New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-19
rJTY WAITS IN KANSAS HOMES


ueTY CONCERNING SOME OF THE CHILDREN
srxT WEST BY Mr.. wHITELAw REID.
M. following report of the work done in Kansas
Aha late Mr.. j. p Brace, of che NewYOrk
Cb,ldrens AID Society, has recently been made by
Ar. s.blerel. an experienced agent. Such errone-
tatS,uents have been circulated by ill-iulormed
o,s "a 10 the character and record OF the chill
Jren sent from city streets to Western homes that
sb report OF children sent to Kansas, through the
.ocetv. by Mr.. Whtelaw Reid. will DO read with
,eosnre pv all who are interested in the work. In
order TO make the improvement in the condtlon anu
prospects OF the children named below more ap-
parent this latest report made by MI. ScDiegel 10
the society concerning each child Is followed 10
.olid type within brackets by the account OF the
same child published by THE TRIBUNE at the time
uf his or her departure from New-lork for west
arm home In two or three instances the previous
bistory of child was not gwen at that time for
prudential reasons.
Mr. sCHLEGEL'S REPORT.
After having spent four weeks in Wisconsin assisting
r Fry in visiting the children placed out in that State
started for Kansas. where several hundred children
have been located during the past few years, large
proporton OF whom sent through the generosity OF
Mr. whitelaw Reid spent there some three weeks
during which time I visited a large number OF the
children In their homes and obtained trustworthy in
the case that mary the larger boys had changed about
a csod deal and some had returned to New-iork, but
the majority are still the State and as general thng
doing well.
Ina conversation with the Rev. j. G. Dougherty. OF
Ottawa KAN, who has devoted much OF ms Valuable
time in looking after the interests of the Children anu
through whose efforts the late j. p Brace was enaped
Mace hundreds of children in good homes in Kansas
he assured me that beyond the possibility OF DOUBT OF
the 400 children thereabouts placed In MS secuoh
fully so per cent have remained In the state anu are
giving entire satisfaction 1t TACT worthy oi ho'o
that out of the hundreds sent to Kansas only single
boy has found his way the State Reform School, ana
this boy was committed for any crime he nan et
the place provided for him and wandered about town TOT
awhile and then applied TO a lady IN Ottawa VINO secured
his admission to school His record while there mas
been good and arranged for his discharge ana ne
will be provided with another hoI1e.
1t does not follow that when boy leaves the place
provided for him of necessity returns TO NeW-fork
Before starting out with my visiting, was OFTEN IN
formed In town that all the large boys had left ami re-
turned TO New-York, yet before my days. WORK was
over had the satisfaction Of seeing numbers OF the boys
themselves farms several miles from where they haa
been placed by agent and received authentic infor
nation concerning many others As an instance on my
first visit to Ottawa was informed that Fred H., one
of the large boys that place through the Kindness
of Mr. Reid had worked about town for while and had
finally disappeared.
When returned to Ottawa few days later learned
that Fred had to town that very day He has been
employed in furniture factory for the past two years
and Is earning good wages. His Object In coming to
town was to confer with Mr.. Dougherty in regard TO
purchasing. town lots paying part cash and the
balance In monthly instalments.
IHIRscH FREDERICK, is bury German lad OF sixteen
strong and healthy. He has always lived in New;
York except for about a year when he employed
farm at Newtown, L. l. His parents are botn
living, but his mother is crazy aud has been Tor zen
years in the Flatbush insane Asylum His father Is
amaker Of doctors instruments bu, Is unable TO pro-
vide for his support He has worked for 81 butcher
and also in bakery but has been for some time out
of employmentl
Another similar is that of Jimmy F.. age fftecn
formerly bootback. from Thirty hfth-st lodging
house. The man with whom he was placed died short
time after and informed the boy bad disappeared
from the neighborhood. found him. however, ON Mr..
It's farm few miles from town He was at the plough
when called and perfect picture Of Western farmer
He $50 in the bank, anu Is earning $40 per month
and his board lie has excellent reputation. and Is
very thought of by Mr. t. and will undoubtedly do
well
FINLEY, JAMES has already begun partial literary
career. He has been employed evenings IRON 10
eyessbt lie ia thirteen years 3D. and has sup
dead. He has always lived In Nrw-1ork ana BROOK
Ign and has worked In a paper fac;org.I
Two other boys Christie r. and John NJ l found a
number o! miles from whore they placed by Mr.
Brace. Christie is now working near Princeton. has
$500 aud loaned out at high rate OF interest
his reputation the neighborhood Is excellent and he
is doing exceedingly well.
lRESK. CHRISTIE Is hoy OF seventeen. His father Is
living in this city. but does not for him. aud he
prefers TO look out for himself He left home sI years
ago and worked for five years farm In Putnam
County. He left the farm last May he says because
York. and has worked here as a butcher AID in a soap
factory. HIS father is cabinet maker by trade but
is dissoute man ana cannot OBTAIN steady employ
ment
NJ is n
lie too has money and it at interest
These few cases will illustrate OF others my
book where they their first places and others
One OF the first cases visited little Otto s. placed
In the family Of Mr.. ]. d., at Media, Kan. Otto was
an orphan when he left New York, but has sepfather
and step-mother lie did not know his age, hut looked
about six. He bore the marks OF itreament received
the hands Of his step who, he says hit him
the head with poker. lie has been hard 10 manage,
and Mr. D. has written to to take him away. called
prepared the child but Mrs D., bursting into
said she could give him up; he doing better
and she Id not part with him. There Is only
little girl in the family who has become greatly attached
to little Otto lie goes to school regularly but does not
learn very rapidly.
ECHLEGEL OrTo age indefinite, said he Was six years
old, and when asked moment later said that lac was
"gong on ten" He displayed enough knowledge Of
city life TO have been emitted TO the sum Of tue two
ages given. My father is shoemaker" he said,
and lives IN Henry-st. have TO 70 West My
my mother aud she beats me with stick i stole
some money day from my mother, too. and she
whipped me. went To a theatre In the Bowery with
part OF the money" The boy IL small for child OF
Elk years old. Continuing his story he said al am
going to be good boy nov, but the theatre nice
4. the girls danced and the boys sang and the band
played. liked Punch and Judy the best but the baby
was killed bought some candy with OF the
money and then told lies again TO my mother. Ii
only cost ten cents 10 90 10 the theatre."l
James r., very bright little fellow, age seven, has
an excellent home large farm at Willow Springs
with Mr.. X Mr. X and bis wife are kind, generous
German le. M nth nj
home They love Jimmy dearly, and tho child them
REGAN, JAMES. aboy OF five years from the House of
Industry. His parentage Is unknown.l
Mary r. found good home with Mr. C. h. A. ofI law.
renee where there are no other children In the family
and has the very best advantages. Mrs A. said abe