Delaware gazette and state journal., 1899-05-04
ASSOCIATED CHARITIES.

AudIlLlG7 anu luskAAhtlbl5 was DltINAl
on Tuesday afternoon week il the New
Century Club rarlors and was largely
attended by men and women promi-
nent in these works. Mrs A. ID.
Warner presided Bishop Coleman
made the opening prayer, and gave a
report of the Child Saving Work.
among our institutions. BY the S. P.
G. G. 3sj cases we're dealt with through
the efforts Of tho kind hearted agent,
Frank Stout; these were taken in
charge because OF cruelty in neglect Of
parents. for begging 10 the streets. or
rs runaways. OF the about 100 incor-
rigible children arrested it must be "a
comfort to the women 10 know there
was but one girl to three boys. 1t is
encouraging to learn that no parents
have had to be dealt with y second
time for their offences. OF the 81 re-
ceived this year at Childrens Home.
81 were placed in homes, 8 indentured
and l3 attained their majority and
passed beyond control Of the insti-
tuition. The ST. Michael's Day Nursery
received 80 children. some being cared
for by the day while their mothers
were at work, others rescued that had
been deserted by parents. The st.
Peters Orphapage for girls, and St.
joserh's Home for Colored Boys num-
Der several hundred inmates.
Mrs. Wogan, assistant police matron,
reported 523 unfortuDates cared for, Of
whom 375 were female prisoners, G2
dodgers, 81 lost children, 3 foundiings
and neglected. children; they ranged
from u TO 80 years. 1t is impossible
10 give an idea Of the dreadful scenes
enacted, truly the DARKEST side Of life
Is seen in the degradation of women.
How to halp such is the daily question.
We try to keep in touch with them
after securing them work by visiting
and writing to them often. A little
kindness and sympathy works wonders: !:
we do not scold or condemn them, but
try TO realize their better qualities.
Some of the women prisoners are we'll
educated and one is college graduate.
By the aid of the Sunshine Circle OF
st. Paul's NJ. Il. Church and the
Police Department, who provided a
Christmas tree at City Hall we found
many children, who for lack of clothing
did not attend Sunday schools and they
have been supplied with shoes and
clothing. Our greatest need is of more
room; once while awaiting trial we had
~ women and child in a room Is by
"a feet, with the addition of a small
adjoining room: the young have TO be
put in with those stepped in crimes,
but now that our long desire for a
wurkhouse is about to be granted we
hope for better things.
A resolution was offered by Bishop
Coleman and adopted by the meeting,
petitioning the City Council at the
earliest moment to provide suitable
accommodations for all prisoners, but
especially for women prisoners.
Miss Mary G.. Conner, secretary OF
the, Il
Our mission, sometimes misunder
stood, is to suppress sin, not to hide
and foster it; We have sheltered in
rast year 20 women and 5 children, 2
are now at the home, 2 have married
and have nice homes Of their own: we
have procured homes for some Through
the work of these homes for the uast
10 years GO per cent OF girls have been
redeemed.
Mrs. Frances S. Garrett, speaking oi
Problems and ideals. said: 1.-The
longer L am connected with reforma-
tory institutions and their work the
more difficult and cumulative seen
their problems. 1t Is comparatively
easy to inaugurate a reformatory and
make rules and regulations, but a.
time progresses, the multiplicity O.
needs makes more evident the lack o
conditions to meet them. The reality
and ones ideal are far apart, but were
it not for the ideal we would make
slow progress in betterIng the condition
of these ignorant creatures
Lack of money stands in the way o.
some Of our ideals for instance. VI
should have cottage system where ",
could separate hardened cases frou
those only weak and ignorant, system
OF kindergarten training, mDre trade
taught so niche might be fount
suited to the taste and capacity o
each. The finding of suitable in
structors is another and serion
problem but that is not surprising
when we think of the difficulty O
finding suitable parents. An essentia
qualification for teachers is faith i.
human nature, especially boy and gil
nature; he or she who believe that ii
incorrigible boy or girl cannot be RI
formed has no business within the wall
of reformatory.
II We might have something like tn
George Junior Republic in New York
on which the duties of citizenship ar
taught with the use and value (
money and the administration
government, q miniature republic wit
its elections, congress-. Legislature
trial by jury, police and judges, wheI
tenance of order and observation con
pel5 them to learn that a person devoi
of character IL menace to other
This school or camp was started for IL
children of the slums; the poii,
methods and the corrections and pen
system Of the republic have be,
worked out in laws enacted by II
young people themselves and are q
forced. This republic has proved th
its methods are we'll adapted to i
corrigible boys, many of whom ha
become its most industrious and i
fiuential citizens, and its methot
might be worth inspecting with a vic
of improving methods in our Ferl
Reform School work, since il teach
government, which is the on
government that is permanent, tn
makes good citizen and an hone
God conquered man.
But our problem in the Girls |
dustrial School is greater; neglect
parents is more fatal to girls than
boys; many of them have been broug
up in complete idleness, their idea
pleasure is to run the streets without
straint, and it is CALLING beyo
measure to be subjected to the d
cipline and restraint of scho
Gradually they accept the new Ii
learn TO work and to appreciate ordel
methods and take interest and pleast
in their work. Many have swe
lovable natures, only warped by Q
surroundings with no idea of streng
in themselves. Men, kindly men