The record-union., 1899-02-06
las TO THE SUPPORT OF ORPHANS

Under the law of the State those chill
dren who are orphans. half orphans or
abandoned children who are cared for,
clothed and educated in orphan asy-
lums are SO far deemed wards of the
State that a per capita allowance is
made to the asylums in aid of that
charitable work. But the law declares
that no child shall be deemed minor
orphan half orphan or abandoned
Child who is over the age OF ID years.
That is to say, the State dismisses them
from its care when the age of II is
attained-it washes its hands of the
child and permits it TO shift for itself
or be maintained as an object of char
ity.
1t is now proposed to ask the Legisla-
lure to raise the limit 20 the age Of 16
years. There are two sides to this ques-
tion, and both should be considered
Affirmatively it is claimed that the
discharge of a child at the age of il
Is setting it afloat upon the world at
time when of all others it needs most
careful watch, ward and instruction.
That at the age of puberty is the crit
ical period in the life of the child. That
girl discharged from an institution
at the age of IA has not yet acquired
that strength OF skill in housewifely
arts that will enable her to secure en-
ployment or make her useful in a well
ordered home. That very frequently
girls are taken from these institutions
by well disposed people to he given
homes, and be reared to FULL woman
hood. but because of the ineapacity of
the child, or the change of ideas of her
new guardians concerning her she is
liable to be set adrif1 aud thus to be
cast upon the world without watch or
ward or means Of support. That in
such cases these children fall q prey to
the vicious.
1t is claimed that it is much the same
with boys who at IA are In especial
need Of training and watcasulness, and
that II after leaving the asylum they
do not have them they are apt to drift
into bad ways. That In all such cases
the State has more Of expense and
trouble on its hands than If it had kept
the child in the institution until more
mature age was reached. That up to
IA most Of the time of the child Is
taken in study and that with girls, for
instance not much skill In housewife
ay arts can be attained before that
Age. and they should, therefore, be
kept until 16, and during the last two
years in.the institution be especially in
structed in such common arts as will
enable them when discharged to be
self-supporting and self-helpful. That
by such retention until 16 the State
will conserve real economy, but will
also do better than that, namely, dis
charge the duty of society more fully
toward those of tender years who are
deprived Of parental control, affection
and guidance,
That when it comes to the question of
right bringing up of youths cast upon
the care of the State, no question Of
mere expediency or cost should be CON-
Eidered, but that the only concern
should be of the right training of the
child to good citizenship and sound
morals, and that this is not to be COM
pleted at so early an age as A. when
the dawn of puberty awakens the child
to new revelations in the scheme of
life.
On the other hand it is contended that
the State cannot afford, nor is 1t called
upon by any code of responsibility, 10
maintain an orphan minor after the
age Of IA. That it. is pure char
ity in the first place. and that if the
State contributes to the care of child
Tor fourteen years Of its life. it does
its full duty toward it. That, in fact,
q girl of 10 should be put in training
Tor housewffely arts, and boy of II
be instructed in some degree in lines
IT industry and duty as self helpful
creature. That II 1t is commended that
age should not limit the States respon-
stblity and interest In saving child