Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-02-10
Cruelty TO Chiidren-Fhe ssTimesp,
stories and ihe TTisxiun of the s. r,

is gentleman whose word will command
instant belief wherever he is known. It
will be seen that he gives an emphatic
denial to the statements made in the
inns article and shows that there is but
q very small foundation for the frightful
stories it has conjursd up. There is no
doubt, as our correspondent says,
that there are few cases
of cruelty in Sussex county; it
would be remarkable ii there were not,
but ihas there il no warrant for the
revolving revelations" made by the Times
Is proved by the statement of DIR.
Richards, one of the gentlemen whose
name was given In the article referred to as
being cognzlnt of the "facts" there
stated DR. Richards. it will be observed,
prononnoes the whole story false, "made
'up of liss,' ard we iruaeue that with
most Of the people Of Delswure this will
settle the matter so far as these cases are
concerned.
OF course It IS exceedingly gratifying to
known that Delaware IL not disRraced by
such uufueling demons "a this article
would MAKE Ii appear weru nov residing
in Sussex county, hut since IL is admitted
that there are some cases OF cruelty-of
what degree does not Misunderstanding in
connection with iudsntursd orphans in
this State, We suggest to The Society for
the Prevention OF Cruelty to Children the
propriesy of iusiiuIing a still hunt for
thom, tn order that the ID .ndera may he
brought to is'ics This We think could he
| done without much expense ia money,
though it Womb require some shrewdnees
aud cor siderable trouble The various vice
presidents of the society 10 each county
| could do "a gres. deal toward st curing the
desired result hg keeping a sharp lookout
for suspicious cases and, when found, es-
tshlishing over them asslrict asurvsillsute
as the circumstances OF the case would
admit BY enlarging the number OF off,
GERS Of the society and extending the
system throughout every pgri OF the State,
means OF alcertainiug the facts in most
cases of cruelty, where such exist, would
be al hand, aud in this way the society
could largely increase lis power for useful
ness and zeal good ...-
Oicourse under any such System as II at
here suggest d, CREST care would have to re
exercised IN the selection of The officers Of
the Ruaiaty, sincs there wonld be plenty OF
opportunity for abuse of the powers of
the society if people who are capable o.
allowing themselves TO be Influenced by
personal spite or other unworthy motives
should b9 made the instruments of the
law. Bat it may be- argued that the kind
of people whom it would DO desirable to
secure for the work necessary under this
system ar Just the kind who would object
10 playing spy upon their neighbors, be in
ever SO good cause. Still we believe that
it is the only way in which the S. p q. O.
can effectively perform the work which is
the object Ut its existence, AID We have
no doubt thst III every community some
person may be found with sufficient
interest in The cause 10 be willing to serve
AZ on fli,er of the society for the purpose
of bringing to justice ali offenders against
humanity in this direction that msy come
within their knowledge
The society, howeve., can d. but little
without money, and those people who
have raised their voices in horror at the
blood-curiliug ronances told by the sen
sationsl scribe Of the Times and indeed al
good citiseus should ses to it that tn,
society is rot without the means to sue
cessfully rrst olt aud prosecute all casel
OF cruelty to children, of great or small
degree, Uithin the limits OF the State
fbe fact that most Of the cases to whicl
our correspondent refsrs have been greatl,
exaggerated aud others wholly fabricated
does no! lessen the duty Of our citz-ns +,
thid MISTER. We are glad to htlieve tina
such IL stances of ABSOLUTE fendishnes
could rot possibly exist III any portion o
our State, mt any one familiar with th
general isolation Of country Ifs viii
, At once perceive how very bad case
, of eraelty-bsd enough to call 70
legal Intervention though not hpproaehin
these pretended ones ia severity-cnul
easily exist wi hout the knowledge OF an
one having the power or inclination t
: remedy them. We do not say that sue
cases do ex,Sti ii is likely that they d
not, TO any great extent At least but "
only point ont how it is possible for Their
70 exist without attracting attention an
suggest a wny in which THE pos.ibllit
may in measure be remove
But. as We have before sad, to accom-
plish this the Society for the Prevention @
Cruelty to Children most receive the SUP
: polt Of our citiz ms. Without such sup
port the society Is oomp Aratively powerle {
> with ii there is vide field of usefulnes
open TO if. Let our people bear this cor
stautiy in mind and remember that ther
is no chlria9ls iAstitutnn in the Stat
whose object makes il more urgently de
serving Of prompt aud continued assist
nnce than is the $. p, q. C. ...
, 1t il written that crocodile will weep owe
mans head when he hath deyoured tn
5 body, and then he will eat up the head TOT
+ wherefore III Latin there is a proverb,
i IFftll q s..