Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1894-02-24
ORPHANS In AUSTRIA
THE STIGMA or PAuPgRlsM NEvER
CROWNS ITS HELPLESS ToTs.
ft L. the oniy Country In the warid where
feandiinss Are Debarred From the
workhouse--Their Care Intrusted 10 th.
Refined and Wealthy.

feandiings Are Debarred From the
workhouse- Their Care Intrusted 10 the
Refined and Wealthy.
There is only one country in the world
where orphan children and foundlings
ire debarred from admission TO the work.
iouse. II Is In Austria. which maintains
Tat 10 place the stigma Of pauperism
apon the poor little things is TO handi.
zap 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 aud Berlin
the majority Of children born in work.
houses return years afterward TO die
there. In Vienna 10 Is u most unusual
occurrence for founding or an orphan
dependent upon public charity to be.
come in old age charge upon the CON-
munisy.
In Austrian cities children Of this class
are boarded out in the families Of work.
men living In the suburbs at the expense
Of the municipality. But their care Is
intrnsted, not TO the workhouse authori.
ties, but to gentlemen and ladies of
leisure, fortune and responsibility, who
practically become tho guardians of the
little ones.
Their charge IL a purely honorary one,
and they are chosen as 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
lie the position regarded by the popula-
tion that the mayor never experiences
any Gifficulty In securing the services OF
a 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 ut 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 devoIves the responsibility of de.
Gliding the special calling in life for
which the youngsters show the most apt
itude, the only stipulation made by the
municipal authorities being that the boys
should be taught some skilled labor or
profession calculated 10 give them later
On chance Of being able to support u
wife and family and TO lay by provision
for old age. When these lads 20 ont into
the world. 1t is TO their official parents
that they turn for a character, and II
evil days come to them they appeal to
their official protectors for help.
1t Is an incalculable benefit for boy
who Is just starting ont in life to have
man OF position to stand by him and to
speak TO the world in his favor, nor ia
there anything in connection between
the two to ruffie the independence of the
younger. for when once launched in life
the elder stands to him simply In the re-
lation of an old and tried friend, whose
advice hemay follow or not as he pleases.
With regard to the orphan or found
ling girls, they are mostly trained for
domestic service. which, however, they
are not permitted 10 enter before the
age of Ii, and then IL becomes the or
phan mothers duty to investigate the
character of the persons who propose to
employ her, to see that she Is well treat
ed and eventually. when she marries, to
find out about the mans reputation and
as to whether he has the means of keep
Ing wife.
Usually il is from her own house that
the marriage takes place, and ut every
turn the girl is made 10 feel the advan-
tage Of having lady of rank to whom
she can always appeal. who Is bound TO
protect her, to defend her when wrong
fully accused and TO guard her as far as
possible from evil.
Thanks to these orphan parents. heredi-
tary pauperism in Austria has been
stamped out, and there is
much in the system that may commend
itself to people on this side of the Allan
tic. The condition Of the pauper orphans
and of the fonndlings now dependent
upon the public charity OF this great
would certainly be vastly im-
proved and the future prospects of the lit
tie unfortunates rendered more promise
ing We're our leading citizens and their
wives to follow the example OF the people
In similar standing In Austria, and to add
q new and useful interest TO their lives
by assuming the honorary and honorable
office Of orphan parents. York
Tribune.
A sffit Race I'm Frame.