The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-11-15

tnlnk III WOulu De Detter, Sald Mr.
Mitchell Ito teach people that when they
have children they must care for them
without going to prison.
"A fine theory" sneered the colonel
And how would YOU accomplish that.
pray?'
"oh. | do not say that IL Is a simple
problem. But. Colonel at present II
seems TO me that the law has a wrong
aim In view. IL a man abandons child
i say man, for II Is the father who
should support mother and child and II
is only through penury that the ordinary
mother yields up her progeny; II the ia
ther then. falls In his duty, the law locks
him up. at present. How does this work ?
First, the man is placed where II becomes
impossible for him TO do that. failing In
which he II held culpable; secondly, the
mother Is left more helpless than before.
for the hope Of reclaiming the man TO her
side Is taken from her. and lastly. the
child is thrown into public Institution.
which. however we'll maintained. is
poor substitute for a home with parental
influence"
And how would you have II work? p
asked the colonel. still sneering but in
terested In spite OF himself.
II have observed" continued Mr.. Nit
chel. that foundlings belong 10 two
classes only. First. they are the children
OF the very poor. to whom the added bur-
den Of another mouth to feed is too great
The youngest born Is abandoned In order
that those who have preceded IL and who
have earned a place In the parents hearts
may not suffer. In these cases | see a
good field for charity III we would care
for these extra burdens OF the poor until
| such time as the parents might reclaim
them. they would not be abandoned. II
we also extended a helping hand TO the
parents. finding more remunerative work
for them. by putting hope INTO their
hearts they would have increased energy
and would soon learn to support what
now they cast adrift. The little ones
would spend but their earlier years In
charitable asylums and would be taken
home when old enough TO appreciate what
home means"
And the other class?" asked the colo
mel this time without any sarcasm IN his
tones.
"Ah. That is the class which would be
the more difficult to control and there
fore would need the most stringent
measures. These are the children OF
shame. The punishment should be COM
pulsory marriage and support OF wife and
child In these cases the mothers may be
and OTTER are as blamable as the fathers.
though the men are the tempters. But
surely the children are innocent and
should receive the full protection OF the
state. First. their birth should be legiu-
matized by the marriage OF their parents.
and. second. the father should contribute
10 the support OF his child"
An, very pretty In theory cried the
colonel He was pleased TO find a weak
spot In Mr. Mitchers argument. But
suppose that the man has no means of
supporting his child, OF, worse yet sup
pose that he be already married mann
In the latter event. of course, mar
riagc between him and his victim would
be impossible. but In any case he could
be made TO support his child which
would be more Just to the infant than the
imprisonment of the man.
But how. In the name OF conscience.
can you make man support child IL
there Is no alternative punishment"
''Oh! did not say that there should be
no punishment. | only argued against
imprisonment. This Is a fitting use for
the whipping post. Corporal punishment
is sometimes more effectual than any
other. For example II all married men
guilty OF this crime should be publicly
nogged once n month for year after
conviction think much would be accom-
piished toward regeracy OF the moral
status OF the community. But let me an
swer you as 10 the compulsory support OF
the child. II the man has means, IL would
be easy enough for the court 10 allot a
specified monthly payment TO the mother
and child To insure such payment part
OF the culprits property could be placed
under the guardianship OF the public ad-
ministrator. not actually confscated. but
so arranged that no disposition could be
made OF II against the interests OF the
child
But suppose the man has no visible
means of support"
"A man who can work and won't work
must be made 10 work. IL he can be made
10 work for the state In prison, surely he
can be compelled 10 work for his child
L. sl..ls ufnE
ged every week until he would make an
honest effort 10 obtain employment he
would soon look eagerly for work. or
course he might do this and not succeed,
In which case, when he had proved his
willingness TO do his duty. he would have
reached the same plane as the father In
the first class and would be worthy OBJ
ject OF assistance"
II guess we'll have to send you 10 the
legislature" said the colonel. who found
that he was getting the worst OF the ar
gument and so preferred 10 let the topic
drop Would you like 10 see the latest
applicant for assistance under your
scheme?"
vi would indeed" said Mr.. Mitchell.
and together they entered.
The colonel led the way across the
room. the matron rising from her chair
and following them.
II want 10 show this gentleman our
newest boarder." said the colonel.
shes a little angel" said the matron.
turning down the coverlet.
"Yol mean she might have been" said
the colonel grimly That is what her
parents hoped. Mrs. Martin
THE inhuman brutes!' exclaimed the
mn,ron. Il wish | could sec them both
behind the bars. They ought 10 get 20
years at least
Mr.. Mitchell smiled The present system
apparently Is so universally acceptable
that II would be n herculean task 10 re-
model the laws 20 meet more scientific
and philanthropic scope. Philanthropy to-
ward criminala--how strange the words
would sound In the public ear! The ad-
vocate OF such system would be con-
sidercd n lunstic or az least a crank.
Mr. Mitchell STOPPED over the crib ana
gazed into the great blue eyes. which
seemed unduly large because or tho pincn-
ed and starved little face Yet the hands
nnd feet were stil fat and chubby. the
four DAYS OF exposure not having been
enough 10 reduce them in any apparent
degree
she would be a pretty child n her
face was rot 90 thin,' venturcd Mr.