New-York tribune., 1891-03-08
HELPING LITTLE MOIHEItS.
FRIENDS OF TENEMENT-HOUsE GIRLS.
a CHARITY CONFINED TO CHILDREN WHO CARE
FOR THE YOUNGER MEMBERS OF
THE FAMILY

FOR THE YOUNGER MEMBERS w
THE FAMILY.
Besides the great work which The Tribune FRESH
Air fund accomplishcs every summer for the ch"'h
OF the poor and a result of the knowieoge "h''h
hae been given to the public showing the pressing need
q, this direction numerous private ente pgscs have
snrung up so that now, besides the general WORK IN
which The Tribune Is engaged there are freshar unos
connected with many churches and ompei' ana
societies in the city. Until last summer IRE Irpuhe
rupd was confined for the most part to children under
twelve wears OF age who could go to the country foF
two weeks but last year, through the generosity OF
weaIthy gentleman, day excursions were given by
which many thousands Of people young and old were
Senehted. .,-..
Recently new association has come into existence
10 aid in this matter Last summer "Ihc L'te
Mothers girls ten or twelve years old. among inc
poor who in the absence Of their mothers by some out
side occupation had to take care Of their youngr
brothers and sisters. came into prominence through
Che energy Of Mrs. j. H. Johnston. OF stuyvesah' oqa
At an expense Of less than $7o4 nearly 500 OF these
.little mothers" enjoyed a days outing at Peish
Park not only the day in the country and bath IN ti'
Sound, but also two substantial meals were received
These children OF and experienced though young IN
wears were under the care OF a chapcrone. and one
of her duties TO incucate habits OF cl@'hllesS
and order rs well TO provide pleasure lof uIe'''
When the closed. the managers drS. Johns'o'
Mrs. Henry Herman Mrs. J. ;. Wmte, MIS- a. W.
=. IL. Y.
c. j. Haley. Mrs. Emma EGan and Miss huchahai''
with these promoters Mrs. William Tod Ilelmuth' Dr.
Jennie NJ Lozier. George a. Vail President "ahup' W
the Park Department; J. ii. Johnston Arthur H.
Malliad j. s. White, master Of the Berkeley SCHOOLS
and w. H. Kelly decided TO do something to provlde
pleasure for the children during the winter Two OF
three entertainments have been even besides special
matinecs In the Madison Square and Fifth Avenue
theatres for this non-sectarian charity The money
obtained in this way is to be used for the little mothers
next summer. "
Mrs Johnston IS enthusiastic over this work, which
took all her summer last year. and to which she has
devoted most OF her time this winter for the little
mothers" are not ont of mind even when ont OF sgt
Their faithful friends visit them in their homeS anu
when they are sick they send them 10 the hosptaiS
when it is possible TO obtain permission from ther
mothers to do so. The poor have a decided
sntipathy 10 going to the hospital They imagine not
only that il degrading to the last extreme 10 receive
hid in this way but that they are in physlcal danger
also Stories of the brutality of nurses and OF the eA
perlments of young physicians terrlfy tieh' hoI u
naturally, and and then patient having delerIeu
going TO the hospital until recovery was impossible
dies and the news of that death VIII frlghten nun
deds in the house and the neghborhood where he hved
This prejudice has TO be overcome by the frehus OF
the "nttle mothers" When the children are taken
TO tho hospital they visited frequently and theT
lives made more pleasant
at would be interesting" says Mrs. Johnston, "to
imported as a MINER and boycoted at the mines, dis
covered the need of clean clothing offered to wash ana
SO obecame not a cuCse but blessing to the community
If tailor, carpenter, or bricayer or eOoKheeper
Is out of work, in many cases he becomes tramp OF
loafer If his wife will povide shelter food and fire
for his children, he shares it. This produces the class
to whom am giving my life, the little mothers ID
IS not the fond care of the elder sister relieving the
arms of mamma for time; it is being deprived for
ever Of chdhoods natural heritage of joy 1t is hav-
ing the back bowed with the face furroWed WIN
anxiety the nerves unstlung the muscles ovcrtaxed
at the Eerod when CirhOcd needs the encc'est atten
tion. 1t is having responsibility without knowledge,
authority without experience, thrust upon the child
Gould you the misslapen. distorted, nldeveloped
bodies of many of little mothers as we prepare them
for the bath Pelham Bay, you would realize the cruel
task imposed upon these growing girls. But that is
small part of the wrong When the chaplain OF Auburn
Prison asked the chief cause OF crime he answered
sIdeness; keep humanity steadily at work, and crime
ceases There is the solution to all the difficulties
These perpctualy 'out-owork men, who will not take
such work as offers because they might miss good
job ruin their hands for their kind OF labor who
can sleep In the shelter eat the food and the
clothing that the labor Of Others provides, this natural
protector of womanhOod and childhood debased by
fdlencss and debauched by alcohol. is not only found
lying drunk In the tenement rooms where these ftue
mothers care for their flock polutng the ac with their
vile breath and the moral atmosphere with their viler
language but often they rob these children of tho
purity of innocence and future bliss"
Mrs. Kidder. one of the managers Of the assOcla-
tion has written a little Incident, showing of the
seriOcOmic sides of the work. She says: We never
could really get know the children, though there
were two excursions weekly 10 Pelham Pay Park
The groups always different. The rule that only
one could single picnic t0r want Of funds had
10 be almost strictly enforced, in order thai
as possible should have one happy day. The sayings
Of these Children many OF them pathetic from PIE
tematuTal ShIcWdncSS, were OllcntlmcS ScnOcOmic.
dear little maid, Betsey by name enjoyed playing with
q beanbag. lady visitor said: My little boy sent
that bag, and he will be greatly pleased TO know tina.
'tyOu had much pleasure with it,. Besey looked at
der curOusly for moment and then cgCed. why
no you Taught said the lady. on said Betsey with
D wide grin, Il didn't think you were married. why
hotp oh cause snickered the child. cause
why q persisted the lady. Oh, cause sammerot the
rhiid i didn't think you married 'causc you laugh
20 much She had only very lOw-spiritcd Ideas OF
matrmonv ( tall, wild-eyed, twelve-y girl,
who always looked if She had lost something.
astOunded her hearers by saying: 4 hate babies.
wouldn't do nothing 10 hurt EN- but don't like cm
they are so heavy. This is the first time ever got
let ont without taking one along ana
, The ciaperOne could not understand why one little
,crl utterly refused walk the grass, which was
ALI aboom with yellow hearted daisies. i don't like
to- she finally faltered 1T looks like graves never
saw any country before except graves 1t came ont
that ali her knowledge Of growing grass and flowers
was gathered her one experience of q funeral II
seemed almost Incredible in city like New ioIk but
matters will never be really adjusted In this world
until the rich man learns how the poor man Ives And
hour thn tip m