New-York tribune., 1902-07-08
CARE OF DESTITUTE ONES.
WHAT PHILANTHROPIC INSTITUTIONS
DO FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN.

Two thousand children who would otherwise be
In public institutions in this city are at home
with their mothers a result Of the efforts Of
the Charity Organization Society, aided by philan-
thropic individuals For the last four years Philip
w Ayres Of the Charity Organization Society,
has regularly examined the lists Of children pre-
sented to the Department of Charities for COM
rnitrnent TO asyluns and homes, and has care
fully investigated each application Where evi-
dence was found that with help family could
be kept together the cooperation of private
philanthropy enlisted Fully so per cent Of
the cases thus aided have proved successful in
not separating the child from its mother. For this
purpose alone about 5000 spent during the
last year
There in this country hundred and fifty
thousand children who in homes asylums
provided by philanthropic organizations. OF this
number fifty thousand boarded in families
Thirty-ive thousand IN institutions in this
State alone
OF all methods for the care Of destitute children
the charity which makes il possible for them to
main with their mothers is the most practical
This was the consensus of opinion at the Summer
School Of Philanthropy in the Charities Building
yesterday. Homer Folks, Commissioner Of Charity.
the speaker Of the morning. In address
Institutional and Placing Out Methods in the Care
Of Children" he emphasized the need of family
life for young children. Mr.. Folks recalled the
frghtful mortality OF infants in city institutions
four or five years ago. when 1t reached the high
water mark Of % per cent, and contrasted it with
the results OF boarding such public charges in
families. shown by last years statistics, when
only 10 or y per cent Of the children died
So far the physical and men<al development
OF young children is concerned, there is no ques-
ton, he said, that the advantages all on the
side family life. Children under seven years Of
age develop almost entirely by imitation. The ex-
ample Of those about them is literally poured into
them Development in families is consequently
much rapid. normal and all around In an
institution little be done minister TO an in
dvidual, and the result Of such training on child
must be more or less negative
intermediate period, between and
sixteen years MI folks thouSnt there Is niue 10
choose Between the institution and the family life
For older children, from fourteen to sixteen, he
thought the institution, with its opportunity TO
teach trades and prepare for definite occupation,
dren those showing especial mental gifts are
better cared in institutions than in families
The child that spends its first twelve years OF
life in al institution and is then sent out makes
less progress than the child who lives first in a
family and then goes 10 an institution
The training in the and means or FAMILY
life which is important element in a child
education is wanting in the institution Where the
machinery Of expenditures and expenses Is hidden
child who has spent his life in institution
seldom knows the value use OF money, or ap-
In family life the child learns by observation ana
by daily with the financial problems OF life
that economy is wisdom Grown TO manhood, such
a child IS fitted compete with his fellow men
Chance iE a mich important factor IN the
lives OF destitute children than IL should De De-
cause each OF the multitude of institutions for the
care OF children has direrent methoo. II, t tor
instance a child is brought TO one floor OF the
Charities Building he will in all prooabnty De
sent 10 Western farm. where he VIII become an
agTtculturist II the application happe1nlsS 10 pe
child will be educated at a city pubic SchooI ana
become q deniZen or the city