Protestant Children's Home Festival

More About the Festival.

The article yesterday was not to awake interest on the part of the participants and managers, for nobly have the latter discharged their duty; but to assure the public it was not to be an expensive festival, and to invite all to give a proof of interest and encouragement by coming and spending only forty-five or thirty-five cents, as they desire. Grant it true "there are so many things gotten up to make money;" the churches generally attend to their own interests, and as a rule are patronized politely by other dominations; but the Protestant Children's Home asks for assistance only once a year, and from all. Pardon me if I here introduce anecdote: A brilliant lecturer was honored with a dining at the home of a lady who is noted for her charities. This gentleman opened a discussion with a prominent lawyer in regard to charities. In the discussion he made the remark, "as a rule Protestants fail in their charities because they are dominational and will not take pennies." They proclaim this institution as being Baptist, Methodist, Episcopalian, Christian, &c. "Where can you point to any charitable institution that is not dominational?" The lawyer replied, "I cannot just now think of one." With pride I said, "In Covington, Ky., sir, there is such an institution." The flashing eye of the intelligent hostess passed the magic word, "a penny," and in a little while the dish was placed before him and the hostess said, "a nickel for your defeat, the name for your opponent, the same for your Protestant Children's Home, and for yourself and myself." I returned my thanks and said this shall be the beginning of an arrangement similar to Madame De Stael's Penny Post. For the benefit of some who have asked what this was, we answer: As your readers all know, Madame De Stael was a brilliant woman, and with all her talents was extremely charitable. At her dinings she placed an epergne, empty, on the table to be filled, not with fruits and flowers, but with fruitful ideas and flowers of sentiment. Often the literati who were most frequently her guests of both sexes, could not afford to give more than a son. Upon reaching the dining hall they requested to bring always an envelope containing a brief sentiment, a practical thought, and acrostic, or poetical effusion, and enclosing a small sum of money; and rather than make some sensitive intellect suffer with the thought they were sans argent, she desired that no name should be used. Finally, after having many pennies, she found her favorite orphanage wanting in means. She invited twelve gentlemen of wealth (her husband among the number) and requested that they should not fill the epergne until the coffee was served. She read an article on charity and politely asked for a response. Each laid his sealed envelope on the epergne and the institution was endowed. For the last few days I have endeavored to open a correspondence with the precious children of the Nook. Nobly have they done heretofore, and also the generous managers of the Nook — Mesdames Finnell, Porter, Lovell, and Morris. I do not ask pardon for borrowing ideas from Madame De Stael. Will not some of you open a liberal correspondence with our Penny Post to-morrow evening. "Only a penny," glorious Nillson sang; and she not only received pennies, but her basket was laden with bills. May God help our children to get money; and above all, may none of them have to seek shelter even in that beautiful home, and, although fed and well clothed as possible, may they never feel the orphan pang — motherless and fatherless.

M. T. H.