Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1878.] MONDAY, JUNE 11, 1894. THE OLD MEN'S HOME.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4744, 11 June 1894, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1878.] MONDAY, JUNE 11, 1894. THE OLD MEN'S HOME.

A WkiiMXOtox paper gave last week a graphic description of the Old Men's Home at Wellington. Its inmates were well housed, well fed, well clothed, well caral foi-—and ill-contented, A mere trifle was sufficient to set the whole of them grumbling, and on this particular occasion their tea wasnot hotenough, wiile—- " Gathering their brows like gathering storm," " They nursed their wrath ami kept it warm."

This special grievance, like Aaron's rod, swallowed up all tho rest, and it could be imagined that a supply of bohca was all that was needed to convert the home into paradise, But human nature is human nature, whether in an Old Men's Homo or out of it. Unfortunately, it is in human nature that an old man should be, to a ceityin extent, fretful, irritable, and peevish; and, as a rule, one old man in ono house is as much as is required, if ageniaj atpiosphere is to be maintained. But when ivc contemplate eighty old men under one roof, we are met with an unnatural and undesirable condition of things. Such a collection of fretful mortals must become miserable and unhappy. If an old man desires to smooth out his wrinkles and forget his petty cares and annoyances, he must associdto with younger people than himself, and possibly t|)o very best corrective for that irritability which comes on with old age, or to speak mora correctly with the ailments common to old age, is' the society of children, We cannot conceive that tho eighty moil in the Old Men's Home can be reasonably happy for this reason, although every pres.sing material want beive]} supplied. When the Old Men's Home was first projected, wo opposed it on this ground, and wo still think the institution a mistake, It provide,? for a considerable number of aged poor—somo of whom we know to be thoiv oughly deserving of assistance, at a cost of about ten shillings per man, but if this sum woro given to assist each man to live wherever lie (desired to dwell, one and all would [be infinitely happier, Ail inmate, instead of frettiug. his heart out amongst strangers, would be able to [reside in some neighborhood where I he had relatives, friends, or at least acquaintances, He would be a free man,' with some'.feeling of liberty and independence, mixing' day liy day with young and old, and getting some little siuisbiue in his Mining

[days, There are old men amongst] us who can live happily and pleasantly.on some sueli sum as 10s a week, whose lot is an enviable one compared with that of their aged brothers who are cooped up together in the Wellington Old Men's Homo. People, however, in this Colony, as iu x England, like to subscribe to institutions, like to C3e poverty and sickness grouped together, subject to tlioir patronage. Vanity, vanity, all is vanity! The right thing to do with nged men who are unable to support themselves, and whose friends are unable to provide for them, .is to board them out in tlio neighbourhood they have friends and connections. This plan is not only the best for tlio happiness of the recipients of aid, but it is also, we believe, tho most economical.