Portland Guardian (Vic. : 1876 - 1953), Wednesday 31 December 1902, page 3


LChristmas at the Portland Asylum. 1*· The Superintendent desires us to ack. nowledge with thanks, and present the compliments of the season to the following ladies and gentlemen, who so kindly contributed in kind, those good things which enabled the inmates of our local Asylum and Hospital to enjoy a happy Xmas, with a balance for the New Year feast-Mrs Roach, Dr and Mrs Levis, Mr D. Jones, Messrs H, French and Co, Mr H, btevens;-Mrs Crouch, Miss Must, Mrs Hesnecke,-Mr Wm, Heaney, Gordbn Hotel; Messrs Osbourne Bros., Mr McLaren, Mac's Hotel; Mrs Alston, Mr S. W. Housen, Richmond Hole!; Mr J, Riordan, London Hotel, The enclosed report of the Christmas at the institution was written by a youth, who is under treatment as a hospital patient :Dear Editor,-I now take the pleasure of writing a short account of .Christmas Day as spent at the Portland Benevolent Asylum and Hospital, In the morning the Superintendent, with some of the inmates, decorated the verandah posts with boughs, which would remind the o:d men and women of Christmas in their youthful days. The dining-room was also decorated on the previous evening. There were wreathes in the dining room which, when the old men saw them said it looked like May'in the old country. Every inmate receivet a card in the morning, and about ten o'clock a.m, the Superintendent called up the inmates, and as each received A drink, piece of cake, and some tobacco, each erchanged compliments of the season, Service was held in the morning at eleven o'clock the Rev. T. Shanks officiated, and Miss Lear presided over the singing, which the inmates seemed to enjoy very much. After the service was over there was a short interval while the dinner was being got ready. Everything was got into nice order and then toe inmates, numbering sixteen, with two other aged woman seated themselves down to a very sumptuous dinner, Mr. Rose and Mr. Webb being present, Dr. Levis carved the goose while the plates were being hanced round by others. The first plates contained roast beef, goose, ham and vegetables. After the first dishes were removed there came plum pudding, and then the inmates helped themselves to cake, fruit and confectionary, there also being ale, gingerale and lemonade, as much as the men and woman liked to drink. The. tdble was arranged in a very nice way, the Christmas cake being placed in the middle between two vases of flowers, so the inmates, with theother two woman fron the rIm!; houses had a table before them whli.ih Jtn:i ; :tnd Priocess could have envied. Aitchleacon Allnuttssaid Grace before and alter the feast, Then followed several speeches made in regard to Mr. and Mrs Thompson for the splendid way in which they had arranged the table and everything; also for the way in which they have taken care and looked ifter the inmates during the past years which I must say is much to their credit in each instance. The gratification of the inmates was expressed with a good hearty clap of their hands. After this all who were able went out for a walk in the afternoon, and when they returned in the evening they were welcomed in a similar way to that which they had experienced at dinner time,