The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-01-26
NO IDLE QUESTIONS ASKED.
Secretary White Explains Methods OF
brooklyn Children's Ala society.

To THE EDITOR or THE SrS-Sir In THE
SUNDAY Sun Of Jan. /? there appeared In a
conspicuous place a rather ~il-tempered
unication entitled Maiden Lady Seeks
a Boy, Applies to Brooklyn Children's Aid
Society with q Bewildering Result" This
letter was signed NJ l.. +" and dated Troy
v. Y. As the writer evidently had made
a laborlous effort to be humorous In parts
Of his letter, possibly he must not be taken
too seriously: still, u person glancing hastily
over the communication might easily get q
wrong impression Of the actual facts. as no
great pains were taken TO separate the real
questions asked by the society from tine
suggested ones OF the writer, and, also theTe
were certain innuendoes for which no reasons
were given.
Permit me TO state very briefly why the
questions were asked to which objection was
made First, II should be said, the questions
with room for answers occupy but one slde
of = sheet OF note paper, and the print Is goou
size, hence the Information asked Tor couId
not have been great.
l. il not clearly necessary TO know II the
applicant Is married or sin agile, whether very
Young. I'm middle life or Did, before deciding
10 saId n hoy or girl to the homer some
boyso or girls could not be entrusted loh youif
couple. though more mat ure guidagcc Nnuir
the best guardians for active youth II thtIf
are other children In the family We shou.u
be told the age and seq, pom anaI Armed
II there is a baby for example and "A slTl Is
wanted, and also that We may kho" "no
the chiid's associates will be
The religion of tho applicant IL OF IMPORT
apce, because the law requires, W. e" plhCS
children, so far as practicaDle, ~ laih'i''s u
Your correspondent thinks II strange We
wish to ascertain II the applcaht "Mnc W
house IN which he lives. a man oncc 81 p aTnH-
neucy. financial responsibility and no-slhiy'
thrift moss are suggested by, such oWh,tehiP,.
We ask II there Il an Invalid m IN" IainiIS
10 get some idea Of the general atino-phtItt
Of the home. TO guard against placing "a ChlIu
whore there Is tuberculosi- hhu 70 Rr. nvnd
should We not ascertain, a. We try 70 90,
II the boy Is 20 sleep alonef S3ine'iniss
,hhs h. S,I ari P ps3pl snS Gh ibis NS we object to- The
answer to the question whether ne Is 70 tHV
with the family. or not, c!'atIy SHOWS "Es
necessary for us to know in. order that ms
understandings may be- avoided Some ianl,
flies give board and cloIhci some D1n' Ha Sau
i'm addition II is but fair that the boy, "a
well ~ our-elve-. should be told whrIHoI
ha j. to be- sent 10 school aud what ms, uutl'S
will be The labor required may y. oeSohu
his strength or III suited to his abinty
The trustees Of this, society VIII nov VOC
crate dealing with children under our are as
If thry were barrels of pork or babe OF nay
they insist on careful consideration OF each
child's welfare. il the work cannot be done
if n j. ouIy a how a conscientious effort should
be made to place him und"t th' ne. I",>lnpI
conditions A. 70 matter Of fact the demand
for cheap help boys and girls 10 WORK lor
hoara and clothes far exceeds ia" >'irpIy,
Many would-bc employers have To ID" "alth,l
cnrrfully that they 90 not ,Nact me, Wgrk
Of an adult from an immature cllln. also
they are not conscientious as 10 a''ohilho-
cations and as-o,lItcS.
Mhat We specially desire are applications
for children TO be made incubrrs oil me tam
iIv not that They should ueoe~~ariIy he
adoutrd but that they should be treated rs
nearly as practicable like the applicant
own children aud hence Dc given the 'aTriHI
training and care that % child should f"'tlN'
We must know some Of the d''l'- oil We Iaii-
ilv lie aud surroundings tt order To place
our children properly.
what good IlTp0-a can N ]. s'tN"
In thus publicly dt-courggiug cnr"iulh'--
In placing children "a families lh'T. i
much more danger OF being car lees III thI-
work than of being over careful
n. uu,-tluf- asked have been sugE"-''d
hv a.. long ,Nucri'lu" ol this and other so
,i.f.,. aud I uu sur" W.A NEE. the aplIoNal
IHAN.Is " NWII.
b~g.YKIIN, Jan l. General secretary.