Delaware gazette and state journal., 1899-05-11
NEW-CENTURY CLUB.

The annual meeting for the election
of q beard of directors OF the New
Century Club Corporation for the
ensuing year was held yesterday after
noon and resulted 10 tho choice OF
Mrs. Esther T. Albertson, Mrs. James
Baily, Mrs. Samuel Bancroft, Jr., Mrs.
Edward Bringhurst. Jr., Miss Anua
I. Candy, Mrs. Edward T. Candy,
Mrs. Alfred s. Elliott, Mrs. Elizabeth
W. Mendinhall Mrs. William w.
Pusey. Mrs. Frances S. Garrett, Mrs.
]. Ernest Smith, Mrs Stirling ii.
Thomas. Mrs. Andrew q. Wilson, Mrs.
| G. Wesley Weldin and Mrs n. b.
| Danforth, this being reelection OF
the whole board, with the exception
1 of Miss R. Josephine Warner, who
resigned and in whose stead, Mrs.
/ Danforth was elected.
The annual report Of the treasurer
showed the property in good order, all
necessary repairs and improvements
having been made and the clubs in
debtedness reduced by a substantial
sum. A vote of thanks was rendered
to Mrs. Weldin fer her long and faith
full services as treasurer, and to Miss
Anna T. Candy for her gift Of new
curtains for the clubhouse.
During the interval caused by the
counting of votes the meeting was en-
tertained by Miss Windeyer of New
South Wales, who told of the Australian
method of caring for dependent chill
dren. Instead of placing them in in
stitutions and asyluns with their
monotonous and artificial style Of
living where tho children are turned
into machines, they are boarded out
usually in country homes, where the
good moral and sanitary conditions
have been vouched for by responsible
people and where they are visited by
lady members of a volunteer committee
who report of their condition and treat
ment. Besides this, State inspectors
make surprise" visits so there is no
way for ill-treatment to be concealed.
These children are often adopted
into the families having charge Of
them; they attend schools with other
children where they have industrial
training and when old enough work
for the farmers who pay them small
amounts besides board and clothing.
Before being placed in these homes
they are taken for a fortnight or more
to sort OF clearing house" until
their capacities and needs are learned
4 stt otaoh tihb ohN9 w ntbCa lhbb
their proper inches. Uncouth habits
are corrected, that they may not ap-
pear at disadvantage in their new
homes; clothing mot uniforms is rro-
vided as it is not desired to brand
them and homes are sought as COM
Portable as may be to their natural
position in life. Catholic and Protestant
children are each placed with those
OF their own faith. In some instances
children are boarded with their own
parents, where poverty was the only
reason for their removal. Among the
advantages of this system are that
children retain their own individuality,
many secure permanent homes with
their foster parents and contagious
diseases, especially of the eyes, are
largely avoided. Those having weak
eyes are sent to mountainous districts
and to outdoor labor. Since the adop-
tion of this plan 16 years ago, S,8S7
children have been under the care Of
the board or these 4,716 have been
either discharged to thier parents or
otherwise removed from the care Of
the board; 1876 have been adopted,
without payment, and these are mostly
treated by the foster parents as their
own. Upwards of 1900 children have
grown up and been taught useful
trades may of whom would otherwise
have drifted into the criminal pauper
class. There are S60 children VINO arc
apprenticed. but still under the care of
tho board: of these nearly all the girls
are in domestic service, while over seven
eighths of the boys are with farmers.
The rates of payment for board of
each child range from 81. 25 to 50. 80
per week, the higher rate being for
infants under one year who require
more than ordinary care. The average
cost is $40 year for each child. Ono
item of expense is spared in Australia
that might be added here. The rail-
ways there belong to the government
and the children and inspectors are
transported free of charge.
Homes are also provided for the aged
poor, man and wife living together and
when able doing light work about the
farms. They arc not called paupers,
or even boarders, but paying guests. .
Miss Windeyer gave some account
OF other Australian customs. The rail
roads Fay the government a profit of
Az per cent. They carry free of charge
articles of educational use, books and
newspapers less than eight days old
Ii older than that they are considered
equivalent to "a personal communion.
tion and must be paid for. Ia New
South Wales until four years ago we
had no tax. The government revenues
came from the sale of lands. We have
the equivalent Of compulsory educa-
tion, but no school tax; ii parents
cannot afford to pay their children 90
for nothing; if able they pay for their
own, but not for other peoples chill.
dren. Nearly all our wealth is from
wool; We have literally .'squatter
sovereignty. Our great wool growers
who squat on government land and
pay only nominal rent are our social
magnates a wool shearers' strike makes
the commercial world tremble There
is more rejoicing in Australia over a
Democratic or free trade victory in
the United States than there is here.
| Miss Windeyer closed by suggesting
that the club should send delegates
to the Woman's Congress of which
Lady Aberdeen is president, to be held
in London from June 26th to July 2Sth.
series Of entertainments will be
given the delegates, including literary
entertainment by the wife Of the
bishop Of London at Fulham Palace.
and a garden party at Mr.. Alfred
Rothschild's. A, s.