The record-union., 1898-12-13
THE SAD SIDE OF SOCIETY.
WHAT SOME CHILDREN HAVE
TO ENDURE.
But They Have Noble Friends Who
Are Steadily Working for
Their Welfare.

Their Welfare.
The Sacramento County Society for
the Prevention Of Cruelty to Children
met last evening in regular monthly
session, the last Of the year, President
Van Norden presiding.
The Secretary, Rabbi Simon, reported
action of the executive officers during
the month relative to the Waldeck chill
dren bills, correspondence, ETC., and the
same was confirmed. He reported a
SO contribution from the Tuesday Lit
erary Club. He had lectured for the
society and refused compensation, and
the donation was in kindly acknowiedg-
ment.
Special Officer Healy reported nine
teen cases since his last report One
was that of father cruelty deserting
1 his infant child and refusing to care for
| it. Another was a case of extreme pow
erty Of mother and four children,
three being able to help themselves and
one not. The Howards aided the fam
lily. The officer rendered such assist
ance as he could, secured a nurse for
the woman, and did what could be done
within the province of the society.
Another was a complaint against a
saloon for selling liquor to little chill
dren. Another Of a girl of 16 in dis
tress, for whom he found a place in
'The Home of Love- in another city.
He raised SO among friends to pay the
girls passage and assist her.
Another case was that Of a girl whose
mother is sick, the girl was left alone,
in consort with young man, giving
rise to complaint. Marriage was re-
ported as likely to correct the com
plant.
Another case, from Folsom, concerned
a girl returned to that place. Still an
other from Folsom was that of boy so
vicious that parents feared to send their
little girls to school because of his as
saults upon children. The boy was re-
ported by the officer as exceptionally
vicious. He was arrested and sent to
a reform school.
| Another was of young girl visiting
dives Corrected, with hopes of re-
form.
| Another was the application by a
brother, who feared a crime would be
committed relative to his young sister.
Another was that Of the appeal of
14-year-old girl who wished to be pro-
tected from the influence of a dissolute
father. She wished to lead clean,
good life. and be removed from the con-
troll of her father Reported worthy,
and the officer is seeking home for the
girl, whom he advised is worthy and
aspiring to grow up a good woman.
Another case concerned the commit
| E
ter to the Magdalen Asylum. Another
was the case Of a feeble-minded child
in the country, reported as wanting
| care.
Incidentally the officer referred to
the case of a feeble minded child in q
local institution for a year past, who
ought to be sent to Glen Ellen, and
that the Sheriff is now taking steps to
have it done. In the first case the work
of having the child cared for properly
is still in hand
Another case was the appeal of a
father for the society to aid him in con-
trolling his wayward boy. Another
was a complaint from the country of
children not properly cared for. 1t
was found to be case Of poverty, and
that the three children are fed and
clothed as well as the father can do it.
Another case was a complaint relative
to little girl in charge of a man at a
hotel. 1t was found to be groundless
so far, as the man is a relative of the
child, but the case is kept in hand.
The officer reported having, with po-
lice assistance and with much difficult
ty, taken a little girl and little boy from
the control of vicious mother in a bad
place, and returned the children to the
Founding Home, from which the moth
er had removed the girl, though she
had been placed there by the father.
The officer complained that in at least
two cases he knew of, children had been
too easily taken from that institution
Secretary Simon reported that he had
Investigated the last case, and the
homes defense was that when the
mother demanded the girl it was held
she must be yielded up. The father
had not paid for the care of the chill
dren, and the home has no means for
supporting them, as they are not State
| charges
The expression of the society was
that when it was necessary to discharse
a child the home should see to it that il
| is not committed 10 udnQS improper TO
have it,
Attention was called to the Mamie An
derson case, for which the society a
year ago had been criticised severely,
and on whose account there was a
scandal trial. The statement was that
Mamie is still in the reform institution
where the society placed her, that she
has really reformed, is penitent, and
had just confessed that on the trial she
had concealed the truth She had writ
ten to Judge Hart expressing her con-
triton. The society thus felt itself
fully justified when it contended that
the girl was vicious. and when it in
stituted criminal proceedings against
certain offenders relative to her.
The Executive officers reported con-
cerning the American Home Finding
Association, with a branch at Oakland,
which had applied for the sympathy
and countenance Of the Sacramento So
ciety. The report was that it was diff
ficult to ascertain the standing of the
foreign society, that its agent in Sac
ramento is reputable, of high charac-
ter ,and integrity, but concerning the
Superintendent there was report that
required further examination, and final
lily that the association is not incorpor-
ated and hence cannot be made ac-
countable in law.
Thereupon a motion prevailed that
Sin the light of present information and
4 ha Dab ND 1yoya oh 1oc M