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" Goldings " estate, which, as all Hertford
knows, stands on the outskirts of the town,
is apparently destined to become' one of
the branches of Dr. Barnardo’s Homes.
Speculation has for some time been keen
as to the future of this beautiful mansion,
and local interest will be stirred by the
news that the district is to be closely
identified with one of the finest, most
successful, and most philanthropic!
movements in the United Kingdom.
Fifty-four years ago Dr. Barnardo rescued
his first little street arab from destitution
and misery, and possibly even he failed to
realise what a wonderful work he was
beginning, or how deeply his name would
come to be reverenced in every land that
flies the Union Jack. For that little orphan
was the forerunner of over 91,000 other
children who have entered the Homes
forlorn and destitute, and have passed out
of it to become useful and self-respecting
citizens, playing - their part through the
length and breadth of the Empire. The age
of miracles has not really disappeared.
Here we have, indeed, a record of 91,000
miracles! Could the material from which
these transformations have been wrought
have seemed more unpromising? Few of
these children owed anything at all to
parentage or to early surroundings. Not all
of them, of course, came from a vicious
environment, but with-out exception
their lot had been cast amidst neglect and
suffering and poverty where they knew
nothing of the joy and happiness that
should be childhood's natural heritage.
Left to themselves they would have
inevitably have become idlers and wastrels,
whereas it has been the glory of the
Barnardo Homes that the goodness that is
in our common humanity has had a chance
to show itself, and these 91,000 children
have been turned into sturdy sons and
daughters of England. Only in the rarest
instances have they ever failed to do the
utmost credit to the great Institution that
rescued them or to repay those whose
benevolence has made the continuance
and development of its wonderful
humanitarian mission possible.
So much has been said, of course, only as
a prelude to the story of an interesting
scheme which, if all goes well, will bring
a valuable department of the Barnardo
work to “Goldings” The owner, Capt.
Abel Smith who has shown great interest
in Dr. Barnardos Homes, hearing of their
needs generously offered the property on
most exceptionally favourable terms. He
has stated that nothing could be more
fitting than that the home of his fathers
should be placed at the disposal of these
lads, many of whom, but for the Barnardo
Homes, might have come to grief.
Negotiations were accordingly opened by
the Council of the Homes, but these have
now been carried so far that an appeal for
funds is to be issued to the public, which
in the past has always responded to the
claims of this splendidly managed
Institution with the greatest generosity.
"Goldings" moreover, is to be acquired as
a memorial to one who, second only to the
debt due to the founder himself, had placed
the public under a special sense of
obligation because of the faithful service
he rendered to the Homes during the
fifteen years he held the Honorary
Directorship. We refer to the late Mr.
William Baker. By birth an Irishman, and
one of the moat brilliant academic products
of Trinity College, he came to this country
to win a successful career for himself as a
member of the Chancery Bar. In 1880 he
made Dr. Barnardo's acquaintance - an
acquaintance which rapidly deepened into
an intimate friendship, founded upon a
common interest of both men in work for
the care of destitute children — and in 1887
he identified himself more closely with the
Homes as a member of the Council and of
the Finance Committee.
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