Page:Portland, Oregon, its History and Builders volume 1.djvu/642

 diocese.

Between thirty and forty girls find accommodations at the Mercy Home for working girls, i6th and Couch streets. The sisters have conducted this excellent institution for the past thirteen years. They feel that with increased facilities their work might be very greatly extended, and it is their hope to establish them- selves in larger quarters. '

ST. Mary's home.

Did you ever stop to think what significance attaches to the name ? It signifies happiness and comfort, aye, even life, to some 800 little waifs of humanity, human beings like you or me, but not so fortunate, who have been cast out upon the world, left to fight the battle of life — or perish — doomed never to know the kind care of a father or mother, often without a tie of kinship to care whether their struggle for life is won or not. But without friends ? No, for in the kind sisters who are watching over their temporal and spiritual welfare, in those generously disposed people, who have helped and are helping by their charity to maintain this great institution, the orphans find true friends.

It was eighteen years ago that Archbishop Wm. H. Gross, founded the insti- tution. The beginning was small and the struggle for existence was difficult and discouraging. A handful of sisters, who comprised the beginning of what is now the flourishing order of The Sisters of St. Mary, took over the institution under the leadership of Rev. Joseph Fessler, who died at his post of duty in 1896, and is now buried in the institution's cemetery.

When the doors of St. Mary's were opened the home was at once swamped with applications for admittance, and the sisters found themselves without suf- ficient food or clothing to supply the wants of their newly-found charges. With the aid of friends, however, St. Mary's gradually has waxed strong, until today we have a flourishing institution, with all the modern conveniences of life.

St. Mary's is located about ten miles from Portland on what is known as the "west side" line of the Southern Pacific. It is a large four-story structure. Near it is St. Mary's institute, a new boarding academy for the young ladies, con- ducted by the Sisters of St. Mary's. Rev. Father Deany, S. J., is superintendent, and Sister Alexander, superior.

CARES FOR MANY BOYS.

There are about 100 boys enrolled at St. Mary's now, and they range in age from 3 to 15 years. Many of them are the innocent victims of divorce courts, or are re-claimed from the slums of the city, or they have been taken by the courts from some cruel father or mother, and others are abandoned by inhuman parents. Still others there are, who have never known a father or mother. It matters not what race or creed they are ; all are welcome by the good sisters, and given a home and placed in the big family.

GIVEN A PRACTICAL TRAINING.

There every opportunity possible is afforded the young lads to obtain a good common school education, which is supplemented with an industrial training as well. The large steam laundry, electric light plant, water system, steam heating plant, are all operated by the boys under the supervision of skilled masters of the different trades. Farming is taught on the large 600 acre farm.

PLAYGROUNDS.

Realizing, however, that "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy," spacious play grounds have been provided, and a large playhouse has been con- structed for use during inclement weather. Here baseball, marbles, hop-scotch and other games, dear to the heart of the small boy are indulged in.