Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-31

the permanent and temporary commitments
each year:
Cases Permanently Temporarily
100, ,oo. investigated eOm% gds co@4tted
1879 Is94 go 7I9 90
IS |s$:: g: g g S 5: & s
i 1873 isss.... S 49, 1sS iis
Totals. 2.so3 724 4s5
A grand total of $164. 1850 for all pur-
poses was expended during the six years
which includes s37, 1921 expended for
feeble-minded children not included in the
above number reported committed
I'VE believe" say the agents, this has
been wisely and economically expended,
and that the results are COMMENSURATE "lth
the expenditures. Three hundred and
eleven of the l52 wards are in free homes,
growing normally. coming into contact with
real life. learning by experience the value
of labor and economy, and thus becoming
fitted to fight ife's battles as no other
training can possibly fit them. We do not
underestimate or beIittle the work of insti-
buttons. AS temporary abiding places, as
disciplinary and educational forces, as
clearing houses, they are necessary and in
valuable factors in the great child-caring
and chId-saving problem. Long continued
existence in institutions. transferring from
one to another as the children advance in
years. has for children healthy in body and
mind a decidedly 'dehumanizing' effect.
Value and Success.
THE six years work of your board has
demonstrated the value and success of the
home-finding system and, we believe, has
stimulated other chiid-caring agencies in
the District along the same line. If it had
accomplished no more its existence would
be amply justified. The better and more
potent part of its work cannot be reduced
to tables and figures. The knowledge of it's
existence has Il deterrent effect upon scores
of parents who love their children only a
little more than their whisky. AS a bureau
for counsel and advice in al matters per-
tanning to the welfare of children, as medi-
atOr between helpless children and vicious
parents, dissemination of useful knowl-
edge relating to the care and rights of
children, the direct means of saving
from jails and warehouses many young Of
tenders before our courts, advocate for
improved laws. the influence of your board
is felt directly in thousands of Washington
homes and indirectly in many other thou
sands.
An Instance Cited.
Speaking further Of the work, the follow
ing example is given:
February II, at the time of the blizzard,
word came to the office that there were five
colored children in a shanty in South Wash
ington suffering for the necessities of life.
A visit was Immediately made. In a shell
of room. 1x9, huddled about little stove
were found the FIVE children. They had had
had provided and had only an apology for
a fire. The older sister violently objected to
our taking the three younger children, and
an attachment was granted by the court
and the children brought before it the next
morning. During the investigation and at
the hearing it developed that there was a
father living IN comparative luxury two
squares from the howell where his children
Were; that he paid 81 per week for his own
board; that he was employed by the Dis
trict government at comfortable wages
and that he was and had been utterly
Needless of his parental duties. And there
IS no law in force in the District of Column
bia to compel such a wretch to contribute
one penny of his earnings for the benefit
of his offspring if he neglects to do So The
three children We're committed to the care
of the board and the father could only be
severely scored by the Judge"
Method Described
The, following description of the method
of first placing the children Is given:
'All infants and young children at recep-
ton placed in private boarding homes
These are selected with great care. They
must be located on main street or avenue
not an alley or court-in heaIthful part
of the city. The applicant for d boarding
child is furnished a blank to be filled out
giving information as to size of house
number of people living there. references
as to character, etc. The home is in
spected. sanitary arrangements, closets.
ventilation, sleeping arrangements etc,
carefully looked at. The moral character
of the household must be thoroughly estab-
Hshed After being placed in a home ap-
proved by the executive committee fire.
quent visits from this office keep US in close
touch with the nurse and the little ward
The former is advised and Instructed CON
corning diet, and the boards physician is at
the call of the nurse on the slightest indi-
cation of Illness. Thus the little lives un-
fold in the atmosphere of home Many of
become tn hot II
tie charges that they adopt them as their
own. The success of this plan is fully es-
tablished, and has worked admirably the
past year.
White boys and girls who need a period
of training and discipIning before being en-
grated in home, are sent to the Indus
trial Home School, where their board is
paid.
'Incorrigible white boys or girls. too far
advanced in evil ways for placement at the
Industrial Home School, are referred TO the
Reform School and the House of the Good
shepherd. Coiored boys and girls of ten
der years and not of Maynard tendencies
who are at reception untitled for family
life, are placed at the Children's Temporary
Home.
Few placements have been made at the
National Colored Home, because of the re-
strtctfons in age limit-three and ten years.
A few Of our wards have been placed in
Catholic Institutions, without expense to
the board"
Sent to Farm School
oIder colored boys, guilty of petit larceny
and minor offenses. and difficult to man.
age. are sent to the Hart Farm School.
Girls of this class are sent to the House of
the Good Shepherd. Baltimore. The Re-
form School for Girls in this District
should. the agents believe, be SO enlarged
as to be able to receive all this class. In
this District. the agents point out there is
10 private or church charity which ga res
temporarily for colored children. and the
board Of children's guardians has to do
the work.
The fo!owing statement of this temporary
work il given:
On temporary rolls July l, 1895 10. COM