The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-05-12
To the Cape Girardeau Public.


Since the escape of Lee L yons from
the Children's Home Society in st.
Louis, there have been various
thoughts in the minds of the uninform-
ed and various expressions on the
lips of the same calculated to injure,
in some degree at least, the reputation
of The society. AS its agent for South
east Missouri, l desire to correct some
of these impressions.
Touching the case of the Frederick
town boy alluded to by one OF the
papers, the boy feigned fit OF hydro
plobia 10 escape much needed bath,
frightened the matron, was taken To
the hospital by a policeman, pre-
nounced ali right by the doctor, and
escaped from there at night. climbed a
hig'l stone wall and got out into the
city. He was brought back again,
admitted the untruthfulness of his
story and Was returned 10 the nursery
OF the society. He escaped about
week afterward and reached Frederick
town. The money paid to the society
was refudGed.
Lee Lyons left the nursery one d.;.
about noon with another boy as bad
as himself. By night he was in the
hands of the officers, stayed all night
d: the Four Courts, and before ten
O'Clock rext day was back in lie
nursery. Children are not allowed to
run aroGnd over tho streets as has
been intiinatei, but tney are not
chained or imprisoned either The
strongest appeals possible are made
10 their better nature. 1t is possible
for such boy as the t'redericksown
boy Or Lee Lyons TO plan and az
complish an escape. We take children
;Gad agree to 90 The very best We can
with them. The great good already
done is amply sufficient To commend
the Society 10 the public everywhere
as IL good. noble and sufficient servant,
worthy OF their most hearty and
liberal support. II we find ourselves
unable 20 do anything with "a child it
IS returned TO it's guardian. | viii say
this however. concerning Lee Lyons,
he will never be brought back 10 Cape
Girardeau. II he arrives here it will
be through escape from those to Th. N
ne i consigned. VIII any honest and
just mind blame lie Society for such
r5Sults ana such outcome? The
:! eitest blame attacf es to nerrdit-
ary- Influences and those OF environ
ment. The evil Influences of a |
community are often times the strong
est that are brought to bear on
a child, and the natural result !
follows. Had all those which have |
influenced Lee Lyons been good and |
proper. we might have boy here now |
jGst tie opposite in character and |
promise. one whom all would praise |
instead of condemn. Let us look very
carefully at home for the blamevorthi-
ress and the influences which have
made him what he is before the Society
heard of him.
Other reflections have been cast on
the Society with no intent to injure
the Society, but which may possibly
prejudice some honest mind against it.
We inte1d to prove the Society
honora bic and efficient servant
of ihe public aud simply ask all
editors and others to give US chance
10 show the other side of matters
before influencing the public against
is. We will be glad to relieve the
minds of the people at any time OF any
erroneous impression. There have
oeen some feelings of oppositftn TO
he Society engendered here by certain
lctions OF a former agent in refusing
o take a child unless paid $50. With
10 intention or desire to reflect on
hat agent, | would say that the
principles OF the society forbid any
'uch refusal. Will be glad to give
my further information | can touch
ng the principles, work and worthi-
less of the Society.
Very Kindly Yours, |,
GEO. MCG EE,
District Supt. for s. E. Missouri.