New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-04
WORK OF THE cHlLDRENS AID SOCIETY
MR.. CHARLES /. BRACE RErUTEs CERTAIN LOOSE
ACCUSATIONS.

MR.. CHARLES l.. BRACE RErUTEs CERTAIN LOOSE
ACCUSATIONS.
The following letter from Mr. Charles L. Brace
Secretary Of the Childrens And Society refutes the
charge made at the annual conference of charities
in Madison last August that the children sent to
Minnesota through the agency of the society have
turned out badly. Reasoning from narrow per
soual knowledge. thOughtless persons In vArous
parts of the country are continually making such
general accusations. The fact ~ that in only q
very small percentage of eases have children seat
ont by the society 10 rural communities failed to
iustify the confidence placed in them--a percentage
not larger and probably smaller than Is furnished
by the native population IN those communities.
To The rdifor Of The Pioneer Press. ST. Paul, MINI.
DeAKsR My attention has just been kindly called by
the Rev Mr. Dana, OF 81. Paul, TO the charges made
oanst h society In tho annual conference OF charities
held in Madison last August as to the children sent to
Minnesota. 1 was absent in Europe at the time and
have not yet copy OF tho proceedings but hear
hat the accusations related to the poor children turning
ont badly who have been sent to Minnesota through
tho agency OF our society by Mr.. Whiteaw Reid and
other beney VIOLENT citizens OF New-lork
Such charges arise continually in different places
against the emigration work Of the Chid"en's Aid So
ciety and they come almost always from narrow and
illogical view OF the work THAT Is, from Judging from
few cases in regard to great many member comes
up 10 conference charities who has known OF one or
two boys turning badly in his village or county ana
he nfers at once that hundreds OF others turn ont
e1ualy badly In other localities. II must he remem-
heren nv humane aud impartial readers that the work OF
this society at present very large and that some 1000
arc sent every year to homes in the country very
small proportion say per cent, or THIS very large
number turned out badly and those eighty happened 10
be WITHIN two three States 1t would make very Dad
impression; and yet the proportion would probably be
less than that OF the wrong doeEs among tue h"''c o
dren of those States.
nr boys are not the refuse OF creation, as Is often
supposed in tho Vest they are not legally panpers or
criminals but they the children oil honest peasants
who have become unfortunate, and In their homeless
condition have dred into our Industrial schools ana
lodging houses They are often bright lntelisen'
children and make industrious ana faithful workers
OR .,dont Western agent Mr.. Fry. visited during last
ear considerable number OF those who had been sent
out twenty five years ago, in Michigan ana INDIANA he
ound great numbers Of them grown up 10 DC successful
and we'll o-do men, and honoEed mothers OF famillesi
,hev hive been good addition 10 the working popuia-
ton OF those States This particular feeling against our
or I'm the Northwest arises probably from the accusa
ton made against OF boys in Iowa. OF being en-
Gagged In a detestabe crme-the wrecking OF railroad
ta,n The charge proved on legal investigation to be
without foundation, and the crime was fastened upon
resdent OF the village The boy himself has returned to
tho family where he when the crime was committed
So far from these charges the conference OF ehar
ties being true, the record Of work In Minnesota Is
extremely favorable. We sent of few years ago q
number OF parties different counties I'm Minnesota
numbering perhaps 40 children. The larger boys IN
these parties have changed about good deal as 40 al
our working classes, but there h no reoor" 'n' ''o'
have be.n obnreeable upon the communities or have
committed any crime except in Casa lad VINO was
imprisoned thirty days stealing Within the ast TWO
or three years we go children TO Minnesota
mainly under the charge OF our esteemed western
agents. Mr. J. Mathews and Mr. Irott' anu 80 iar rs
40 Lnos not N sinao one OF These has committed "a
criminal offence has become chargeaDo on any o"h