The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-20
GRADES Of INSANITY
Continued From First Page.


often seem to her hard and unnecessary, are
only a means Of preparing her for future
lie OF virtue and usefulness tending to
strengthen her to meet the temptations which
will inevitably come to her on returning again
20 the life of the world.
CHILDREN'S HOMES.
Following DR. Bissell came an ex-
ceIient paper by Rev. D. B. Jackson, OF
Minneapolis, the assistant superintend-
ent OF the Minnesota Childrens Home
society, on the Selection Of a Home
for Dependent Children" Mr. Jackson
spoke as follows:
1t is not necessary for me, in the discus
sion OF this subject. to spend any time with
reference to a certain class of homes that
may be open for dependent children, yet
are manifestly unfit for their reception, and
whose applications should be politely but
firmly declined.
AS. for example, where liquor is used for
beverage, or when the proposed foster
parents, or one usually the mani is a fire.
quenter of saloons, when profane and vulgar
language Is in common use, when a low tone
of morality prevails, when there Is shiftess-
ness or extreme poverty and the abode is
very small and uncomfortable, when the peo-
pie are very uncleanly or untidy in their
habits. | would add, also, homes where, as
lar as can be ascertained, the sole or lead
ing motive, as far as can ascertained, in
applying for "a boy girl is a selfish one,
with the view Of getting all the benefit result
ing from the child's services.
All, uOWCNcIS WHO are 0QSdS6U III putting
out children become painfully aware of the
fact that ideal homes, If they exist at ALL
are few and far between, and even these
are not always open for the reception of a
child.
The question practically takes this shape,
What is the best possible disposition, under
the circumstances, for the wards Of child
rescuing or home finding organizations?
If the child is an infant under eighteen
months or two years the problem is relieved
OF some of its difficulties but many chill
through the unfortunate and deplor-
able circumstances of their early life con-
tracted evil habits and have become con-
hrmed (as much, at least, as a child under
twelve or fourteen could be- in evil ways,
and it is no reflection on the putting out
plan to say that the introduction Of almost
any child from the ages of four five years
to twelve or fourteen into an average home
is something of a tentative proceeding. For,
while all may appear well at the start a two,
three or six months trial may bring out
developments in the child, or in the foster
parents, or both, that stamp the result as a
dismal failure.
AS an Indispensable condition that the re-
lation be mutually pleasant and permanent,
hrst of all the element of love, and then
kindness, which is the outgrowth of love.
The moment child is consigned to the
care of given family, they should seek to
win it's love and confidence, and the only
way to win that love is to love the child
themselves, and the only way to gain it's
confidence is to show that they worthy
of it.
No amount of wealth they may possess no
array of advantages they may exhibit can
atone for the lack Of that charity which
covereth multitude of SINS And in its
absence far better it is for all concerned
that a change be made
Coordinate with kindness is patience. The
average child born in the house makes con-
slant drafts on the forbearance and even
long suffering of it's parents. How much
more a street waif or arab from babyhood
the sport Of adverse fortune, whose early and
best years have been marked by the total
lack of wise training and good influences.
Blessed be those who take such child just
as he is, and conscientiously, self-sacrific-
ingly and prayerfully devote themselves to
the difficult and sometimes very unpromis-
ing task Of moulding him over again, OF
bringing out and developing what good there
is in him land there always isl and elm
| mating his evil traits and habits.
Thank God. there are such people, and
think the number is on the increase and
making, if possible, a man OF woman, as the
case may be, of the child they shall receive
their reward, verify.
But mere kindness will not make I'D the
lack Of fTmness, neither will patience, if ii
degenerates into remissness and careless
ness, as induced by overlooking or falling tc
correct manifest faults There must be the
| ability to say no, and that too, in manner
that cannot be misunderstood. There must
be the faculty of securing obedience on the
part of the child to all reasonable arguments
and if it never before had acquired habits Of
subsection to parental authority, now is the
imperative time.
Kindness, patience, frmness the great trio
needed in every home where there are chill
dren Il might add in every school room
needed even more in the home where an alien
day with the selection of such homes. Here
again it is the old question, what is the best
we do under all the circumstances?
1 know of no cast iron rules, no potent way
The agent does not wear spectacles with an
ray attachment, that will enable him to see
not only mans skeleton, but a mans
motives and heart.
But he can use his natural eyes and ears
With some practice he can learn to read
character quickly, at least along the lines
that affect this work Personal acquaintance
and inspection goes much farther than cor
| respondence. The best of references are
sometimes misleading.
In some cases there is prina facie evidence
that a particular family with all the good
things that may be said in their favor are
not the place for particular child. The peg
and hole are all right enough, but one is
square and the other round
was brought up a farm In Southeastern
New York. part of the rural industries in
that neighborhood was the laying or the re-
laying OF stone fences around the fields. My
father had a colored man in our employ who
was an adept-an artist in his way-in put
ting up a smooth, solid stone wall. His ma
terials were boulders blasted into all kinds
of shapes or unshapen fragments and divers
other small stones and pebbles. When he
came across some peculiar, ugly looking
specimen, with corners and angles innumer-
able and with such an apparent lack of any
thing like fixed center OF gravity, that one
would not be surprised to see it on the
slightest disturbance start off into a roll and
dance all over the ground. l say, when he
laid hands on this particular rock, he would
carefully lay it aside, with the sage remark,
that he would find the right place for it
pretty soon, which he always did.
There are waif children now that have to
be fitted in on the same principle. Granted
that they are not put in the ideal home. It
is ideal for them, and that is enough. The
foster parents may not be rich in this world S
goods, but they are rich in love and patience.
They may not even come up to the highest
standard that is desirable in the X-ray pro-
fession but the child will only learn what
is good in their home.
The selection of homes with reference to
the social and financial standing of a family
that applies for a child, for example. the
proper and reasonable desire Of particular
family to have a promising child that will
have a superior education, which they are
abundantly able to give, and that will grow
I'D in their home with such graces of mind
and body as the one they will always be
proud Of this consideration Is not to be lost
sight of, and demands the attention of every
judicious agent 1t would be an inexeusable
blunder to consign such a child to home,
suitable in other respects but where the fam
ily Is plainly unable to confer upon the child
such advantages as 1t is worthy to receive
and ought to have.
Then, again, there are other cases where
the agent must ask himself what Is the best
thing 1 can do to improve the condition Of that
child and act carefully according to his best
judgment.
There are other considerations that should
have due weight, but to which I can only
give a passing notice. Farm homes are best
adapted to many children. particularly boys
while there are other children that will best
develop in villages cities.
The kind of neghborhood in which family
resides should often be considered, as well
as the family itself. The home of married
couple is ordinarily more suitable for child
tban ub he heads for aXamDia h
err and sister, or other kindred in the single
state
1t is better in most cases that child that
has been rescued from unworthy or inhuman
rants elatiues should he assignad q