lands valued at $18,000, the property having been purchased for that sum. Mr. Crittenten gave $8,000 toward the purchase, and the remainder is still to be paid. During the year 1896, 397 persons were admitted and 231 were discharged, leaving 20 in the institution on January 1, 1897, the highest number accommodated at one time being 40. Twelve children, with their mothers, were placed in homes during the year, and the number of deaths was 4. Any homeless or fallen woman can obtain admission to the home. The institution is connected with no religious denomination, but is one of the Florence Crittenten homes that have been established through the work of Mr. C. N. Crittenten in various cities in the country, including San Francisco, Denver, Atlanta, Nashville, Chattanooga, Asheville; Portland, Oreg.; Norfolk, Ogden, Utah, and Salt Lake City.

During the year 1896 the home received $1,000 from Congressional appropriations, $400 from Mr. Crittenten, $2,996.23 from collections and monthly subscriptions, besides contributions of groceries amounting to about $300, and furniture to the amount of $400. The matron is paid $15 a month, and all other services are given. The cost of maintenance is about $3,500, which includes the expenses of girls in confinement and sending them home, clothing, and general expenses.

The Hope and Help Mission was first organized by Mrs. S. D. LaFetra as a local work, and later it came into the general organization established by Mr. Crittenten. It appears from the testimony of Mrs. Kate Waller Barrett, the general secretary of the Florence Crittenten missions, that Mr. Charles N. Crittenten came to New York a poor boy, and at No. 115 Fulton street, in that city, built up one of the largest drug businesses in the world. After the death of his daughter, Florence, he became interested in the work among the slums of New York, and, buying a piece of property in Bleecker street, at a cost of $40,000, opened it as a home for fallen women. The expense of the institution, as now conducted, is from $10,000 to $12,000 a year, which sum is furnished by Mr. Crittenten. The remainder of his income, which amounts to some $60,000 a year, is given to the general work of the Florence Crittenten missions. The home receives contributions from the Baptist, Congregational, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Methodist, and Christian churches, and from individuals, the deficits being made up by Mr. Crittenten. The management of the institution is in the hands of a board of directors, composed as follows: Sarah D. LaFetra, president; Belle S. Luckett, corresponding secretary; Mary E. Catlin, recording secretary; Alfred Wood, financial secretary; Thomas Jarvis, treasurer; James T. Petty, auditor; Dr. George W. N. Custis, Dr. George N. Perry, William H. McKnew, Letitia K. Knowles, and Mary Rector. The matron is Mrs. Elizabeth K. Fleck.