Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-09-24
10 pROTECT CHILDREN.
Needs of the Society for the Prcven-
ton of Cruelty 10 Children Fully
DihcMhAed.


ton of Cruelty 10 Children Fully
Discussed.
The Society for the Protection of
Cruelty TO Children held public meeting
Friday night in the Board of Trade rooms,
Exchange Building. The President, Henry
L. Cause, occupied the chair and Austin
Harrington, Esq the secretary and attor.
ney presented n written report in which he
alluded to the fact that it is proposed to
issue in short time, for circulation, n
pamphlet giving n resume of the work of
the society since its organization. The
number of cases of cruelty to children
reported and attended to hhs greatly in
creased during the past two years,
showing that the organization has
reached higher degree of protection. An
agent is needed in each comfy of tho
discover and report cases of cruelty.
The present need is financial aid, and a
more general cooperation on the part of
those Interested in the cause. An appeal
to the public for funds has been sug-
gosted, and il is believed such request
ought to meet with n generous response.
The society is informed that there are
hundreds of indentured children in Sus-
sex county who have been sent there from
homes in Pennsylvania and elsewhere.
The city should be divided into
districts, in each of which some
one should be named whose especial
work it should be to visit and report
cases. Under the present arrangement
action cannot be taken except when COM
plants are made by those suffering
directly from cruel treatment. There
are many instances where good can be
accomplished if system of investigation
and inquiry into the condition of the
people is adopted. The report closes
with nm expression of appreciation for the
assistance and kindly aid extended to the
society by the homes of this city.
The report was adopted and general
discussion followed as the most feasible
method of attaining the desired end.
President Cause expressed the opinion
that special agents should be appointed
in the various towns of the State with
police authority, so that they could make
arrests. The charter should be amended
SO TINT the authority of the society could
be increased in some particulars and the
annual meeting changed from September
to january. Treasurer. Samuel X. Smith
reported that there were 40 members of
the society in good standing.
Benjamin Wyland, the boy recently
taken from Farmer Benjamin higgins
of Seaford, is temporarily in the
Home for Friendless Children. 1t is
probable that he will get home in Mary
land, as applications for him have been
received from there. If not, he will be
sent to the Home for Friendless Children
at Huntingdon, Pa.
Andrew G. Wilson stated that agents
should ascertain if those who took
children from a home were fit to be their
custodians. Col. Macallister said the law
should require all indentures to be
recorded.
Attention was called to the case of a
child deserted by its mother and found on
the steamer FELTON, three years ago, which
was adopted by Mrs. Klund and given
the name of Lulu Klund. Letters have
recently been received from person in
Michigan claiming to be the girls elder
sister and demanding her custody. The
society has advised Mrs. Klund to keep
the child until it is taken from her by
legal process.
Mr. Harrington moved that the news
papers be requested to acquaint the public
with the needs of the society and to re-
ceive contributions at their offices and
daily acknowledge them in their columns.
This was adopted and the society ad.
iourned,