Sunday Washington globe., 1902-04-20

Washington.
In all large cities, Washington being no
exception, the newspapers frequently record
the fact OF some living new born infant
being found on doorstep, deposited in an
alley or vacant lot, stable or other place
The Board Of Childrens Guard dians tells of
a babe being found in box under an ice
wagon in South Washington on a cold.
stormy night The vigorous protests Of the
little fellow against his truly inhospitable
surroundings attracted the attention of a
passer by, and he was rescued in such a
weak condition that his life was despaired
of, but tender care brought him through and
he us new a hearty youngster Of two or
three years of age
Another was found on an ash pile, con-
siderably bruised and lacerated from being
thrown over a fence. His life was also
saved, and he is now a sturdy and promis-
ing child. Not long ago there was a news
paper account of one found in street car
in Georgetown.
Every police precinct in the District
of Columbia has a nurse who is prepared to
take and properly care for a foundling
brought to her by the police at any time of
day or night. The police immediately
make thorough investigation 10 find the
parents Of the infant if possible, but as may
be supposed this search is usually fruitless.
The Board of Children's Guardians is i'm
mediately notified, and makes suitable dis
position Of the child by placing II with one
Of the seve nty.fve boarding homes where
prior arran gements have heen made, select.
ing the family which is at the time best pre-
pared to give immediate proper care. The
board prescribes strict rules as 70 food care
and medical attendance suitable to the
tender age Of their wards.
ST. AIMS Infant Asylum, managed by the
Sisters of St. Vincent de Paul, also gets
some fouudlings. Here they are placed IN
charge of wet nurses outside Of the institu-
tiOn, with frequent visitation by the sisters
to see that proper care is taken of the in
fants.
Those received by the Washington Hos
pital for Foundlings are kept in the institu-
ton and fed by bottle The Board OF Chill
dTen's Guardians places infants coming to
their hands preferably with families where
there is a wet nurse, and necessary arrange
ments for medical attendance are made All
of these agencies allow responsible families
to select children for adoption and the
out 20 foster parents. usually till the age of
lS At ST. AIMS Infant Asylum, any chill
dren that still remain unadopted at the age
Of seven years are sent, the girls to ST. Vim
cents Orphan Asylum and the boys to ST.
Joseph's Orphan Asylum where they re-
ceive good education and industrial train
ing, the effort to find private homes for
them being constantly kept up.
HreUueuflv "a uuother yvh N has Ircf her
child adopts an infant OF young child, and
the number disposed OF by adoption is much
greater than is generally supposed. Most
Of the wet nurses are colored and they fre-
quently develop such an affection for the
children that they give them up with re-
luctance when the time comes. Colored
foundlings, which, by the way, are much
more numerous than the white, are not
usually sent to the asylums, but are placed
with boarding families Of their own race,
much care being taken to select respectable
families SO situated as to be able to give
proper attention to the infants.
The two asylums for foundliugs, before
mentioned get ive to six thousand dollars
a ) ear each from the Government and this
is su pplemented by such private donations
as can be secured
As may be supposed, Notwithstanding the
extreme care that is taken, the ortality
among these infants, deprived so soon of
their natural guardians, is high Out of
ninety-6ve who were at the Washington
Hospital for Foundlings during the year
ending June go, 1901, there were thirty,three
deaths, being death rate Of nearly as per
cent
The large mortality is due to the unfavor-
able condition of the infants when received,
they having been subjected to privation,
exposure and neglect. These figures do not
relate exclusively to abandoned infants but
include those brought to the institution be-
cause of the inability of the parents, for
various reasons, to take care of them.
Police statistics of Washington for the
year ending June 80, 1901, show twenty
seven abandoned living infants and eighty
nine dead infants found. Living infants
found and cared for without the interpo-
sition of the police would swell these fig.
ures somewhat. Infants found dead are
turned over to the coroner for investigation.
The Washington Hospital for Foundlings
sends the children to the Industrial Home
School H they remain unadopted till the age
Of FIVE years, but it is seldom necessary 20
send one to the home.
ST. AIMS has been engaged in this work
since 1860 and the Hospital for Foundliugs
for the last fourteen years, and both give
good accounts of the careers of many of
their proteges.
Foundlings, as is well known. are nearly
all Of illegitimate birth, and the question
gives food for thought TO the sociologist
and psychologist Can a mothers heart
ever be reduced to sHch a state Of cold and
callous indifference that she can abandon
her young child in an alley or vacant lot
with little or no regret, or is the pressure
of shame and misfortune so great as to
practically compel the deed as the least un-
fortun ate choice OF dire evils? Sad is the
fate of the sensitive mother who finds her
self IN the grasp Of such circumstances.
She then bids final farewell to happiness
and peace of mind in this life. The
thoughts of what might have been had she
ordered her life a little differently, is an
ever present canker OF regret guawing at
her heart The student of sociology, the
the divine--al who desire
the greatest sum Of human happiness and
the avOi dance Of evil conditions NAV we'll