, 1886-09-04
HOMELESS CHILDREN.
SHOULD THEY BE PERMANENTLY
SHELTERED IN AsYLUMsg

1hGC NV No
Or should They at Once be Placed In
Famiiies?-One of the Evils of Charit-
able Enterprises GeneraiIy-Ju,e"iie
Deiinquent--
An address lately delivered before the
national conference Of charities and cor
rection at ST. Paul, Mimi. by Mr.. William
p. Letch worth of New York, contains
some very Interesting statistics. Mr..
Letchworth is the president of the New
York state board of charities. aud the sub
iect upon which he spoke, the children
Of the state. " il one with which he has
made himself thoroughly familiar.
The whole number of children undo 10
years of age in the United States Is given
ms "20,0i3,6ja. OF these. according to the
census OF 1880, there were 81 $50 in the
founding asylums, orphan asylums,
other establishments for homeless and
destitute children, and the Juvenile re
formatories OF the different states. nearly
one-half OF whom. or % 1893. were In New
York Institutions. The census also gave
the total number OF idiots in the United
States as 10, sos; blind, 4s,92s; deaf mutes,
33,s7s. OF these detectives. 159, 10i in all,
only l0.O6t were In educational institu-
lions other than day schools. The New
England states had n population Of 4,34l
blind persons, and only one public insti-
tuition for their instruction, containing &c
inmates. There vera no schools for deaf
mutes IN New Hampshire and Vermont,
and nom for the blind nor the deaf in
New Jersey, Delaware. Florida or Ne
vada,
HOMELESS AND DESTITUTE.
With respect TO homeless and destitute
children, the question arises whether
they should be permanently sheltered in
hsylums or Mt once placed in families by
adoption, indenture Or verbal agreement.
Mr.. I.etchworth would follow the sensible
plan OF sending out those fit to go into
decent homes and keep the rest in the
asylum until they are licked into shape.
As 1t is, the tendency is to retain the
children too long in s.ylums whose man
agers take "A pride In mere numbers, for
the more they have the more important
their function appears. This Is one of the
great evils of charitable enterprises
generally. The larger the show they can
make the greater the amount of atten-
ton they can attract and of money they
can obtain. for even in the conduct of
charities there is sometimes, il not often,
u good deal Of humbug. Protracted
asylum life. too. is bad for the young, and
may utterly unfit them for the struggle
they must eventually 60 through In the
outside world.
OF recent years the English and Scotch
system of boarding out, as it is called,
has been tried to some extent in Massa-
chusetts, Pennsylvania and in the vicinity
of this city; but the trouble with it is that
the boys and girls boarded out are distin-
guished rs paupers among those with
whom they associate, for their mainten-
ance is paid for by public or private char
ity, and they are badly handicapped in the
race OF life. Children who are sent into
families 10 be adopted or under indenture
do not suffer from such disadvantages,
and their chances of advancement are con
sequently greater Besides. IL the state
adopts the plan OF paying board, people
will refuse to take pauper children with
out recominense. 1t Is not a good system
for this country.
II BLIND M THE DEAF.
Mr.. Ietchworth argues in behalf of
further provision for the instruction of
the blind and the deaf, though he is of
the opinion that our existing institutions
for them compare favorably with those
of Europe. Bnt he does not in vor the pro-
iect, which has been several times before
onr state lei~lature, of a state asylum Tor
the adult bind. Give them instruction
that Will help them to self-support, he
wisely argues. and then let them take
their part in the work of the community.
In asylums they will remain throughout
Their lives dependent and incapable Of
selfreliance.
The instruction Of the idiotic, or feeble
minded, has produced results hich ave
been surprisingly succe ssful, and there
lore he would 70 ster and extend it, and in
needful eases would continue the pro.
lection Of the state after the school age
was passed. As to juvenile d~elinquents,
so called. he would have more care taken
in separating the bal cases from those
which are les d%epraved, so that gradua-
ton from II house OF refuge should not
put a brand upon a boy. 70 that end he
would put hardened criminal youth in
distinct institutions. while children SIM
ply unfortunate should be placed usder
different influences and amid better as
sociations. The reform schools, too, he
thinks are too large for the proper care
of their inmates. and he calls for more
careful supervision TO prevent the com
mitment of children To houses Of refuge
On frivolous charges. New York sun