Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1893-09-28
ORPHANS IN AUSTRIA
THE STIGMA OF PAUPERlsM NEVER
CROWNS ITS HELPLESS TOTS.

It Is the Only Country In the World Whore
FSundiings Are Declared FROM the
workhouso-Their Care Entrusted TO the
Refined and wealthy.
There is only one country in the world
where orphan children and foundlings
are debarred from admission to the work
house. II is in Austria, which maintains
that to place the stigma of pauperisn
upon the poor little things is to handi-
cap them later on in the race for life and
bread, and thus to lessen their chance of
ever becoming self supporting and self
respecting citizens. That their reason
ing is just is shown by the results,
Whereas in Paris, London and Berlin
the majority of children born in work
houses return years afterward to die
there. In Vienna it is most unusual
occurrence for a founding or an orphan
dependent upon public charity to be
come in old age a charge upon the COM
munity.
In Austrian cities children Of this class
are boarded out ia the families Of work
men living in the suburbs at the expense
Of the municipality. But their care IL
intrusted, not to the workhouse authori-
ties, but to gentlemen and ladies Of
leisure, fortune and responsibility. who
practically become the guardians Of tho
little ones.
Their charge is purely honorary one,
and they are chosen as a rule by the
burgomaster of the city or town from
among the nobility, the retired magis-
trates, the half pay officers, the rich
| childless widows and wealthy old maids.
They bear the title of orphan fathers
and orphan mothers, and so honorable
ia the position regarded by the popula-
ton that the mayor never experiences
any difficulty in securing the services Of
q sufficient number Of such official par
ents.
During the early youth Of their wards
the duties Of these orphan parents are
confined to visiting them at unexpected
times and to keeping the people with
whom they board up to the mark by
showing them that the children have
powerful protectors. Upon the official
parent devolves the responsibility Of de
Gliding the special calling in life fol
which the youngsters show the most apt
itude, the only stipulation made by thu
municipal authorities being that the boy
should be taught some skilled labor o.
profession calculated to give them late
on a chance Of being able to support
wife and family and to lay by provision
for old age. When these lads go out int
the world, it is to their official parent
that they turn for a character, and
evil days come 10 them they appeal L
their official protectors for help
} It is an incalculable benefit for a DO.
who is Just starting out in life to have
man Of position to stand by him and /
speak to the world in his favor, nor
, there anything in connection betwee
the two to rufie the independence Of th
younger, for when once launched in lif
the elder stands to him simply in the rC
lation Of an old and tried friend, who's
advice hemay follow OF not as be pleasei
With regard to the orphan or found
ling girls, they are mostly trained f.
domsstic service, which, however, the
are not permitted to enter before th
| aye u H. anu AAEA A. RNNklANo AhN ~
phan mothers duty to investigate til
character Of the persons who propose
p employ her, to see that she is well trea
$ ed and eventually, when she marries,
n find out about the mans reputation an
}. as to whether he has the means Of keel
= ing wife.
Usually il is from her own house thu
the marriage takes place, and at ever
= turn the girl is made TO feel the adval
tage Of having lady Of rank TO who
: she can always appeal, who is bound
n protect her, to defend her when wron
is e1lly accused and to guard her as far
IS possible from evil.
Thanks to these orphan parents, hered
tary pauperism in Austria has bee
e practically stamped out, and there
n much in the system that may CONNER
b" itself to people on this side Of the Alta
tic. The condition of the pauper orpha
q. and Of the foundlings now depende
upon the public charity Of this gre
metropolis would certainly DO vastly il
l. proved and the future prospects Of thel
D. tie unfortunRtes rendered more prom
ing were our leading citizens and the
wives to follow the example Of the peoI
y in similar standing in Austria, and to a.
- q new and useful interest TO their liy
n by assuming the honorary and honoral
~ p