Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-30
NE W. BOYS' SOCIETY
A Reply Made to the Superintendent Of
Charities.
The Work Being Done for the Little
Ones Without HOmes-Num-
her of Cases.

ETY., through Miss Mary Z. Ferry, chair
man, has ISSUED d statement in reply to the
report of the superintendent of charities.
The statement says:
In the report of the superintendent of
charities, as published in the daily papers,
MIR. Lewis says all the children in the
George Mauisby Home could be transferred
to the Industrial Home School
where the whole cost per child, with SUI
perior advantages would be but little
greater than is now paid at the Maulsby
Home for salaries alone, and that there is
therefore no further need of appropriations
for the home. The society therefore sub
mits the following facts:
IN January, 1ec9, after long considera-
ton. ii was decided TO be for the interest of
bOtH classes that the white and coiored
chIIdren ought not to be together in the
home Other institutions had been forced
TO the same conclusion. This, however, did
not apply to the lewSboys VINO are cared
speah presently.
I pom nouiying the board of chiliren's
guardians OF the decision to make this
change, they removed all the children they
nau placed there, although We We're willing
to keep the white children. About fifteen
or twenty children, who had come to us
In various other wayS-not through the
board OF guardlanS-were still left in the
under our care some seventy boys and girls
from all parts OF the city. All these were
cases not met by any other organization
omen with children can find WORK and
support themselves and do something to-
ward the support of their children if these
can be cared for. For instance a widow
win TWO little boys Went as servant in a
private family, placing her children in the
uolle' ana paying what she could for their
support Another mother was very i'll for
~eehS, with only child of twelve wears
oIu To care for her and five younger chill
dren. Three of the children were piaced in
tt'e nome until the mother was We'll again
r requent cases are those where. the. mo- hers
are out at work and the children would he
telt 10 run the streets, unless cared for a
me nome Recently, man, whose wife
had lett MIN, brought three children to the
nome. paying certain amount weekly for
their board. All this is done without any
needless delay and without any legal pro
cess or publicity.
These cases out of numbers show the
difference between the work of the MauIsbv
Home and thar of the board of chiidran,S
SudrdlanS- Parents are not obliged to 90
10 the Police Court and renounce their riebt
70 tnelr chlldren, or to give them I'D in
deIlhlteIy- There are times when this NAV
De Doth wise and necessary bur orr home
Is not limited to such cases We only seek
10 Know If any case is one of real need
Beyond this We have no legal procedure or
red tape of any kind. 1t is expected tb.t
something will be paid toward the sunnort
OF the child by the parent whenever possi-
pie put no children are refused when it is
Known that this is not possible.
AS to the superior advantages which il
IS CANNED the children would enjoy else.
Where,We would say that while the children
OF the board of guardians We're with us if
was impossible to send them to the public
schools on account of their tendency to run
away, and also because they We're often
LETT with US for such a short time that the
schools would not receive them, but an ex-
cellent one was kept for them in the home.
Now all our children who are old enough
attend the public school,
Another division of our work Is that of
providing board and lodging and the com
forts of a home for homeless working bows
and for boys seeking work in the city, of
Ten strangers Twenty have been of this
class. a boy just discharged from a hos
pItdl was taken in and given d home LnTil
he found employment.
The gymnasium and reading room have
been kept open all summer. with most
gratifying attendance. NewSbOyS and all
street boys, white and cOIOred are cordially
welcomed. One night the white boys have
the use of the gymnasium, while the coll
ored are entertained in the room above by
reading, playing games and singing with
an occasional special entertainment or lee
Il re. The following night this is reversed
Two nights in the week the sergeant in
charge OF the gymnasium drills the boys in
army tactics, which they thoroughly enioy
The attendance at the present time shows
an average Of between fifty and sixty each
night.
In regard to the current expenses as
the work both a the Maulsby Home and
the newsbOys' gymnasium is one. the sal
aries have always included remuneration
hot only for services at the home itself. hat
for the constant and perhaps harder work
done for the hundreds Of newsboys in the
city.
This is a very brief and partial state
ment Of our work, but We respectfully sub
nit whether it does not justly entitle it 10
the sympathy and substantial support of