The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1892-04-27
pIT.If.ESS PARENTS.
CHILDREN MALTREATEO BY CRUEL
MOTHERS AND FATHERS.

some Horrible instruments of Torture.
Cases of Startling Nature Brought to
Light by the Pennsylvania Society for
the Protection of Children.
1t hardly seems possible that a man
with the figure of an athlete and the
strength Of a Samson would deliberately
strike child of six years full in the face
with all the force of his brawny fist, and,
as if to make it further deplorable, the
poor, defenseless little creature, his own
offspring. But such brutes exist, and
this case is considered mild one in the
annals Of pitiless deeds that come under
the notice of the Pennsylvania Society
for the Protection of Children from
Cruelty.
AT the society's new home Mr.. Crew,
the enthusiastic secretary and prime
mover in all the good work done, in a
conversation yesterday unfolded expert
ences such as would appear to belong to
the times when torture was recognized
mode Of punishment for old and young
Some of the cases would put to blush
even the most cruel practices of those
olden days, and yet they are occurring
daily here in Philadelphia, and the
victims one and all are children To
the parents who regard the treasures in
their homes as the most priceless boon
that heaven ever bestowed, and whose
every thought is for the care and com
fort of their little ones, this society pecu-
liarly appeals.
How a mothers heart will bleed if
tbrO11 crl1 ooci6onf licooCo 1i++1o CON
or daughter must endure the pangs of
suffering, and if punishment must be in
ficted it falls more heavily on the
parents than on the little offenders. Yet
there are mothers, and fathers, too, who
somehow seem to have been given the
children, but the love that comes with
the first weak cry has never found a
place in their hearts. To them they are
a. burden, a constant source of annoy
ance, and only fit to slave and toll, and
as their reward receive cuffs and kicks,
scars and bruises.
4 CHAMBER OF HORRORS.
In their new building the society has
secured long felt want. Supplied with
every convenience and many comforts it
must appear a veritable haven of refuge
to the little waits that are rescued from
the streets or out of the clutches Of the
inhuman monsters they call father and
mother.
In room set apart for the purpose is
a collection of straps, whips, bludgeons,
| knives and chains, an assortment worthy
| of chamber of horrors, yet each one
| has been taken from the hands of some
| fiend in human form, and bears history
that seems almost improbable in this
city of homes. A heavy chain, thirty
inches long and weighing from four to
six pounds, with links. strong enough to
secure some wild beast, was taken from
around the neck of frail little boy,
whose case had been reported to the
| society by outsiders, who heard the
child's cries at the torture inflicted.
His little sister, frightened at the ter
| rible punishment, attempted to escape
| by crawling under the table. The in
| human father ceased from beating the
| boy and turned his attention to the little
| girl. He dragged her out by the arm,
| then holding her by the ankles he
| thumped her head up and down on the
| floor until the child became unconscious.
When the officers of the society arrived
| at the house it was discovered that the
child's wrists and ankles were broken
and she had to be at once removed to
the hospital.
| AN INHUNAN MOTHER.
I I