The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-04-23

furnished with full outfit upon leav.
ing the institution at the age of 1G
years was in many instances wholly
disregarded.
Handkercbefs costing 3 cents were
charged 10 cents apiece stockings
costing II cents were charged at the
rate of 25 cent, pair. The clothing
allowance of the children arriving al
the age of l6 was computed at S2.0s
per month from September l, although
the school year begins June |, making
difference of 1924 against the or
phan and in favor of the owners of the
school.
The buildings are entire, untitled
for the purposes for which they are
used. There was an absence of the
most ordinary conveniences of home.
Not chair, not peg, not a piece of
furniture other than bed was to be
found 10 the bedrooms. In number
of schools the children were not pro-
vided with even a tin cup to use for
drinking purposes. At one school, the
laundry cost trife over l cent per
head per week.
In most of the schools there were no
permanent external fire-escapes, and the
children slept in apartments from which
they could hardly have escaped alive
had fire reached the narrow stair
ways.
ln many cases there were no ether
facilities for bathing than molasses or
pickle barrels. As many as sixteen
bathed in the same barrel with the
water unchanged Healthy children
and children with sores and contagious
diseases bathed in the same water and
used the same towels. One hundred
and eighty-four boys were allowed but
six towels. At one school an older
girl whose hand was in diseased con-
dition from letter, had for long period
washed the bodies of the younger girls
of the school.
1t was shown that 80 cases of itch
existed in one school in 1884. Chill.
dren with scrofula, white swelling and
sore legs were found, who were receiv-
ing no medical attention. One child
had the same rag upon his sore for
over two weeks. Tetter, ringworm
and other diseases afflicted manv chill
dren whose condition undoubtedly or
iginatel from filth. 1t was establish
ed that there were "a cases of frozen
feet in one institution in 1884 Num-
bers of boys and girls with contagious
sore eyes were found who received no
intelligent medical attention whatever.
One of the boys was deputed to drop
a wash into the eyes of the others.
Another boy who was in charge of the
nursery applied ointments in cases of
skin disease. The children thus affect
ed slept Unfortunately with healthy
washed in the same water,
and used the same towels. Children
newly admitted into the institution
were clad with the cast-off clothing of
older inmates. One child died in the
sick-rocm without nurse to attend
him in his dying hours or to close his
eyes. The sick-room where this child
died, orphaned in life and worse than
orphaned in death, was filthy and un-
heated. In many, many cases three
children slept in one bed that was
scarcely sufficient for two. Beds 80
inches wide were used by three chill
dren. And at one school four small
children slept in one bed A building
containing 100 bows had no adult at
tendant. The bedding was foul and
filthy.
According to the report of Dr. Lee.
the sleeping accommodations at one
school scarcely reached one third of the
requirements of the laws of sanitation.
The school-rooms and play,rooms were
over-crowded, and in some apartments
the breathing space was less than one
twelfth of the quantity which the chill
dren required. At another school a
dingy furnace cellar was the play room.
The cooking arrangements of the
schools were also deficient, and at one
institution it was admitted that the
children did not get enough to eat be-
cause of the smallness of the cooking
stove. Twenty-six of the boys at the
school presented petition to me, al
leging that they did not get enough
10 eat. Another and somewhat similar
petition was presented, complaining of
a variety.
The food supplied was generally
coarse and unvaried. In many cases
it was unwholesome, adulterated and
insufficient in quantity. There were
instances where tea and coffee were
supplied without milk and unsweetened.
Whilst making the investigation at one
school, ham, almost raw, and entirely
unfit for human food, was taken from
the dinner taole where the children
were eating. Without further sperifi-
cation of defective food it is sufficient
to state that figures were presented by
the Principal of one school showing
that the average cost of meal per
child was 24 cents. A careful estimate e
also shows that some breakfasts cost ! /
cents per head and some suppers #
cents per head.
/ will not further cite instances of
neglect and inhumanity. Those re.
ferred to are illustrative only and were
all established by indabltable evidence,
in most instances by personal observa-
tion; in many cases by the reluctant
admissions of those having charge of
the schools and by the corroborations
of the children.
So much for the physical con dition
of the children and the neglect of
their personal wants and comforts.
The facts,with reference to their moral,
religious, intellectual and industrial
training are even more deplorable and
alarming.
Except IN few instances they received
no moral or religious instruction other
than that impaired at the general pub
lie exercises in the chapel or church
In most cases they were huddled into
their confined beds without prayer OF
religious admonition, no matron Oh
guardian teaching them to lisp the
name of God. No Bibles were found
in the children's rooms, and there were
no refining or home-like influences il
the surroundings of these little ones
In eight-tenths OF the schools there