Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-01-15
Do YOU WANTABABY?|
If SO, Why Not Take Healthy
Boy to Raise?
MANY HOMELESS CHILDREN IN IOWA
Something About the Conditions That
Exist in Homes Where Parents Are
Unable to Care for the Little Ones
They Have Brought Into the World.

People who witness for the first time
the restitution and misery that exists
among children in large cities and ev-
en- in some of our small cities and
towns of Iowa, are wont to feel that
providence is not only partial in its
treatment of the human family but alb
solutely blind to the wants of those
not on the list OF the favored. But
such people should carry their inves-
LEGATIONS farther and learn what the
benevolent societies of the state are
doing for the helpless and homeless,
that humane and benevolent institu-
tions have not been and never will be
able to rescue every fit subject for
their attention and blot out all want
and suffering, cannot be denied. There
are many reasons why this is true.
Persons directly responsible for the
misery of those dependent upon them
! Frequently stand in the way of the
proffered aid and help. II it reaches
the helpless ones at all it must be
brought about to strike the most dis
couraging conditions. Providence has
a way of evening up things. 1t has
been estimated by statisticians that if
Il all the infants of year could be rang
ed in line of cradles, the cradles
would extend around the world 1t is
hardly to be expected that all these
babies could be born with silver
spoons in their mouths; that is. the
great majority of parents have
to work hard for a living. And dis
Itressingly large per cent see the light
Iof day under conditions which are
little short of moral crime on the
part of those responsible for their be-
ling.
Providence Not at Fault.
But Providence is not altogether for
getful. While many parents are not
in position to properly care for chill
dren, bring children into the world,
and while others give to their Off
spring little more than an inheritance
of vicious instinct, and while still 9TH
ers who were born under favorable
circumstances are brought to a pitia-
BILE condition by death or events for
which no human being can be held re-
sponsible, yet it has been decreed that
many prosperous homes shall be child
less. One in ten it is said. And Prov
idence has put it into the hearts OF
those to long for a child upon which
: they may bestow their fostering care
1t is because of these wise provisions
lof Providence that thousands of chill
dren whose births appeared a lament.
: able event, find their way into good
homes, receive the affectionate minis
trations of good men and women; are
given the advantages of schools and
colleges and society, and in the end
fall heir to the worldly possessions oil
those whose lives are frightened.
Home for Children.
The state of Iowa has number Of
!. societies and institutions for the care
! of friendless children. Chief among
1 these is the Iowa Children's Home so
1 ciety, whose nursery is on East Ninth
} street. Des Moines. This so
9 ciety, as it name implies, is state wide
: in its operation. This society has re
e ceived no aid from the legislature.
r is not state institution. 1t is be
t nevolent institution and is supported
e largely by popular subscriptions ant
i. free will offerings. Many countie
I have helped the society by contribut
s ing toward the EXPENSE of children ia
ken from them. This enables the SC
b ciety to do far better work, than coul
j, be done without it's aid. The societ
n is nOnSectarlan. All denomination
h are included in its membership an
g management. 1t has received an
e cared for 1000 children up to the pres
X ent date. And from the records it
g noted that so per cent of this numbe
e have been permanently lifted frcr
IS poverty and vice. 1t is the aim q
IS the society to get every child perms
v nently placed in family homes, an
l. either by adoption or legal contrac
give them continuous oversight. Ores
care is taken to have every home al
plying for children recommended an
personal Investigation is made by a
officer, of the society as to the, fl
" ness of the homes asking for childre
before papers are made. Boys al
s. much harder to place. Special al
of peals are being made at this time
lg behalf of the boys. Many homes al
,e needed for boys DIS a large number al
~ on hands.
Mt Some Sad Stories.
IN AS the chief causes of homelessnes
or are drink. divorce, desertion an
ne death, the officers of this society coul
i'll
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