Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-05-18
The girls tell their story before

leave. AS rule. their downfall may
be credited to trust-they fall through
the divinest part OF tie nature.
When the young mothers are strong
enough they are found positions away
from Eau Claire If possible. They are
never placed in hotels. Some Of them
go to Dakota. High tributes are paid
to the faithfulness of some of them.
There seems to be no trouble in finding
homes for either mother or child. AS
rule, they do not go together. and the
separation of mother and child is the
hardest part of the work DIR. Shaw was
for three years hard worker in the
Wisconsin Aid society and understands
how to place children. Where the child
goes with the mother 1t is badge of
her shame. If she goes back to her old
home the relatives taunt her with ii.
Adopting parties know nothing of the
child's history. The great need in the
work is an industrial training school,
where the girls may be taught to do
things that shall make them useful.
The Great Need-IndustriaI Training,
While the atmosphere of the home is
markedly religious, belief cuts no figure
Catholics and ten Protestant; but the
proportion has been as high as nine
Catholics. If the mother wants her
child in Catholic home and good one
can be found. the wish is respected. OF
the applicants. perhaps five II the hun
dred have been walking the by-paths
for two or three years; the others have
fallen recently. Aside from the need of
industrial training DR.. Shaw wants an
other building as a home for younger
girls who are in danger; those who
have not yet fallen, but who inevitably
will in their present environment. DIR.
Shaw says the ''age of consent" In Wis
consin is shamefully low.
Salvation for girl depends on con-
nection with the school; on supervision:
or on correspondence. 1t isn't enough
to tide victim through her sickness
and then set her adrft. She must be
helped and encouraged and watched. A
marriage has been the lot of 1877 of the
girls after which the managers feel
their duty is done. The girls are
trained to tel their story of the past
that no cloud of terror may shadow the
new home tfe. Some of the girls-about
10 per cent.-seem utterly bad and re-
lapse into evil ways. Some of them run
away from the home. Only a reform
atory with bolts and bars could hold
them. Eau Claire home Is a shelter
for the girls at any time when they
lose their positions.
There are fourteen rooms in the
building, a number of them furnished
by local unions. The matron is Ida r.
Breen Of Madison, who receives but $40
a month. She is sister of Miss Lam
sing, the former beloved and best
matron, who died suddenly Jan. g.
1897. The tenth anniversary of the work
will be celebrated the oath of this
month art Eau Claire, where the state
w. c. T. L. holds it's convention. The
sum of $1,000 Is needed to pay balance
on the building and make repairs. I
could not help thinking as / saw the
company of penitents at the simple sup
per with the matron. or looked in on
the rooms full of babies, as sweet and
winsome as any babies, that the
wealthy men and families of the state
would help the work if they but knew.
Perhaps this article may lead to a
check.
As Eager as Children Chritmas Eve.
AS / came away two girls were walk
ing with arms about each other in the
garden, secure from observation by the
high fence, and apparently enjoying
each others speech and company. How
community of experiences binds men
)gether! A mute boy is miserable
one in his native town; but with hun
IDS of others at the Delavan school
is radiantly happy Even a half
ed boy who, al home, is teased and
ed, prefers the school for the fee
inded, and with equals is at least
t.
two girls, separated and amid
es, would walk along the streets
thistle of the "Rogue's March"
evil-Tninded devise fresh ex-
to complete their ruin. The
Id style them 'soiled doves"
nine of responsibility would
drawn to avoid the pollu-
looked in at the window
nd with handsome, short
lshed on the side like a
It secure. 1t was a STILL
of the day. They were
of new life far away,
wv their story and they
iildren again in their
ion.
ANDO BURNETT.