New-York tribune., 1896-12-05
p1PENTAL RIGHTS.


The Viol1 Montgomery incident turned OFT
better than might have been expected. Her
wronrs were the means Of reconciling her par
cnts. and she is now restored to the care iroi'
which she rever should have been torn. All
we'll that ends we'll. but the good ending sNon.d
not be permitted to obscure the injustice OF 'he
PROCEEDINGS which took place before MaslS'ra'e
Mott on Thursday.
This little girl was living with her father VINO
since last April had been separated from HIS
wife The child was evidently fond OF nm ana
he of her There was no apparent reason 'or
ont side Interference with their nom" NE II
was brought TO the attention Of the Gerry So
ciety by the mother. however. that the ll'iIr
gjrl was not sent 10 school. and the officers i'
thc proper discharge of their duty called upon
Mr. Montgomery 10 account for his faii'irr 10
comply with the law. He went 10 court ana
answered that not Ee but the crowded cohu'.""
of the schools was to blame for the child 'Tu
ancy. He had been to school after school ''TN
ing admission for her. and found no room. ne
would gladly have her taught. II the cry W"'M
furnish the school That was II rcasohaDIe 'N-
p,anation as all in court conf' sSrd. tr'Iin'
officer said he would find plac' f1r the hiil'
girl in Two or three days.
With that. il might bc Thought. th' trouble was
crlch But no. The Gerry society officer iad
so,nethinc to sav. Instead of leaving the child
with her evidently beloved parent. he demanded
thot she he committed 10 the sociiys care ana
intr,rscd to the tender mcrcirS of ofcihl CHR
ity until the school should be- found. Ih' ta'her
protested The daughter. who ciilhg Ionui!
about his neck. WAS better off with him nj home
than in any institution. The only ground for
interference with him was her absence from
school, and If he could keep her ana sen" h'r 10
school he ought To keep her while scnool WAS
being sought. But his pleas and the child : cries
fell on deaf ears II was apparently Thought
that he being man. could not give 'hc il'ti'
girl proper care and that his difference" WIN HIS
wife was sufficient reason for temporary "'nchi
disruption of wha; remained of his family. So
Vioct's arms were for"ihly pulled from her
fathers neck because the city had no SCHOOL
room for her. This was too much even Tor 'h'
mother. whose anxiety had led 10 the complaint
She might disagree with her hu>hand. bu' sh'
did not want her daughter dragged from hcr
home The father and mother came together III
a common effort TO free the child AMI yescr-
day they succeeded and were themselves re-
united.
Now. all this would never have happened To
a resident of Fifth-avr. II should not have hap
nened 10 n resident Of IcWls-si. The Gerry so
ciety does an enormous amount of good. but II
Is under Il constant temptation 10 invade pa
rental rights improperly. Many wdowcrs hav"
little children whom they care for as icldtrly
as could any woman. Little girls are often itfle
mothers for brothers and sisters Families are
too often broken up by disagreemnl> In many
cases children are likely to suffer. II not cared
for by public authority. Bul such Interference
should never he permitted except under most
evident necessity Family rights should he
sacred Unless relatives are manlfcsiiy linprop-
er persons the law should never attempt 10
superscdc them. The mere impression that a
father il not 80 situated ns to give the best
imaginable care TO Il child Is no excuse for TAX
ing the child from him. above all things for
tearing 1t from him temporarily with The in'cn-
ton of restoring II soon as somebody else
performs u duty. Neglect Of children j. Il rela
tive term What would be- neglect by II rich
man might he the tcndercsr care by Il poor one.
Family circumstances condition that. and the
| Gerry society should be- n careful about tres
| passing upon the rights Of father who lives
| in the tpncmeniS because II may wish his fam
| ily relations were happier. ~ 1t would he in al
tempting 10 lake II child from wealthy father.
| because his reputation a husband was not OF
| the best Care of neglected children is worthy
| charity hut oyerofiicousnes> is something to be
avoided.