Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-02-05
HOMES FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN.

| HOMES FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN.
| In 1891 the woman's Christian TenQ
perance Union opened new department
OF work In Maine, that OF Securing
| Homes for Homeless Children.
The object Of this department Is to ex-
tend helping hand 20 every needy child
In the state, and TO secure when posi-
bic home in private family for every
homeless child.
Our work differs radically from other
child-saving organizations 10 the state,
in that We have no Home spelled with II
capital II, but We give our whole
strength TO the carrying out Of the
family plan, or the finding OF the cosy
home with the little h, for every home
| less child. We seek, not TO compete,
but to cooperate with existing institu-
tons.
This department, during the year end
ing September, 1894, placed % children
in permanent private homes. IL have
been placed temporarily in free private
homes, Is have been placed in institu-
tions within the state, some for good
reasons as permanent inmates, others
only temporarily. Successful hospital
treatment has been secured for 3
children aud one child has been sent
| from remote town TO the Deaf Mute
School 10 Portland. At least 30 chill
dren have been permanently benefited,
and many others temporarily assisted by
the existence Of this department.
One third OF the children placed Ia
permanent homes were taken from aims
houses, for Maine still allows her de-
pendent children 10 become inmates Of
such institutions. An expert on this
subject, 10 recent review writes, at IL
not necessary at this time to describe all
the consequences Of compelling children
10 live IN psuper atmosphere with
feeble-minded adults as plsymates and
nurses, and for teachers physical and
moral wrecks, who have squsndered
their substance in riotous living. For
that wretched system no one now stands
an apologist. We all agree that II WAS
and is and always must be bad, unquali-
fiedly bad"
As far as possible, the superintendent
OF this department will gladly assist
overseers Of the poor and selectmen in
providing suitable homes for the chill
dren thrown upon their towns.
In addition to removing children from
alms-houses, We have prevented many
from entering such institutions. More
than one letter like the following has
received helpful answer: 1.-The baby Is
a bright little fellow, and the older sister
dear little girl. These little children
are homeless, and when think how the
mother lived and died for others, feel
that some door will open, II only for her
sake, for her children. Please remem-
Der these little motherless children, and
DO all you can to lind a home for them"
This work has been started by the
woman's Christian Temperance Union,
but it concerns every individual 10
Maine, and We need your help. Our
want column Is like that Of every other
child-saving institution. We need
friends, money, homes. Has not some
reader of this article home to offer
some homeless child, or something to
contribute to this work?
Money contributed to this department
will not go into the general fund Of the
woman's Christian Temperance Union,
but will be devoted exclusively to this
work. For further information address
Miss HARRIET A. LEAvITT,
772 Congress Street,
Portland, Maine,
State Superintendent of Department
Of Securing Homes for Homeless Chill
dren.