Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-05-14


/ science, hardly contemplated such an
/ extended and valuable membership as
| the present association contains. The
! secretary traced the growth Of the socie-
ty through the succeeding years, and re-
! ferred to the enlargement of ideas and
| the expansion of the fields that now form
the basis of its operations, quoting from
the old programmes to show what sub
jects were considered In former sessions.
He paid a high compliment to DR.. Eli
! oft, Henry Willard, and Mr.. J. M. Bar
nard, to whose efforts were due much
of the success OF the organiZa
ton in the earlier years Of its eX-
istence. The journals issued by the
association which had been published
with but little interruption since the
third year after the association was es-
tablished, contain information which
has had an influence which can hardly
be sufficiently priced. The civil service
reform has gone forward st the original
suggestion, and under the prudent direc-
ton OF members OF this society, among
whom are specially named GeOTgeWm.
Curtis and Dormau B. Eaton. The assO-
citation has done favor equally great to
art. The recent efforts to reform the
method Of social and national taxation
began with members of this association,
and have been pushed by one of its most
active members, David A. Wells. To
the deliberation of this body is due in
a large degree the defeat OF the plans of
the infistiOnists to destroy this country.
The United States owes to the assoCia-
ton lasting gratitude for opening up
to general discussion and consequent re-
form Of such subjects as to the regula
ton OF liquor traffic, prison discipline,
public charities and education. Com
mittees are constantly at work on these
subjects, and are continually getting at
new and valuable facts for the use OF the
country. The report alludes in
tender terms to the former
active and invaluable men,
ber, Prof. Agassiz, and repeats
it was his last wish that the work of the
association be carried forward with en-
ergy, especially in 3 body of local So
cieties. This method Of enlarging the
usefulness of the organisation has been
successfully adopted, and some power
full branches Of the societies formed,
among which are Detroit, Philadelphia,
and Boston. The relations with the
British societies, established long ago
for similar purposes, are becoming more
Intimate and will prove OF advantage
to both countries. The societies of
America, which are to cover in some
degree the same ground, have expressed
a desire to cooperate with this assOcia-
ton, and are doing SO. This likewise
will be a mutual benefit Among the sub
jects which the association has investi-
gated during the past year is that of
training schools for nurses in cOnnec-
ton with hospitals and other medical
charities. The report concludes as fol-
o Ws: "OUr science has this advantage,
as l conceive, over many of the pbysi-
cal sciences that, instead OF drawing
away the soul Of man from the cOntem-
plation Of spiritual things and of the
mutual independence of mankind upon
each other, social science in all its as
poets stimulates as to deeper sympa-
thy with human weakness, nObler
conception of human possibilities, and
more intimate reliance of that love and
wisdom which are dimly seen or shine
with heavenly light at the end Of every
vista in this brief journey of life.
The conference of the board OF public
charities met in the morning. A paper
on medical charities by @. S. Hale, of
Boston, was read. 1t began by saying
that the kind Of charity which lessons
the independence of the recipient should
be avoided. 1t is difficult question to
decide what patients have money to
pay for the care they receive, and physi-
clans should take the greatest care to
see that those able to provide for them
selves should make way for those who
are not. The medical department
of the association had taken
pains to discover what pro-
portion Of the inmates Of hospitals
paid anything for services rendered, the
effects on the patient and on the COM
munity of free medical attendance, and
other facts of interest. In summing up
the answers received from numerous
correspondents, it appears that the Opin-
ions are conflicting as to the best meth
ods to be pursued in giving, and eau
tiOus comparison Of data must be made
in order to arrive at any general rule.
A judiciOus determination OF the ques-
tiOns involved is, however, Of the high
est Importance; and any who will aid
in that determination will deserve well
Of his community.
This paper was referred to the stand
ing committee on outdoor relief.
A paper on criminal and neglected
children in the United States was read
by Mr.. SanbOrn, in which the author,
Miss Carpenter, a distinguished Eng
lish philanthrOpist, embodied observa.
tiOns she had made during her trip
through American prisons and schools
in 1873, drawing from them many COM
parisons between the English and
American methods. Speaking OF our
prisons and reformatOry school system,
Miss Carpenter said that the system of
al in ho
care Of the young is most injurious, and
if done from motives of false economy,
cannot be too greatly reprobated. 1t
and enlightened efforts of this
association will introduce a new
system, and place the care of children
under those who are able and willing to
carry it on well. She spoke Of the fate
which she noticed was attendant on the
destitute and homeless children OF Phil
adelphia who are kept in the gigantic
poorhOuses Of that city. In such an at
mosphere they could not grow up to Wig
OFOus manhood.
The secretary was directed to tender
the thanks OF the association 10 Miss
Carpenter for her interesting contrlbu-
ton. The subject was discussed by
Rev. J. w. Brown, OF Detroit, who read
some communications he had received,
detailing the misfOrturnes Of improper
associations which children were per-
mitted 20 make.
A paper on q new method OF checking
crime, by Bonneville De Marsangy, a
distinguished French writer. was next
presented by Nr. SsnbOru, who trans.
lated enough Of it into English to give
an idea Of the method advocated by the
author. The plan OF De Marsangy was
to add to the short imprisOnments now
inflicted on lesser criminals, fines at
least double the value Of the in
Jury done. II the fines were not
paid up at the end Of imprisonment,
the prisoner should be compelled to
work them out. A resolution was sub
mitted that State boards Of charities be
requested to use their influence in secur-
ing the passage by the Legislature OF a
law requiring that poor children be re-
moved fTom the county poOrhouses and
placed in families, ssylums, refOrma
tories and away from sdult paupers and
criminals The discussion was post.
pOned till the subsequent session.
In the afternoon, Hamilton A. Hill,
Of Boston, read q paper on immigration.
The paper starts with some statistics,