Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-12-14

We have received this week, a pamphlet.
containing the reports of the secretary and
treasurer of the Home for Destitute Child
rem in Burlington. for the two years ending
| Oct 27th. 1877. The hrst report given is
that OF the corresponding secretary. Miss Kate
w Morton. In 1t she speaks particularly
of the general object and working of the
Home. and of the objections sometimes
brought against it, by the following start
ling statistics already familiar to many OF our
readers she show the necessity of some
place where destitute children can be received
and properly reared In one county in New
York state the almshousc pauperism amounts
to .09O2 per cent. while in the state at large,
the amount is only .Ol2G per cent In this
same county the criminals were .23-7 per
cent Of the community. while in the whole
state. they We're less than one per cent of the
entire population; showing the county refer
red to to have nearly thirty times more Grim
inals than the average in the rest of the state.
On investigating this matter. most of the
criminals and paupers were found to be the
descendants OF one Margaret. who. growing
up neglected and uncared for. had impressed
children's children for some six generations
Having thus shown the necessity Of a refuge
for children who would otherwise be educated
i'll crime. the almshouse Is proved 10 be in
sufficient. For while there. the child is asso-
ciated with worthless if not vicious cnarac-
tiers so that, even if he does not prove a
criminal, he grows up without Christian or
moral principles. and with the elements Of
pauperism and crime deeply rooted in hi.
character The Burlington Home endeayors
to instl i'll the childs mind right ideas and
principles and develop them into good and
industrious habits. Miss Morton closes her
report by saying that the Home is still five
thousand dollars in debt This debt would
not have been incurred, but for the financial
crisis that came upon the country soon after
the new building was commenced; friends
who had promised large sums We're unable
to meet their engagements; and thus the
Home. instead Of having its completed build
ing paid for, is left with TINS debt
The next report Is that of the treasurer, and
then follows a full account Of the donations
received during the past two years. Tn pco-
pie of Burlington have done their part nobly
TO support this institution. and several time,
Brattleboro is mentioned in connection with
some substantial aid. The amount received
from Brattleboro is given rs one hundred and
sixty dollars for the two years. It must be
remembered that the Home has no appropri-
alton from the State. but is strictly u charita-
bic institution. There are no paid officers,
but all the money contributed is devoted di-
rectly to the instruction and maintenance of
the children. Many people in Vermont send
their contributions to New York thinking
that IN that great city, all is needed that can
be sent, and while the Justice of this argu-
ment is admitted, 1t Is the institutions OF our
own State that have the first claim upon us
And what wOrthier end could we wish for our
money than TO assist in the training of friend
less and orphan children il honesty and in
dustry The Home has no systematic meth
cd OF raising money for It's current expenses.
but Is wholly dependant upon individual con
trlbutons. We are very glad Ill tins conuec-
ton TO appeal to all who feel an interest III the
poor and orphan children of our own State.
not TO forget TO make contributions of money
or clothing TO this unsectarian and humane in
stitution of Vermont All such contributions
may be sent TO Mrs. c. I. Thompson who Is
the manager for this county