rty destitute women, who
would otherwise be homeless, residing in the building. The annual number
thus sheltered is about six hundred. They are provided with situations
as servants as rapidly as possible. Since its opening, sixteen years
ago, the House has sheltered and provided for 20,000 persons. The number
of lodgings furnished yearly is about 90,000, and the daily number of
meals averages 1000. Since 1856, 4,135,218 meals have been given to the
poor. No one is ever turned away hungry, and sometimes as many as 150
persons, men and women, driven to the doors of the House by hunger, may
be seen seated at its table at the dinner hour.

_The Howard Mission and Home for Little Wanderers_ is situated in the
heart of the Fourth Ward, in one of the most wretched quarters of the
city. Here the inhabitants are packed into their dirty dwellings at the
rate of 290,000 persons to the square mile. The dirt and the
wretchedness of this part of the city are terrible to behold, the
sufferings of the people are very great, and the mortality is heavy.
Sailors' lodging houses of the lowest character, dance houses, rum shops,
and thieves' cribs are numerous, and the moral condition of the Ward is
worse than the sanitary.

In May, 1861, the Rev. W. C. Van Meter organized a Mission in the very
heart of this locality, to which he gave the name of the _Howard Mission
and Home for Little Wanderers_. For three years it was maintained by his
individual exertions, but, in 1864, Mr. Van Meter having secured for it
wealthy and powerful friends, it was regularly incorporated, and placed
under the control of a Board of Managers, Mr. Van Meter still continuing
to act as Superintendent. Since then, comfortable and tasteful brick
buildings have been erected for the Mission, and it is succeeding now
beyond the first hopes of its founder. Our engraving shows the New
Bowery front as it will appear when completed.

The Mission is located in the New Bowery, just below its junction with
Chatham Square. It extends back to Roosevelt street, upon which
thoroughfare there is an entrance. The erection of the buildings on the
New Bowery will about double the size of the Mission, and proportionately
increase its capacity for doing good. It is entirely dependent upon
voluntary contributions for its support.

[Picture: THE HOWARD MISSION (AS IT WILL APPEAR WHEN COMPLETED).]

"Our object," says Mr. Van Meter, "is to do all the good we can to the