Thirty-five years among the poor, and the public institutions of Cincinnati

Front matter

Shelf,

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Thirty-Five Yeaf^s

Preface

Why was this book written ?

The question admits of various answers. Frequently, while narrating some of the scenes here recorded, persons have said: " How interesting such things are — well worth printing— and the reading of them can not fail to do good." So they are written and published to glorify God and to do good to our fellow-men.

Again, the subject of carrying the gospel to and caring for the poor ought to have a greater hold on this community than it has ever had. Instead of one solitary missionary, there ought to be in our city twenty men always employed in this work.

There ought to be one for Longview Asylum, with its seven hundred inmates. There ought to be one for the two infirmaries. There certainly ought to be one for our City Hospital, with its four hundred patients. And there should be ten others, to visit the poor and hold cottage meetings and gospel meetings among them. There is a surprising apathy on this subject. Eastern cities have their city mission societies.

One object in writing this book is to stir up Christian people especially, and other benevolent men, to consecrate their money for the evangelization of the heathen in our midst. Shall it be done?

To give bread and fuel to the poor is all right and proper ; but "Man doth not live by bread alone, but by every word of God shall he live." People are mournfully ignorant of the Word of God and the gospel of Christ. And they are willingly ignorant. Shall they perish in their sins ?

(iii)

iv PREFACE.

Many instances of the deaths of persons herein recorded show the evil consequences of sin, and the blessedness of a life of piety and godliness.

Among the poor are found many examples of pure religion. All along the line of thirty-five years, the writer has found it is well with those who serve God, and it is ill with the wicked. And, " Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

The writer thanks God for the health and strength given all these years, and for the ability and opportunity to write these sketches from real life. He desires to give all the glory to God for the good accomplished, for the tears wiped away, for the hearts made glad, for the light which has shined into many homes and hearts, for the young who have been instructed in righteousness, for others who have been quickened to greater consecration to the service of Christ. To God be all the glory.

With sincerity the writer can say, nothing has been set down in malice, or with any desire to injure any mortal on the earth. His heart's wish has been to benefit and encourage his fellow-men.

May the reading of these pages, written under many difficulties, and amid many pressing duties, incite and encourage every one to increased activity in aiding the sorrowing, aged and afflicted, by prayer, sympathies and material blessings.

The Author.

Chapter I. Page

Public Institutions, 9

The Old Jail— Chain-gang— Murderer Hung— A Temporary- Prison, 9

City Work-house— Finest Jail in the Country— Nativity of

Prisoners — Expense of Work-house, 1 6

Penitentiary— A Remarkable Meeting, 20

House op Refuge, 22

Cincinnati Orphan Asylum, ........ 23

German Orphan Asylum, 26

Colored Orphan Asylum 27

Children's Home, . , . 29

New Cincinnati Hospital— The Flower Mission — Surgical Operations— The Riot, Killed and Wounded— Children's

Ward, 42

St. Luke's Hospital, 57

.Marine Hospital— Homeopathic, 59

Jewish Hospital, 64

German Widows' Home, 67

Home for the Friendless and Foundlings 68

Longview Asylum, . , 71

County Infirmary, 90 chapter ii.

War Times, 94

Sick and Wounded Soldiers — Emancipated Slaves — A Dying Negro — Cincinnati under Martial Law — Military Hospitals: Marine, George Street, Third and Fourth Streets, (v)

VI CONTENTS.

The Two Floods -1883-84, 374

CHAPTER XXXI. Its Changes— Present Condition— Voluntary Contributions

ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE.

City Work-house, Frontispiece.

Home for the Friendless and Foundlings, . . 80

House of Refuge, 112

Ninth Street Baptist Church, 272

Children's Home, 320

The thanks of the author are tendered to the respective Boards of the above institutions for the use of the plates.

Thirty-Five Years ^mong tlje Poor aijd the Public Igstitutioijs of Cincinnati,