Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-08-12
CHARITY AND REFORM IN YER
MONT

AhOAN 4
PAPER READ by MRS. JULIA @. r. DoRB OF
RUTLAND AT THE LATE MEETING, IN Bos-
TON, OF THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF
CHARITIES AND REFORMS
My report will be brief one for obvious
reasons. Sitting apart among her mountains,
with no large cities within her borders, and
with a population made up for the most part
of sturdy men and busy women, for whom
has been answered the prayer Of Agur-"Giye
me neither poverty nor rriches"-Yermont has,
perhaps, less occasion than most Of her sister
states for preventive and reformatory work
among children. An overwhelming majority
Of her people are abundantly able to take
care not only of their own children, but those
of their deceased friends, and to give them
wise and tender guidance. Yet even she has
something to do. Fathers and mothers die
here as elsewhere, leaving helpless ones be-
hind them. The sick, the destitute, the i'm
provident, appeal to us for help, sympathy
and instruction and not even the barrier of
our everlasting hills can shut out crime and
folly and the evils that follow in their train.
So it comes about that all the larger towns,
and most of the smaller villages, have their
own private charitable associations and mis-
sion schools, reaching out into the by-ways
and hedges. OF these, and Of all the earnest,
faithful work that goes into them, there is no
need to speak. i could not if / would, for it
is work that is done for the most part quietly
and silently, the right hand knowing not what
the left hand dooth. But Of the more public
charities of the state some especial mention
must be made.
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC ORPHANS HOME.
Iu 1853 the Roman Catholic diocese of Bur
lington was established, with Rt. Rev. Louis
De Goesbriand as its first bishop. 1t includes
the whole state of Vermont. The year fol-
lowing the arrival Of DR.. De Goesbriand at
Burlington, he founded "home for destitute
orphan children in that city, under the care
of the sisters of Providence" whom he
brought from Montreal Since the establish
ment of this "home"-which is sustained
wholly by voluntary contributions of the Ro-
mansts Of the docese-the sisters have cared
for 100 children, on an average, every year.
AT present the bishop is building a new home,
as the old house has long been too small for
the adequate and comfortable accommodation
of the children. That the sisters have faith
fully trained and tenderly guarded their young
charges is a matter Of public notorety. But
this charity, benehcent as it was, covered but
part of the ground, reaching (as understand
IT. only the children of the diocese. Anoth-
er home was needed.
THE PROTESTANT HOME FOR DESTITUTE Chill
DREN.
The history of the home for destitute chill
dren at Burlington extends over a period of
1G years In 1865 little family of seven
destitute children was gathered together, and
an important charity established. An act of
incorporation was at once obtained from the
legislature, constituting seven ladies a board
of managers, in which each denomination OF
the Protestant church was represented. The
object of the home thus started was to Sup
ply the necessities, promote the intellectual,
moral and religious improvement of destitute
children, and fit them for situations of use
fulness and self-maintenance." In 1866 the
managers had favorable opportunity, and
purchased the valuable property known as
the United States marine hospital" a fire.
proof building situated in the southern part
of the city of Burlington. At the end of ten
wears the home had taken and provided for
27G children, but had been obliged to refuse
over 400 applications, owing TO want of room
and want of funds Trusting 10 the friends
of this charity all through the state to help
them, the managers made some improvements
in and additions to the house, so that in Is "a
they were able to accommodate 100 more.
Now there are about 100 new admissions to
the home each year, and still many are turned
away for want of means to provide for them.
The average expense Of child at the home
is about $40 per year. This small sum pro-
vides everything needful for the health and
comfort of the child, including the services
of teachers and the matron, and the fact in
dicatss that the home has been economically
as well as wisely and lovingly conducted
There are no paid officers. Every dollar goes
toward the maintenance of the children.
The officers of the society, as it is now Or
ganized, are president, vice president, and two
1iy alangaH n
board Of ~ managers. In addition to this
board, to aid in the more systematic prosecu-
ton of the work, and especially to help in
procuring good homes for the children, there
is now a manager elected for each county in
the state. The rules and regulations are, on
the whole, like those of similar institutions
The home is always in need Of money for,
as fast as il gets ahead little, or receives a
legacy, it increases the number of its chill
dren. And so the good work goes on from
year to year, growing as it goes. But this
work is not simply to provide for the present
needs Of the children. The institution, as far
as it may, forecasts their future, and, in order
to do this, it must be their legal guardian.
Accordingly, section of the act of incorpo-
ration runs as follows:
"The said corporators shall have power, with the
approval Of the judge Of probate for the district OF
Chttenden for the time, to receive any such child
shall be renquished to 1t by its parent guardian,
or II there be no parent or guardian by the
of the poor for the town or city Of which said child
NAV be an inhabant and shall have the sole and ex-
elusive care, guardianship aud education OF such child
and shall have and be entrusted with all the legal pow
ers as a guardian such child. And said corpora
on may also with the approval of said judge Of pro-
bate hire or bind out any such child 30 received for
such time said corporation shall ht (no longer
than the age Of legal majority OF such ehid) 70 some
person TO be instructed IN some suitable trade pur-
suit profession according to the rules and Tegua
ons which may from time to time be adopted by said
corporation. Provided that the provisions Of this act
shall not be construed as to create said corporation
the guardian of the property Of any such child"
In cases where it seems desirable, children
are received on trial for a term not exceeding
three months, the parents or guardians enter
ing into a written agreement to receive them
back if, after such trial, the board chooses to
return them. 1t is also provided in the rules
of admission, that, if there should be any va
cRncies in the home, and any parent or guar
dian wishes TO place child temporarily in it,
paying wholly or in part for its maintenance,
the board of managers may admit the child
on such terms as it thinks best A family
record" is kept, in which is recorded the name,
age, parents names, birthplaces, time Of ar
rival and departure, and general character of
each child; also, whether he or she goes out
to service or not and to whom-and this rec
ord is always open to the inspection of the
managers A monthly committee Of two
members of the board visits the institution
not less than once a week. II is made the
duty of this committee TO see every child, to
confer with the matron, and to inform the
special committee of the wants Of the estab-
| lishment.
THE STATE REFORM SCHOOL.
But 1865 saw the beginning of a still more
important enterprise. About that time, at a
session of the Rutland county court presided
over by Loyal @. Kellogg two boys, mere
children, were arraigned, found guilty of some
petty oAense and sentenced TO hard labor in
the state prison. A gentleman who listened
to their sentence profoundly impressed by
what seemed to him, considering the nature
of the offense and the extreme youth of the
offenders, Judicial severity, took occasion not
long afterward TO have an interview with
Judge Kellogg. To his surprise the judge
declared that he had taken the most merciful