Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-24
How the Spirit Of Modern Philan-
thropy Has Developed.
CARING FOR TIE UNFORTUNATES
Improvements in Charitable and
Correctional Methods.
WIDER AND NOBLER VIEWS

Written for The Evening Star by Prof. Charles R.
Henderson, professor Of sociology In the Uni
versity Of Chicago.
New demands were laid upon modern
communities by the vast increase of popu-
lation. the congestion Of cities, the vicssi-
tudes Of speculative commerce, the swift
changes in industry. the rapid separation Of
operatives from control Of instruments Of
production. Charity itself often created a
demand for itself, and sanitary science
spared the weak from elimination by dis
ease and hardship.
Modern philanthropy has, however,
marched forward with discovery and in
vention, with science and art. 1t has taken
the form of legal relief, inspired by the
community conscience. while the voluntary
associations and churches have led the
way and tried the experiments, not with
out lavish expenditures Of generous indi-
viduals.
The history of the German Inner Mis-
sion, Catholic and Protestant, best illus
trates the most complete and organic de-
Velopment of unified movement, beginning
with the depraved and ascending steadily
to higher and wider enterprises on behalf of
the working classes. The same works are
carried forward in America with less unity
but more of invention, private initiative
and generous contributions.
Genius of the Movement
The directories Of our great city charities
are bulky volumes, and our selection of IL
Illustrations must be severely limited to a
few typical examples which indicate the
direction and genius of the movement OF
the inner spirit and motive it is more diff
cult to judge than of the magnitude of gifts
and the Improvement in methods. Yet it
IS through study of external manifestations
that we are enabled to interpret the actions
and dispositions of the soul.
The education of the blind and of deaf
mutes is function of our school system
not of our charities. And yet many of
these pupils are from dependent families
and would be helpless without public as
sistance. Their infirmity makes eloquent
appeal to social sympathy, and response
has come in costly institutions. improve
ments in methods of teaching, provision of
suitable books and organization of self-help
among adults.
Care of the Insane.
From motives of safety as well as of hui
manity attention was early called to the
insane. The progress of social care of this
class has been marked by greater kindness
and skill, by the substitution of the de-
tached cottage system for the older, more
expensive and less suitable congregate
style; the provision of detention hospitals
instead of restraint with criminals in sta
ton houses and jails; the tendency to re-
move chronic cases from pauper houses
to asylums. A saint canonzed by all
friends of those bereft of reason was Doro-
thea Linde Dix, a Massachusetts school
teacher, who was taught sympathy by
early orphanage and the dictates of a no.
BILE spirit, who learned the needs of the in
sane by visiting institutions and by travel
in Europe. From 1897 she addressed com
mittees and legislatures in all the states
and contributed greatly to the effort to
transfer the insane from local jails and
IN toll
commonwealth and conducted by experts
The apparent increase in insanity shown bv
statistics is partly due to the greater readi-
ness ness OF friends of the insane to place
eases in the early stage when cure
is most hopeful, and also to the longer
life of patients under modern conditions
Opulent and generous commemorative now
very generally provide for all citizens thus
afflicted, without invidious distinction be-
tween pauper and pay patients, a triumph
of the democratic principle.
Colonies of EpiIeptics.
One of the finest examples of specialized
ton applied to humane organizations is
the recent establishment of colonies of
epileptics. The story has just been told n
the beautiful volume of Mr.. W. P. Letch-
worth. An enlightened public demands for
this unfortunate class the quiet and seclu-
sion, the open air life, the Industrial oppor- |
tunity of farm, garden and shop, which
are required by the nature of this malady |
Admirable models may be cited in Ohio and |
New York, while excellent provisions are
made in several states, and a general move !
ment to secure legislation throughout the !
Union deserves universal and hearty CO.
operation. |
For the FeebIe-Minded.
Of the feeble-minded idiots and imbeciles, |
it is said there are about as many as of |
the insane. They are generally incapable |
of self-support in competitive life. Re. |
Gently this fact has been practically rec |
ogniz1d, anu schools have become perma- |
nent asylums for the segregation of those |
who are unfit to be parents and unable 70 |
meet the demands of struggle in Industrial |
society. This segregation Is especially |