The morning call., 1892-08-13


iect said they would be perfectly willing
10 accommodate THE CALL they were old
subscribers, etc, but they feared an lnVes,
tigation, and they did not want to be dragged
into it,
The seventh-a father-promised three
year-old, but when the reporter came at the
appointed time to get the child he bad to
deal with the mother.
That spoiled it all.
Then an orphan asylum was tried. There
were plenty OF small childre there.
"0h, we couldn't think Of letting one OF
our babies out with anybody. Why don't
you 90 to the Infant Sheiter?"
The Infant Shelter people wanted TO know
If there were not plenty Of children to be
had from the kiudergartens.
Three kipdergaTtoBs were tried.
''Oh. we couldn't think of it," was the
answer in each case. 1--WE want the public
schools to adopt our kindergartens. and if we
lent any aid to investigators Of the public
schools we would get into trouble with the
Board of Education"
why net go to foundIing home ?" was
asked; but, of course, there would be Gif-
fculties even there.
Finally an appeal was made to the So
eiety for the Prevention Of Cruelty TO
Children.
s'Pll do what can for you," said Secre-
tary Holbr5ok TO THE CALL reporter. at
certainly is wrong that these babies should
be permitted TO 90 TO school. No child
should be allowed to 60 until he is or
years Of age"
Mr.. Holbrook looked over his list of
children, and gave the names and addresses
OF several.
Assistant Secretary Christie went with
the reporter, and at the second address on
tie LIST suitable child was found. She was
avery pretty doll-faced little girl named
Annie Dyer. who lived with her widowed
mother in q small tenement on Howard
street.
Annie was SEEN to have pretty blue eyes.
light golden hair banged short in front, and
she wore shoe that would not have looked
large on any One-year-old baby.
Are you going to take that little thing"
asked Mr.. Christie in surprise when THE
CALL man said Annie would do. why
don't you take one a little larger? They'll
never admit that baby TO the public schools"
Perhaps not" said THE CALL man.
shut We will give her a trial."
Her mother gave the date OF the child's
birth as October Is, 1888, and she ought to
know.
This would have made the little one 3
years months and "a days old.
Annie's mother washed and dressed the
child and when she stood up to have her
photograph taken for THE CALL she
looked as pretty baby as one would care
to see.
'She can't talk much" said the mother.
$50 she wont bother you any that way. and
shes very good child. She rarely cries."
AT THE LONGFELLow SCHOOL.
Little Annie Is Easily Enrolled as q
Pupil.
With Baby Annie clinging to his hand
the reporter left the streetcaT and walked
up Rincon Hill to the Longfellow School.
The ehild's hair futtered In the light
breeze that blew up the street The high
wall about the schoolhouse looked grim, and
the little ones face wore an awed expression
as she and the reporter paused before it,
The CALL man pulled a bell-handle
twice, and after an interval OF waiting
during which the child huddled close to the
reporter, yelow-haired boy, bare headed
and big-eyed. opened the gate and stared at
the newcomers.
SIS the principal ?" asked the reporter.
"You mean Miss Jenny? Yes; she's in.
Come this way. guess she's in one Of the
classrooms"
The bare-headed boy led the way across
the planked schoOlyard along well-worn
trail, that showed where hundreds of little
feet had trod into school and out. Then a
flight of stairs was climbed. and the baby
applicant for free tuition in the public
schools of San Francisco stood on the
threshold Of the temple Of knowledge.
The boy disappeared into classroom and
soon came out with a pleasant-faced, dark
eyed lady. who introduced herself as Miss
Jennie Smith, the principal Of the school.
Mieo Dluitn, ehIu LEE OALL man, ichu-
Ing little Annie forward for inspection,
here is a little girl l would like to baye en-
rolled as one of your pupils"
why, she's only a baby" said Miss
Smith. eff she cries she will have TO be
sent home"
"oh. she is very good child" said THE
CALL man.
"But she Is so young looking" persisted
the principal. I'VE do not like TO take such
small children. Still. suppose she is all
right"
"ob: yes:.n s a the reporter. taking of
she looks"
slow old is she?"
'Abt ut A."
NEARLY 8. suppose. Has she been vac.
ciDated?"
yes"
swell. she can 20 In Miss Sleeper's class
You must send the vaccination certificate