Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-11-28
SOCIOLOGY AND THE BABY.
New York SUM-


New York SUM-
This is case In sociology"
science OF strange name; In this case,
of strange results. We once asked an
old-fashioned and cynical professor for
an exact definition OF sociology" He
made this horrible reply: "Pansciolis-
tics II seems to be fascinating
branch OF knowledge or Ignorance, and
Is easy to follow. You are studying II
when you go stunning" Any might
hawk" cabman or all-night restaurant
is sociological material" and we have
even heard such a seemingly simple
matter as taking drink" called a
study in sociology" The number OF
professed sociologists Is large. They
all mean well; and the chief complaint
against them is that they are inquisi-
tive, and seldom reluctant to poke their
noses into other folks business. Here
ends the prolegomenon. In a minute
you will see how Sociology carried on
the Baby.
Iowa has some exceptionally wise
sociologists. Iowa legislators have
wide-open minds. The sages asked
the Legislature for law whereby the
children OF incompetent, immoral or
dissolute parents" could be taken from
them by the Associated Charities. The
Legislature passed such a law, by re-
quest. Note here the simple beauty
and accommodating character OF the
word incompetent" Well, Mrs. KEEL
lar OF Keokuk had a baby eleven
months old. The mother was accused
of being incompetent" and the child
was taken away from her and put un-
der the protecting care OF two presum-
ably competent" "club-women." The
mother proved her competence, to the
satisfaction Of court, which directed
that Baby should be given back to her.
Meanwhile Baby had been sent TO
hospital. The competent clubwomen
couldn't supply II with the aliment
proper to its age. Yearning for milk
and getting sociology, the poor thing
became very i'll. The doctors told the
mother that II was dying. She tried to
go to 1t. The competent secretary Of
the Associated Charities said NO, EVIL
IDENTIFY 1t was better for child TO die
than to be contaminated by the cares
ses OF an incompetent mother, full o.
love but empty OF the indispensable
science. To be sure, court had or
dered the child to be surrendered; .bu
there are other courts, and not light,
is Sociology to be swerved from III
benefcent course. The secretary sale
that by means of appeals from court 4
court, the Associated Charities mean
to keep the child from its incompe
tent mother for two years. or course
IL 1t died the matter would be settled
forever The faithful secretary wa
committed to Jail for contempt, bu
got out on bond. How was Baby to b
got out?
Some Of the Keokukers, lawless per
sons with no veneration for sociology
proposed to break into the hospital
A more peaceful and very curious pro
ceeding was taken by advice OF a law
yer. A friend OF the mothers went be
fore a judge and charged Baby VIII
being a vagrant. The shorthand We
are afraid that he was glad to obey
the writ-brought Baby into court from
its cot in the hospital, AT once the In
competent mother was made Specia
Constable and lugged on Baby AMI
the sociologists are still looking 10
that yagrant And they are proceedin'
against the Judge the incompetent
mOtneT anu neT COuubei iOT Conspiracy
, III they can md the child they can TAX