The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-07-08
LOST CHILDREN.

Ten Thousand Children Lost Annually
in tho Streets OF Now York-Collection,
Treatment and Disposition OF tho Lit
tie Wandercrs-Practical Hints TO Pa
rents and Guardians.
One Of the most remarkable curostes Of metropolis.
tan life is the number Of children lost annually in tho
streets of the city One Of the best and most humane
regulations Of the Metropolitan Police Department. IL
that relating to the manner Of finding these little
dere and restoring them to their parents and guardians
or otherwise providing for them.
One can hardly realize that upwards OF ten thousand
little ones varying from one TO ten years Of age could
stray from their homes in the Of year. and yet
the last Official report OF the Police Commissioner as
quoted day two since In this paper, shows this to
have been the fact The mode Of gathering these stray
waits upon the Of metropolitan life and restoring
them again to home and friends exceedingly interest
ing, and cannot fail TO claim the attention Of
parents and custodans OF children. The old
plan Of sending out crers. whose ominous bell COM
manded attention At the street corners, and whose
leathern lungs proclaimed the unwelcome "Lost lost
child lost has become obsolete The general public
no more reminded of the Affections of its individual
fellows In this particular direction and In this particular
way and yet ten times the amber Of children lost
In these days and none are aware OF the fact save those
directly Interested
According TO the report Of the Police Commissioner
the number Of children lost during the year past and
taken up by the police ten thousand and forty or
these 1881 males and 1850 females 65ea Of the
number claimed by parents and guardians at the
No 500 Mulberry street; were there claimed and
the remaining 211 werc sent the Commissioners Of
Charities and Correction, there appearing no claimants
for them
The causes that lead so many Juveniles to wander from
homo raceable in large degree to military and civic
In requson, and to the perambuating organ grinders
who add the Irresistible charms of monkey 20 their
OF larger growth are charmed b. the glitter Of gold
lace and the bright uniforms Of the soldiers well
the noise OF the drums and the mrsc oil the band and
Mar THAR foatv
are bewdered and lost and can only betay their troubles
in sobs and tears.
regulation, which has been greatly Improved upon,
and issued order directing that all children found In
70 sunset Of each day should be sent 10 the Central ONCE
any time acr sunset and before midnight BY this ar
rangement the anxious seekers after their lost darngs
see at glance all the children together who have
they The are Of K. no WI" has
the top floor of the building which has been nttad up
with iron bedseads and 0er convenences necessary for
their comfort Here they are kindly cared for. II not
Commissioners Of Charities and Correction Applicants
therefore have only 70 apply 70 the Central ONCE 400
Mulberry street. and proceed a to the top floor OF
the building, where eli tho children brought in during
the day will be cheerfoly shown them Tho that
description open the eyes Of all parties curious
enough inspect the admirable system Of restoring lost
children.
The major part Of these little wanderers are children
Of poor abores The father goes to his daily toll In the
morning, and the mother finds employment at washing
house cleaning In localities remote from home The
children turned into the streets with the admonen
to be home at nghtfa and their return the little
there they rush fantcaIy to the Central
ONCE believing their children simple strays and
runnways, but that they have b,en stolen This word
every one her child must have been soer away
for some undenabe purpose which neither she nor any
one else can satisfactorily determine As means OF re-
assuring mothers this point may not be out OF place
10 state that In the OF years there but
OF child stealing reported and that out Of not
II frequently happens however that children belonging
weather. classes decoyed away into by places
and stripped OF their fine clothes for which some cheap
after nghtfa possibly, not until the next day, but
these exceedingly and very few such
finds her lost has been brought to the Central
office that the operator duty should telegraph TO all
Ss
description Of theirs has been found.
For the quiet and peace Of mind OF such II may DO well
to state that stray child Is brought to any
station house. the duty OF the sergeant other OH
Ger in command to telegraph at once TO headquarters
complete description of the child its dress and ts name
and age II these be ascerained As there is very
stringent order upon this point and would be an I'M
pardonabe breach Of discipline not to obey H. 1t Is easy
TO that there Is occasion for the operator to tee
graph the stations Should the child not be at the Cen
trail Office and notice Of 1t there the inquiring parent
police.
As a means of aiding in . direct manner the ex-
ertons Of the department. in restoring lost children 70
should be distinctly marked some portion Of its
derclohng II is not little singular that minute de-
scrptions Of the dresse1 OF nty children coming from
similar class will read nearly alike that mother
would hardly be able, after reading them all, TO tell
which belonged TO her particular child, and q de-
scripton of the color Of hair and eyes or peculiar
shape of the has been found still less correct
guide Hence the necessity Of marking the childs
Clothes and hence also the wisdom OF that regulation
which brings these little waits all In place. where the
quick eye Of the mother may glance at them all and
claim her at once II Il be there.
The average number of children taken up daily by the
police twenty seven but In Of the days in
summer, and especially on holidays the number 10
doubled treblcd, and Quadruped The steps lead
ing tho main entrance Of the Central Office are crowded
nightly the by mothers and fathers anx-
iousy waiting for their little TO be brought In, and
though they not unfrequently sit until midnight and
grow weary with watching, and finally fall asleep on the
granite steps, yet they feel themselves more than repaid
the shout Of the familiar voice Of the child rccognz
ing Its mother and they trudge homeward claspng the
dear their breasts and nwardy thankful for this
excellent police regulation which brings the seeker and
the sought for speedily together and which so scner
ally commends itself TO the good sense and intelligence
OF all who Interested In the welfare OF children
Qualification for Voters.
TO the EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
Nry YoRx Juv l866