Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-18
HELPING THE LITTLE ONES.
Work Of the Nesvslsoys' and Children,
Aid Society.

Aid Society.
Mr. Henry c. Parkman, agent Of the
Newsboys' and Children's Aid Society. has
sent TO Col. John Tracey, superintendent
Of charities, an interesting sketch of that
organization. in connection with the annual
report Of the work of the society. Mr..
Parkman says: 'The society was organized
January "A, 1855. and Incorporated Febru-
airy 16. 1880. The first work Of the society
was limited to the newsboys and boot
blacks Of the city. 1t was soon evident,
however, that there were many other chill
dren, boys and girls. for whose wants no
proper provision existed in the District.
These are the miserably poor and destitute.
homeless orphans. or worse than orphans,
the neglected and abused waits, runaways
children Just touching the border-line OF
crime. or who have actually passed II, for
whom our institutions Of penal imprison-
ment for older and more abandoned GRIM
been gradually included in the operations
OF this society. No distinction Is made In
race. sex or religion. The only question
asked Is. Does the child need relief that
The agent devotes himself wholly to the
work. He receives the children brought
constantly to the home. and cares for them
there. He looks up their cases, and, IL
should be returned he returns them; not
infrequently sending home children who
have wandered from or are seeking friends
in other cities These children are provided
for at the home until q permanent horne
can be procured for them elsewhere by the
agent. Some remain III der his care but a
few days, and others stay longer, according
to the circumstances of the case. Children
are only placed With responsible parties in
good homes. The agent visits them at the
homes in which they have been placed and
the parties taking them are, by written
agreement, held respor sible for the kind
treatment and welfare of the children
With but few exceptions he has found them
conteEted and happy in their new relations.
This Is one of the mcst important features
of the work of the society. 1t is not our
object to retain children at the home per-
manertly. but until they can be placed In
safe. comfortable homes, and cease to be a
charge on the public charity.
The society also endeavors to provide
entertainment and instruction for the chill
1ren OF the streets, newSboys and others in
the evening. To this end the home is open
nearly every night in the week, and
through the kindness of the ladies' of the
society and their friends the children are
amused and instructed, and every effort is
made to compete with the low theaters and
other haunts Of sin, which absorb their
small earnings and lead them on to moral
and physical destruction.
THE work is only limited by the means
OF the society. No other organization In
the city Is doing the same work. While
1t acts in entire harmony with other char
tiles In the city in its peculiar work it is
believed that no other agency is doing so
much work In a quiet way at SO small ex-
pense. 1t would seem that 1t should be
placed without delay in q financial condi-
ton that would raise II above the necessity
Of constant begging for a living. The gen
erous legacy Of Mrs. Maulsby, which will
provide In the near future a new building
will greatly enlarge our sphere of work
but will. at the same time, increase cur
rent expenses.
During the year ending June 30 1894 the
society furnished to it's beneficiaries 1910
lodgings, 9,7S2 meals, 25s articles of cloth
ing. and secured employment and transpor-
tation for seventy-four inmates of the
home"