The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-07-05
ONE MOMAN'S FAMILY.
Homeless Ones, Orphaned Ones, De-
linquents and Others Assigned to
Her Care.


From the Chicago Record.Herald,
How many children have I Three
hundred and over. Yes, three hundred.
I've had three hundred children in my
family for several years past. And
take a warm personal interest in each
and every one of them, bless their
hearts,"
The Chicago woman with a family OF
over three hundred children TO care
for leaned back in her chair and smiled
as she said it. She 'didn't-and she
doesn't-look in the least as the mother
of so colossal family might natur-
ally be expected to look, and she has
never been married--at least in this
present incarnation, But the story
she told in that brief speech was a
true one nevertheless, and for over
three hundred children" of all ages.
from few days to the twenty-one
years which constitute legal major
ity is she personally responsible: these
numerous and widely varied maternal
duties have beenhers for several years.
The woman is Miss Mary NJ. Bar
time, public guardian of Cook county.
and the three hundred children" who
personal and affectonate "mothering"
in great many instances are the Cook
county minors whose faithful friend
oftentimes the only friend they pos
sess in this world-and guardian she
is, as much by reason of her own
warm heart and kindly nature as be-
cause of the decree of the court"
whats the average size of your
family, Miss Barthelme?"
Three hundred, pretty steadily. One
of the children becomes of age or gets
married possibly every once in a while,
OF course Now and then. although
very seldm, one of my family is re-
moved by death. But on the other
hand new children are coming under
my care and guardianship continually.
My family has not numbered less than
three hundred for several years.
What are my duties? What are
they not, rather. They differ so very
much and so widely, you know, For
many of my wards ! am merely guar
dian of the estate which means that
am only responsible for the care of
their propertya or income. These are
'he cases where there is no natural
guardian or where the natural guar
dans, while desiring to take charge
and personal care of the child, are un-
willing to assume any financial re-
sponsiblity. In regard TO the children
for whom | am guardian of the body
as well, the work is more difficult.
The most trying cases of all are those
regarding which the Juvenile Court
has relieved me greatly of late years
the cases in which the child becomes
my ward without any money with
which to care for the inevitable de-
mands and necessities. The task Of
finding homes for the homeless boys
and girls, mere babies sometimes, who
come under my guardianship is by no
means light one.
DO I do shopping ror my charges?
Oh yes, indeed. ! and my secretary
have purchased almost everything for
them, from baby clothing to suits and
undergarments for great big boys who
are almost men. We have secured a
fine lot of that practical experience
which does not usually fall to the lot
of unmarried women.
christmas shopping? Well, yes, a
little" (The public guardians Office
during the Christmas season looks like
the packing-room of a department
store, aud the public guardian and her
secretary work untiringly at tying UP
and sending off the pretty packages 6,
although all moneys so expended must
come out of the public guardians pri-
vate pocket) Wedding trousseaus
Well, yes, sometimes, although | must
admit that my wards are usually mar
ried before I know anything about 1t,
They very correctly surmise that |
should object TO any such proceeding.
And yet in a few cases | have been
made guardian OF a girl just in order