Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-11
CUT SALE,
SELLING BABIES.
GLIMPSE Ar THE DARK SIDE OF
ADVANCED CIVILIZATION"
The Common Practice of Unnotherly Wet
Nurses-Farming Out Their Own Chill
dren and Renting Themselves to Wealthy
FoIk--A Source Of Disease.

Nurses-Farming Out Their Own Chill
dren and Renting Themselves to Wealthy
FoIk--A Source Of Disease.
The fact that hundreds of foundlings are
annually cared for at the expense of the city
and by our numerous private charitable in
situations is very generally taken as at least
q suggestion of tho prevalence OF gross i'm
morality in New York. Because the census
Of the child asylums and nurseries is con-
stantly increasing the deduction Is likewise
made that the metropolitan morale is not Of
SO high standard as in years past. How
much truth there may be in the latter as
sumption is question that must be deter
mined from other data In short, the gen.
srai belief that the tiny wards that every
year become public charges are, as a rule,
the offspring of unfortunate or immoral
mothers is not correct. On the authority Of
those whose position gives them the best
chance for investigation it is stated that a
very large proportion Of the waits picked up
on the streets or discovered in out of the
way places are the children Of women who
abandon them solely for the purpose of max
ing money by nurturing other peoples ba-
bies.
WHAT THE OFFICIALS SAT-.
''There is no question but that women neg
lect their young babes for the sake Of the
wages they can earn in nursing the children
of Others" said the superintendent Of the in
fants' asylum on Randalrs Island, where
over 1000 foundlings are cared for at the
city's expense in the course of year. ut
has been found by investigation that the
majority of abandonments are made
from sordid motives. OF course there are
cases where mothers are obliged to abandon
their babes through poverty or fear the
shame Of their maternity should become
known But large proportion Of the in
mates of the institution are dependent on the
city's charity because of their mothers greed
for money. At one time in the hospitals
history wet nurses were hired, but the en-
agencies in the city, where the
number of maternities is so high per week,
gave the management much trouble by send
ing scouts here to the island to entice them
away. We cannot afford to pay the prices
private families will give"
At the headquarters Of the department Of
charities and correction MIR. Blake, who has
held the position Of superintendent Of out
door poor, and is one of the best posted men
in the city on the subject said:
MANY OF the children two or more months
old have been abandoned twice before they
are brought here to be cared for by the city.
A woman with child only few days old
finds some one with whom she can board it.
Sometimes q months board is paid in i'd
vance, which insures good care for it. But the
poor women who expect to add sS or IS to
their meager monthly income seldom see the
mother of the child after the first month.
Finally, after waiting q while, the nurses
abandon them
There are certain institutions in New York
where premium is practically put on this
heartlesS abandonment of babies by merce-
nary mothers Certain restrictions are i'm
posed as to the admission OF patients in the
wards, but there are, notwith-
standing this, locpholes by which such women
are permitted to leave their young TO the
tender mercies of these Institutions The Gus
tom, or practice, Is winked at, because the
city pays a bounty, as it were, for the in
tants thus adopted, for the funds received
depend upon the number Of children cared
fer. In some cases mothers are bound to as
sumo some slight responsibility or even tech
meal title 70 motherhood. But at least one
institution not ouly grants, but actually ex-
sccs a release OF ali claim to chlioysa Of
which it assumes the caro-.
UNXOTHEaLV MOTHERS
81 know from personal experience and OBJ
that a very large proportion Of the
wet nurses employed in Eew York have been
able to obtain these places solely Through toe
Of their Owl flesh and blood"
was the statement made by well known
physician Of this city n discussing the sub
iect. 81 have been asroundsd and shocked
oy the growing tendency Ga the part Of
American women 10 leave the care q tier
infants to others almost from TIE time Of
BIRTH You might regard il Is general rule
among the wealthy classes, aad especially 50
n cases where mothers are what are termed
society ladies In tse United States tie
most favored classes, 50 far as worldly Pos
sessions are concerned, seem 70 regard It As a
disgrace TO have more than two children 1t
s not r1sny years ago that Eow noted
Illustrated paper made . trcsoesdons his
.na first eounencc1 70 boom bT
lmaly cartoon ap-opos Of tee suicide q
he notorious Nine. Res1en Shs Wa
eputsa 10 have bad among her patients
2 eer nefsrisus malpractice business woman
u tie first families of New YORK, or what
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