The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-12-17
THE AUSTRALIANS METHOD.
Different Opinions Concerning
This Subject.
AN AID soCIETY'S GOOD WORK.
The Charming Out" System or Asy-
lum Care-Which Is Better for
Our Homeless Ones?


community In general?
The question as to how the public can
best care for the orphaned and otherwise
homeless children in its midst, the mere
fact of whose existence is a constant ap-
peal to its sympathies and its purse, is one
which Is and has been often discussed, but
to which no entirely satisfactory answer
has as yet been given.
In the United States aud nearly all other
civilized countries individual or collective
benevolence has made possible the build
ing of large ed fees wherein such children
are gathered, cared for and educated up to
certain age. Such establishments are
maintained by voluntary subscriptions.
donations and requests, and in this coun-
try the different States give specified sum
yearly toward the support of each orphan
and half-oIphan who is an inmate of its
asylums.
In the estimation of many of our most
truly philAnthr Opic citizens our present
Orphanage system Is in many ways far
from being the ideal one. 1t is argued by
some that children brought up in regi-
ments, as ii were, subject TO the unvary-
ing rules and regulations of large public
institutions, and planned for and cared
for as a collective body, as they must be in
such places, instead Of receiving the indi-
vidua training, attentie n and love which
is their birthright, are apt to lose their In
dividuality to great degree and become
automatical. Continued residence In such
Establishments, it IS asserted, unfi Is the
children to fight the battle of life success
fully when they arrive at an age which
oil hah fbap nd
compels them to face the world for them
selves.
Certain publications in the East are dis
cussing this IN after very earnestly at the
present time and endeavoring TO arrive at
clear solution of the problem, which.
since the children of the present are TO be
the men and women of the future, is of
vital interest to the nation as a whole.
One journal, more radical than the
others, advocates the entire abolition of
the asylum system, and the adoption of
the Australian plan in regard TO caring
for our homeless little ones. costly public
edifices crowded with orphans" the
''whole sy>tem of OsteD tatious orphanage,"
In fact, il would DO away with completely,
and in their stead 1t advocates placing
children now cared for in public instiiu-
tions in families which are paid for caring
Tor them, where they are brought up
exactly like children Of the house under
Of their special districts.
A. g. Smiley, superintendent of the
Boys and Girls Aid Society OF this city,
believes in this system, with certain mod.
fc8tions. When questioned by CALL
reporter concerning his views ON the sub
ject, he expressed himself as follows:
81 do believe most emphaticaly in
placing these dependent children In homes
instead OF herding them, as it were, in
public institutions, but it would certainly
not be practicable to sweep away all such
institutions entirely, as there are, unfortu-
nateiy, some children who are so vicious
that no family would keep them for any
length of time-witness the "incorrigi bles"
whose own parents are unable To train and
care Tor them-aDd others who are epilep-
tics or otherwise incurable invaiids, who
need special medical care and hygenic sur
roundings which private individuals could
not afford TO give them even were they
willing. which they certa nly would not
De, TO receive such children into their
homes. The fundamental principle of the
Australian plan IS the one on which this
society has worked for years, and the find
ing of suitable homes for our waits and
stTays is our chief occupation. One great
d ficulty with which we have TO CON tend,
however. and one which the Australians
will undoubtedly find very troublesome, is
the persistence with which undesirable
relatives If children who are placed out
will search for them, and finding them
assert their family claims to the great an
noyance Of the child's foster parents and
the chld's own detriment, ofttimes to its
ultimate ruin"
In conclusion Mr.. Smiley stated that in
his opinion one Of the greatest faults of
our public institutions for the young is the
| lack of practical industrial training. I'm
my opinion" he said, "every physically
and mentally able boy or girl who becomes
| Of in hns
should at once be put under instruction in
some branch Of industry which will when
| mastered enable him or her TO earn a de-
| cent living In the years TO come. If a
child only remains in the institution for
q week the discipline will be beneficial,
and IL it should remain for years the price,
| less gift OF a good trade Is taken with il
| when 1t at last goes cut into the world"
| In this connection 1t is well to state that
a class in cobblipg has recently been started
among the society boys, and as soon as
possible instruction in tailoring, chair
making and mending and other useful
occupations is to be given regularly.
James {. Kemp, who has been for twelve
years The visiting agent Of the society, is
| enthusiastic concerning its workings
"What a child needs" he said. .is
home. A real family home. be it ever so
humble, is better far han thu best institu-
ton where children are brought W. to
The chief faults of asylum life. in nv
opinion. are its unnaturaness, and the
fact that children soon learn that thew are
wards of the public. supported by charity.
and this fosters within them a spirit of
dependency and pauperism which is far
from being desirable. The plan of paving
families to care Tor them is open to the
same objections and is also bad since even
the small pay offered would influence un-
fit persons to apply for the little ones and
carry on deception in order to retain them
in their possession. Besides this healthy,
active child is well able to earn its own
living in almost any family after il is 8
years old, the age at which we place them
ouI."
The Aid Society, which is doing good
work very unosten tatiousiy, shelters an
average OF seventy-fve children under its
roof and has between 300 and 400 placed
in families, all Of whom Mr.. Kemp visits
Unexpectedly at least three times in the
year. Their system, OF which space does
not allow q full explanation. was inaugu-
rated some twelve years ago. Il was
modelled after that in operation in New
York and is found to work excellently.
aud in the opinion OF many is the one true
solution Of the orphan and destitute chill
dren problem.
Henry Mauser, superintendent Of the