The times., 1901-05-11

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The half-thousand delegates who are at
tending the National Conference of Char
tiles and Correction are well started in
with their work. In the thoroughly prac-
tical manner which has characterized the
successful administration of the public
charities in which many of them are en-
gagged, they are considering the numerous
and vexatious problems which confront
the worker Of modern affairs phiian-
thropic.
Two well attended and interesting ses-
sions Of the conference were held yester-
day. The meeting at Foundry NJ z.
Church last night was especially interest
ing and dealt with a topic of widespread
import, the care of destitute and neglect
ed children. Two addresses were deliv-
cred. the first being by Amos w Butler,
Secretary Of the Board Of State Charities
of Indiana. and the second by Charles r.
Henderson. professor Of sociology in the
Chicago University.
Mr.. Butler was introduced by John NJ
Glenn, of Baltimore. the President Of the
conference. His address was the report
of the Committee on Destitute and Neg
lected Children, and was a general review
of the evolution Of the charities which
now care for so many homeless juveniles.
tury, he said. there was but one refuge
for destitute children in this country, the
Orphans Home in Charleston. S. c. Be
fore that time private institutions had
been in existence. the earliest established
one probably being that in Sew Orleans.
He spoke Of the horrible treatment ac-
corded the young then They were often
bound OUT to hard and cruel masters.
The youthful offender was cast into the
same cell with the hardened criminal
Later on the almshouses began to open
their doors TO children. but it was not
until 1866 that Ohio led the way TO better
things by providing for the care of desti- |
tuue children in county chidrens homes. |
From time TO time since then other
States have followed this example. OF
the various excellent systems Of caring |
for the neglected young he cited those |
providing for their care in private insti- |
tutions at public expense or in a single |
State institution. or in local county and |
intercounty homes supported at public 1
expense. or in being boarded out at stipu- /
lated rates. and their confinement in re- !
form schools. There are only seven States /
and Territories in the United States which |
do not support almshouses. In conclusion /
Mr.. Butler said that the past century had [
been one of contest with the forces of |
nature and predicted that the coming cen
tury would be one Of combat with the
existing evils of society.
Prof Henderson then delivered an ex-
tremely forceful and clear address on the
subject of THE Neglected Child Of the
Neglected Community" He said that one
OF the main faults with the child of the
slums was that he was cooped up too
much He did not have room to play.
+a1I Of =, e f. tigra I
schools in Chicago and how the children,
on the hottest days. cIamored to be ad-
mitted 10 these schools the idea Of which
was much nearer the heart Of Froebel I
than most modern educational methods.
One especially interesting point of his
address concerned the juvenile court
where all cases OF a mild nature, such as
truaucy from school are tried. No one
but boys and girls are tried IN this court
and there is very little Of the taint of
crime or law about it. I'VE do this"
said Prof. Henderson, TO get rid Of the
idea that a child is capable Of a crime.
Save the child and you win save the fu-
ture. You can't build enough reform
schools TO hold all the children who come
from the great cities. You can measure
these children of the sIums and you win
trace back the results to bad social con-
ditions for years past.
'sThe condition Of the neglected com
munity viii undergo j transformation
only whsn the people of that community
undergo q transformation No one can
help the people of the slums but them
selves. But they won't take the first step
themselves. We are doing great wrong IN /
neglecting the neglected community. 1
am believer in the psychic change and
in this case / think the change should be-
gin with the elect. Cod will call you and {
nle TO account if we do not improve the .
community"
Prof Henderson, address was heartily
applauded and was discussed BY various
members Of the conference. among whom
were Homer Folks. L. 2. BickneH. Of Chi
cago, and others.
At the opening Of the meeting last night
an invitation was read which requested
The members Of the conference TO attend J
the reception in honor Of Cardinal Mar
lnelh which viii take place al the CathO-
nc university Monday afternoon. Robert ,
Treat Paine. Of Boston, moved the ac- ]
-eptarce Of the Invitation saying that he
was glad to accept the hospitality Of ,
catholic gentlemen coming as he did from 7
me rock-ribbed Puritan State Of 8Iassa- I
chUsetts" T
The only meeting of general public in
-erest at the morning session was that {
- i-le section on Needy Families d. {
! -LSlI 19ines, which was held in the [
@ @lIlal4 nan OF the law building. a large
: : t-liiDeI y. ~ or people were present including 2
not only delegates TO the couflre,,c. 10 1
many residents Of Washington Mics IN q
pha III Smith, Of the Associated Cb4rffiee /
3f Boston, acted as chairman The only 2
address delivered was that by Miss Mar,
=. Richmond, General Secretary az ~ / q
society for Organizing Charity Her sub y
ect was Cooperation and she occ3IDied | [
only nfteen minutes Then followed an
40gr O discussion embodied In dye-minute
-aIks by delegates.
Mss Richmond's ideas Of charitabra
WORK tcnd greatly toward Weu-de6Bed
organization. She is a strong adhereut Of
he district system Of WORKING The Ifs
Fict system brings into pIav an tbe in
iuences which surround the object on the =
,harllable work. First, there are those !
surrOundings-th friends. the G
ioctor, ele neignbors, the school the q
n the yicinity OF the home The next
loint which should be worked are tbe I y
lNlc Influences. public officials court Off ] G
lals' ana others. Miss Richmond said | 4
= cohcluolhg her address, that TOO many ! >
ei.scns made themselves the centre of I "
nelf Charitable work and endeavored 10 C
itract attention % themselves and their
'et charlles while other deserving sub | q
ects were totally neglected q
A large number Of the delegates re,,rf,s G,
@ the points Miss Richmond had MAJ
10 u was evident she had suw,u plenty !,
I seed for thought. Thorough 0reanizs- n
ION was the keynote Of the digcnseign G.
/ number Of novel and extremrty 60 I
1on-sense ideas were EXPRESSED h,-,r. ri
nose VINO participated ia the discussio6 A
we're r. L. Bicknell. OF Chicago. Ms ii
>ieanor Bush, Of Boston. r ii Hmm, | I.
hfsys, OF Boston; ! u. Jacobs Suparin- | =
lond, Va; !. II. Dumy OF PbiiIdri d
MA; Homer Folks Secretary of tbe