The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-07-05
NEW YoRK,s LOST BABIES.
How Tenderly They are Cared for by
Matron Webb and by Policemen.
From the Ne,g York Press.

From the Ne15 York Press
Not single lost child was brought to
police headquarters last Wednesday night,
which is an exceptional occurrence for a
summer evening. The circumstance was
remarked by every one connected with the
central office, as there had not been pleas
ant summer evening in many years that did
not entlce from hlme and friends from ten
TO forty Of New York's juvenile population.
In the past month go little tots, who
were unable to find their homes, were
brought to the central office, and received
motherly care from Matron Webb in the
dormitory on the top floor of the big white
building on Mulberry street
New York babies who get lost are FORUM
ate in being astray in big city that has
50 tender-hearted a matron as Mrs. Webb
Tbs city pays her 10 cents for every child
that is cared for by her, and so great are
the needs OF some of the lost ones that
Mrs. Webb's humanity compels her to ex-
pend much more on them than she is paid.
Some of the little ones need a bath, most
OF them are hungry and frightened, and
others are 50 ragged and dirty that Matro1
Webb at her own expense, sends them to
their wretched homes in new outfits when
they are called for.
No matter how terrified and forlorn the
are dlspelled by the kind matron and they
are sooa laughing over bowl of bread and
mllk or slice of bread well covered with
butter and sugar.
w hen a lost child is found it is taken to
the nearest station house and kept there for
few hours. If it is not called for within that
time policeman is sent to Matron Webb
with it, that it may be properly cared for
until It's anxious mother comes to fetch it
home.
Policemen generally are kind to lost chill
dren, but some are more consderate than
others. Policeman Roach Of the East
Slxty-seventh street station found it neces-
sary to go to headquarters with children
twice one night recently. 1t was raining
hard. The officer took off his rubber coat
and wrapped the little ones in it. When he
appeared at headquarters the second time
with child in his coat and his uniform
saturated, a bystander remarked he was
rather wet himself.
YES, | am" answered Roach, "but can
stand it; I've got three Of these at home
and he looked at the baby that he had pro-
tected from the storm at the expense of q
drenching to himself
The character of mothers is shown when
they come Co Matron Webb in search of
their lost children. Extremes meet there.
Most any night can be seen two women
sItAInulllg IOSebneF III 'front.' OF the building,
each bent on the same mission. One is
nervously biting the corner of her handker-
chief, and tears force themselves to her
eyes. She finds it necessary to lean on the
railing for support. Her darling baby, who
has never wanted for a comfort, is lost, and
her agony is intense. The other is also
waiting for her lost baby, but she is angry
and inpatient to get the little one that She
may vent her anger by whipping it soundly
for getting lost.
Occasionally there is a case Of q pur-
posely abandoned child, one that has been
thrown on the world by it's mother and left
to live on charity, never TO know whence it
came. Babies but few days old are fire.
quently found
Last month two children big enough to
toddle, but not old enough to tell who they
were, were picked up and were never
claimed. A boy about years old was
found at the corner of Clinton and Madison
streets on June 13 He was bright and
could talk plainly, but did not know his
name. No one came to take him away.
A similar case is that of a 2-year-cld
colored girl who was found on Bleecker
street on juno Is. Both these children were
placed under the care Of the Society for the
Prevention Of Cruelty to Children and were
put in an asylum.